Facing a 2-0 count with the bases loaded, Northwest Indiana Oilmen infielder Tyler Kenjic was in the exact situation he had simulated in practice.
“When you get to that point, you’re thinking about being ready for your pitch,” Kenjic said. “And to do some damage with it.”
Kenjic, a 2016 Hobart graduate who now plays at Purdue Northwest, got the exact pitch he was looking for — a fastball over the heart of the plate. He crushed it over the left field fence for the first grand slam of his career during Wednesday’s game against the Crestwood Panthers.
In that moment, though, Kenjic didn’t have to think — he just reacted. That’s the result of muscle memory created by Kenjic in pregame batting practice sessions during his first week with the Oilmen.
“It all starts with batting practice,” he said. “We’re going four separate rounds, focusing on a different objective. We’ll have one round where the pitch is middle-in and you’re getting your foot down, meeting the ball early and elevating it.”
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Kenjic’s pregame routine coincides with the philosophy Oilmen manager Adam Enright instills during those practice sessions as part of the transition from metal bats in college to wooden bats in the Midwest Collegiate League.
“If they’re not working to hit balls out in front of the plate, they’re going to foul a lot of balls to the opposite field,” Enright said. “We’re working to get behind the ball quicker and be on time to hit balls to our pull side if that pitch presents itself.”
Enright said this is a shift from what many colleges do as metal bats allow hitters to utilize more parts of the field. He emphasized timing as one of the most important factors.
“We’re going to do more damage if we’re on time,” he said. “We can adjust to balls if they’re away. But the hardest thing to do with a wooden bat is get behind it and drive it to our pull side.”
For Kenjic, he’s just thrilled to be back on the baseball field again after an injury-plagued sophomore season at Purdue Northwest.
Kenjic was sidelined in the early going with two facial fractures after getting hit by a pitch. Soon after returning from that injury, he collided with the shortstop, opening another gash on his face that required eight stitches.
“By the time I got back into the swings of things, I looked up and the season was over,” he said.
After opening the MCL season in a 1-for-21 slump, Kenjic went 3-for-6 heading Thursday’s game against the Southland Vikings.
And with more hits, Kenjic will have extra opportunities to work on his other summer focus.
“A lot of base running is about being smart and knowing what to do and when to do it,” he said. “Getting an extra 90 feet whenever you can is a big part of baseball and makes me more valuable to the Oilmen or wherever it is I’m playing.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.