Right at home
SLIPPERY ROCK — The last place Cody Herald expected to end up was in right field.
An infielder since he first put on a baseball glove, Herald was thrust into action in the outfield because of illness and injury as a freshman for the Seton Hill University baseball team.
“It was a little bit scary,” Herald said. “I wasn't used to taking line drives and stuff.”
Herald, a Butler graduate, has made the most of his opportunity and has found himself in the lineup for the nationally ranked Griffins.
Herald's name isn't always jotted down on the lineup card in right field, but when he is, he has played the position well.
“He's just such a great athlete and such a great competitor,” said Seton Hill coach Marc Marizzaldi. “His athleticism is what makes him so versatile. He swings the bat so well, we have to find a spot for him on the field.”
In addition to the time he has spent in right, Herald also has played second base, shortstop and third base for Seton Hill (16-5).
Herald is feeling more comfortable roaming the outfield now.
“I spent a lot of time after practice taking extra fly balls,” Herald said.
He's also spent lots of time in the batting cage working on his swing.
A dead-pull hitter for the Golden Tornado, Herald has worked on going the other way with success.
He had an RBI single to right in the second game of a doubleheader against Slippery Rock University Wednesday. In the first game, he had a two-run single up the middle.
Herald is batting .289 this season for the Griffins with a pair of doubles, 10 runs scored and six RBIs.Not bad for a freshman on a loaded team with 11 seniors on the roster.“Sometimes he's his own worst enemy. He plays so hard and he expects so much from himself,” Marizzaldi said. “But he's having more success than most freshmen do on a very good team, a veteran team. Just for him to come in and get playing time is a testament to his work ethic and his skill.”Marizzaldi holds his team to a high standard, something Herald is used to from his playing days at Butler under coaches Dave Florie and Todd Erdos.“Coming here is kind of just like playing for Florie and Erdos,” Herald said. “They had the same theory: Go out and win every inning.”And just as he did with the Tornado, Herald just wants to do anything he can to help the team win.If that means playing right field, Herald will do his best to run down any fly ball hit to him.“Whatever helps the team. Whatever my job is,” Herald said. “It's kind of fun showing up and seeing where I will be playing.”
