Captain’s Corner: Akron

Team: Akron

Captains: Kevin Haas, Kyle Hallett, Brian Kordal

Our inital Captain’s Corner kicks off with a trio of players looking to redeem what was a bitter end to the 2009 season.

The last game of last year saw Akron in a win and your in position. Win the contest against Bowling Green and the Zips would have made the MAC Tournament with a chance to play for a NCAA bid. Lose and a long summer of what if would linger until fall practice began. For these three, the latter came to fruition with a 17-9 loss to the Falcons.

With a new season under, this trio, now seniors and tri-captains of the Zips are focused and determined to make mends for last season’s near miss and lead Akron to the MAC Tournament.

In touching on a wide variety of topics and subjects on the field and off with the student-athletes, here is Buckeye State Baseball’s Captain’s Corner featuring the Akron Zips. 

Player: Kevin Haas

Position: Shortstop

Hometown: North Olmsted, Ohio

Year: Senior

Haas enters 2010 as Akron’s top returning power threat a rarity for a college shortstop. A career .328 hitter, in 2009 Haas batted .324, driving in 21 runs off the strength of nine home runs which go down as eight-best on Akron’s single season list.

The accolades and honors for Haas extend beyond the diamond. Sporting a 3.58 GPA, Haas has twice been named a Academic All-MAC Selection, while also receiving second-team All-ESPN The Magazine Academic District IV Honors.

Here’s what Haas had to say when speaking to BSB.

BSB: Growing up just outside of Cleveland while being a SS, is it safe to assume the Indians were your childhood team and Omar was your favorite player?

Haas: Absolutely the Tribe is my favorite team.  I’m a Cleveland sports fan for all sports even despite their Championship drought. 

Also, my favorite player growing up was Albert Belle for some reason, but as an infielder I was definitely spoiled watching Omar every day.  I especially enjoyed when they had the Omar-Robbie Alomar tandem up the middle.

BSB: You head into the season as the team’s most established power threat with nine home runs in 2009. Most don’t expect the team’s power to come from their SS. What in your game allows you to play the toughest defensive position but also be able to carry a pretty big bat?

Haas:  The biggest thing one needs to have in baseball is a short memory and I think I do a pretty good job of moving on and not allowing my offense to effect my defense or vice versa. 

This is important especially for a middle guy due to the fact that they are in on almost every play in some sort defensively and need to be able to keep focused on every pitch. 

As for the power numbers, they just kind of happen.  I don’t consider myself a power hitter by any means.  I just focus on making solid contact and when I can do that consistently, the power numbers just happen.

BSB: Last year was a bit of a step back after having a solid 2008 campaign. What’s the mindset of a captain after such a season? Do you put it behind you and move on or do you use it as motivation to fuel a strong 2010?

Haas: First of all, the fact that we missed the MAC tournament by 1 game and it came down to our last game motivates me more than anything.

As a captain this year, I have tried to stress the importance of playing hard consistently every game so this year doesn’t end up like last. Now, dealing with last year and my stats, it’s over and done with. My focus is completely on producing this year and making improvements throughout my entrie game.

BSB: A bit is made about the southern schools having the advantage with weather and not being pounded with four feet of snow in February and practicing outside well before the norther programs can.

A lot of coaches make headlines for their opinions but what is a players view on competitive balance? Does the season need to be pushed back even more? Is it fine how it is?

Haas: Obviously, it does serve as somewhat of an advantage when schools are able to consistently practice outside in terms of getting used to fly balls and reading balls off the bat defensively, but there isn’t really much that can be done. 

The season really can’t be pushed back anymore than it is now due to the fact that the World Series already almost goes to July which is late enough as is. Therefore, I believe that the season is fine how it is. 

Northern schools like us just have to concentrate on what we need to work on individually inside as much as possible to prepare.  The fundamentals of baseball are the same inside just as they are outside.

BSB: And as we hopefully near the end of the snowy season, who among the captains would most be able to live as an Eskimo and why?

Haas: Kyle Hallett for sure.  He’s really into the wild and has visited many different national parks so he’s definitely more of an outdoorsman than me or Kordal.  Also, his wardrobe consists of numerous flannel shirts so he’s already got a head start on the clothes.

BSB: For 2010 the season will be a success for you if….

Haas: We make it to the MAC tournament and give ourselves a chance to win the MAC Championship.

Player: Kyle Hallett

Position: 1B/DH

Hometown: Orland Park, Ill

Year: Senior

Akron’s second captain hails from the Land of Lincoln but is no stranger to success in Ohio. As a sophomore Hallett would collect 21 hits in 50 at-bats for a robust .420. His sophomore success turned Hallett into a Zip mainstay in his junior season.

Hallett enters 2010 coming off of a season where he played in 36 games, finishing with a .336 average, a pair of home runs, and 22 RBI.

BSB: Though a DH and first baseman you have experience as a catcher. What would a common fan not know about how tough it is to be a catcher day in and out?

Hallett: I don’t think the common fan knows how physically demanding catching is. Catching is not just 9 innings. It is the toughest job on the field.

The amount of work that you have to do outside of the game far surpasses every other position. In the two years that I caught, I caught more bullpens then my entire high school career. This really does a toll on your knees.

Not to mention all of the drills that are needed to be able to block the ball the right way, and all of the other basic tools that are needed to be a Division I catcher.

BSB: 2010 has a few pitchers returning from injury as well as a few freshman getting tossed into the fire early.

What role does a catcher have in getting guys up to speed or back to their level of play? How can you tell as a backstop when a pitcher is there? 

Hallett: The catcher is the core of the defense. It is his job to make sure that the pitcher is comfortable.

This is a lot easier then it seems because each pitcher is different and as a catcher you need to realize these differences and make sure that you have the right mind set for each. Also when new guys are trying to pitch you need to take charge as a catcher. You need to make sure that you demand the strike zone and the game.

A lot of pitchers come in really cocky and as a catcher it is your job to bring them back down to earth and get them in the right mind set to pitch.

BSB: Is there anything you can pick up or see differently from a DH perspective being alongside the coach while the team is fielding to help those in the field or your pitcher?

Hallett: As a DH you are able to sit in the dugout and study the pitcher. You don’t have to focus on defense.

While my teammates are on defense I am able to think about what the opposing pitcher is doing and if he is falling into any ruts. Many pitchers tend to repeat an action over and over again.

As a DH I have more time to sit back and think to myself; what is he starting everyone off with, what is his second pitch, how often does he throw it, in what counts, how accurate is it etc.

Also I am able to pick up the things that the coach is watching for and he has a lot more years in the game then I do so when he picks up something it is usually helpful.

BSB: Coming from Illinois what made you decide to head over to the Buckeye State and become a Zip?

Hallett: I wanted to get away and go to a school that I can make all new friends and make a name for myself.

Basically everyone that I know from high school went to a state college and continued on hanging out with the same people form high school. I am more of an independent type person.

Also when I came to Akron it had a different feel then any other of the schools that I was looking at. It is not your typical big campus with a huge quad and white pillars it has more character. The University of Akron is part of the city of Akron and it is not the other way around that was a quality that I was looking for.

I really wanted to be part of this school however if I need to get away I like that I don’t have to go 100 miles away to get there; that is something that I find unique about our campus.

BSB: If you had to recruit to the program to another player from the Land of Lincoln what would you sell them on?

Hallett: I would sell them on the city and the people. I know what most of the schools are like that a prospective student athlete may go to in Illinois and although they have their pluses I just believe that the university of Akron has its advantages over these.

The campus has changed so much since I have been here and I know that there are more plans in the near future. Also the people here are people that I will never forget.

I am glad that I have had the chance to come out to Northeast Ohio and get away; in doing that I have made many lifelong friends. It is an overall great experience and I wouldn’t change it.

BSB: 2010 will be a success for you if…?

Hallett: We make the tournament. Obviously I would like to make it further but we haven’t done this since the year before I came in.

I have been part of four seasons that we have controlled our own destiny and we came up short every year. I want to do everything in my power not to let this happen.

If I can be a part of a team that changes the reputation of the University of Akron baseball team from being a push over in the MAC, then 2010 will be a success for me.

Player: Brian Kordal

Position: 1B/OF/DH

Hometown: Twinsburg, OH

Year: Senior

The last of the trio is another elite hitter with a producing bat. In 2009 Kordal drove in a team high 44 RBI while maintaining a .346 average through out his junior year. With 12 doubles and five home runs, Kordal flashed power in his consistent hitting.

Kordal will anchor the heart of the order, along side Haas and Hallett looking to drive in those two in again being the Zips’ top run producer.

BSB: 2010 will have you playing more first opposed to the outfield. Which position would you say is your “natural one” and is it different than your preferred one?

Kordal: My natural position is outfield.  I prefer to play outfield because that it where my skill set has the best potential.  I can run and have a good arm and thats fits the outfield better then first base.

BSB: You guys went toe to toe with a pretty tough and nationally ranked Minnesota team. Do you feel that proves you guys can compete with anyone and not to be overlooked in the MAC? Or is not winning the weekend not good enough to warrant too much excitement?

Kordal: Obviously we wanted to win the series against Minnesota.  We had our opportunities and we didn’t capitalize. 

We wasted a very good pitching performance from Ben (Danzinger) on Sunday.  We need to score runs like our offense is capable of doing. 

I feel that we can compete with anyone in the MAC.  Our pitching staff is as good as it have been if not better since I have been a Zip.

BSB: What is the hardest or biggest adjustment in jumping from having only indoor practice to playing outside? Facing live pitching and battling the wind and clouds for pop-flies?

Kordal:  Pop-flies aren’t a big deal from inside to outside.  The biggest difference is the lighting and just being outside after being inside for the whole winter and first month of the fall.

BSB: Your biggest thrill as a Zip thus far has been?

Kordal: My biggest thrill as a Zip so far would have to be our 9-1 start in my freshman season.  We were getting points nationally for the top 25 in the country.

BSB: If Coach Bangtson was stuck living an entire summer with one of the three captains who would he favor for the honor?

Kordal: If Coach Bangtson was on an island for a whole summer with just one of us it would have to be me because I am a comedian and Coach can’t get enough of seeing my smiling face every day.

BSB: 2010 will be a success for you if…?

Kordal: 2010 will be a success for us if we hit the ball like we are capable of and the pitching staff throws like it should.  Our staff hasn’t been this deep ever.  I have confidence in every guy on the staff to go out and get the job done.

Buckeye State Baseball thanks Kevin, Kyle, and Brian for taking the time from schoolwork, practice, and travel to take us inside the thoughts of the Zips’ leaders. With a united goal and an experienced team highlighted by six seniors, Akron has a chance to make a serious run at the elusive MAC Tournament bid, this is a team and trio we wouldn’t bet against.

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