Adam Walters isn’t ready to decide whether he wants to continue his career as an outfielder or a pitcher.
The Illiana Christian graduate wants to do both and is making the case for it while playing for the Lake County Corn Dogs in the Northern League after a season at South Suburban College.
“It’s been working so far,” Walters said. “I went into my first year of college not sure what I wanted to focus on or if I wanted to do two-way. As I progressed, I realized I definitely wanted to do both and to keep doing both for as long as I can.”
Through his first 11 games with the league-leading Corn Dogs (11-3), Walters was hitting .351 with a homer and three RBIs. He went 3-for-3 in Lake County’s 14-2 win against the Southland Vikings at Dowling Park in Hammond on Wednesday.
He had also made four appearances on the mound and was 1-0 with a save and a 2.00 ERA. He had struck out 16 in nine innings.
Corn Dogs manager Justin Huisman can appreciate what Walters is doing as a two-way player. Huisman was an infielder and closer for Mississippi from 1997 to 2000 before pitching professionally for eight years.
“I know full well how hard it is,” Huisman said. “The hardest part is that there are only so many bullets in that arm. So you are limited to how much bullpen work you can get in, and that can take away from your time on the field.
“There is going to be a little bit of give-and-take in there, and you have to find that healthy balance where your arm stays sharp.”
Huisman said Walters has handled it well.
“He’s reliable and hitting the ball and pitching well for us,” Huisman said. “We’re lucky to have him.”
Walters, a Schererville resident, said his parents, Ben and Jennifer, were athletes at Lake Central and got him involved in sports at an early age. He played multiple sports growing up but liked baseball the best. He played all over the field, including behind the plate, before paring it down to the mound and the outfield.
After three years at Lake Central, Walters transferred to Illiana Christian, which he helped win the Class 2A state title in 2022. The Vikings (24-9) are back in the state championship game this season and will play Covenant Christian (16-15) at Victory Field in Indianapolis at 4:30 p.m. Friday
Walters, who went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored in Illiana Christian’s 10-1 win against Centerville
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in the 2022 state championship game, said he was happy to be part of something special last year and plans to be in the crowd cheering for his former teammates on Friday.“Something big started there, honestly before I even got there,” he said. “There was something started, and I think last year was a good foundation to set the tone for how Illiana baseball is going to be, and it’s definitely going in the right direction.
“I am still friends with them, and I said, ‘If you guys do everything right, you will be right back there.’ So far they’ve done everything right.”
During his senior season at Illiana Christian, Walters missed nearly a month after he crashed into a fence during a game. His facial injury required surgery and more than 80 stitches.
He said he isn’t going to play at half speed even after that injury.
“I am definitely all-out,” Walters said. “I love this game too much to do anything else. I had a lot of people around me and to support me, and the road to recovery was not easy. But I think I came out of that a stronger person and a stronger baseball player.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.