Bulldog.
It’s a term repeatedly and eloquently used by Parklane Academy baseball coach Robert Young to describe his senior leader, James Michael Schmidt.
Ask Young any question about Schmidt and the answer almost always involves “bulldog” in some way, shape or form.
It serves as a constant reminder how highly Young and the rest of the Parklane program regard Schmidt.
“Coming into this year, I knew we were only going to have three seniors and a bunch of young guys on the team,” said Young, who is in his first year at Parklane. “So I told him you have to have that bulldog mentality for me as far as being a leader, as far as being a team guy, as far as baseball is concerned at Parklane.”
Schmidt, who played linebacker for Parklane’s football team, has certainly lived up to the calling, becoming a rock for Parklane’s pitching staff and is tied for second on the team with 14 RBIs.
His go get ’em mentality was on display Tuesday night against Presbyterian Christian when starter Tanner Whittington got into a bases loaded jam with two outs in the top of the seventh of a 3-2 game.
Young looked to pitching coach Dusty Davis and, without hesitation, knew the ball was going to Schmidt. Three pitches later, the Pioneers celebrated their 13th win of the season. It was easy as that — three pitches, three fastballs, three strikes — and the game was over.
“As far as being a bulldog, he’s going to be a bulldog no matter what,” Young said. “But when he went out there (Tuesday) night … three fastballs and he got out of it for us. You can’t ask for more than that.”
The save was Schmidt’s first of the season to go along with a 5-1 record and a sparkling 1.70 ERA. He’s quickly become automatic on the mound the past two weeks and has allowed just one earned run in the last 141/3 innings. He’ll look to continue that trend tonight when he takes the mound for Parklane in Game 2 against PCS.
“On the mound, it’s a personal thing with me. I want the ball … just go out there and get it done,” Schmidt said. “You want to be able to go out there in tough situations.”
Schmidt was almost strictly a relief pitcher in 2012. The Pioneers had a stacked rotation with the likes of Shane McKinley, Landon Mabile and Zach Smith, which pushed Schmidt into the closer role.
With all three having since graduated, Young was put in a bind. He could either put Schmidt as his No. 1 guy on Tuesday or push him back to today and let him close games Tuesday if necessary. He chose the latter and it’s worked to perfection as evidenced by Tuesday’s late-game performance.
“He’s been a really big part of our pitching staff,” Whittington said. “If I mess up on Tuesday, he comes in and closes and comes in Thursday and shuts it down.”
The aggressive attitude has helped rub off on Parklane’s underclassmen, which make up a majority of the team. Schmidt is the Pioneers’ most experienced starter and has four years under his belt.
Parklane hit a few rough patches to start the year and carried a 6-4 record through the first half of the season, but have now rounded into form with seven wins in its past nine games.
While Schmidt has done his fair share, the juniors, sophomores and even freshmen have formed a strong cohesive unit.
Young has talked with Schmidt more about leading vocally, but it’s leading by example that comes natural.
“You can harp on them as much as you want in practice but if you go out there and show them by example and be the leader, it’s a lot easier for them to catch on. … It’s a lot more than just talking about it in practice,” Schmidt said. “It takes being in the game to get it done.”
At times, the rugged football mindset has its drawbacks, although Schmidt has gotten better about controlling his emotions.
In last year’s state championship game against Madison Ridgeland Academy, Schmidt allowed the eventual game-winning home run in a relief appearance. As MRA celebrated the state title, Schmidt obviously wasn’t a happy camper.
“I think that helped him grow,” Whittington said. “He hasn’t gotten mad, hasn’t blown up on the mound. He’s been doing really good and a guy I look up to.”
Every player has their own unique characteristic that makes them tick. Schmidt’s just happens to be a football mentality in a completely different sport, one that requires critical thinking, strategy and mental toughness.
He’s OK with that, though.
“I’m a real aggressive ball player. I like to get as much as I can out of the game. … I’m going to get down and dirty with them,” he said. “That’s just how I am. I guess that plays into the bulldog mentality.”
