North Carolina State University Athletics
PEELER: Schaeffer Adding Offensive Pop to Defensive Skills
4/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH, N.C. – Chris Schaeffer knows what his biggest problem was last year at the plate: he was thinking like a catcher instead of a hitter.
Of course, it's kind of hard for Schaeffer, NC State's regular starter behind the plate for the better part of three seasons now, to make that mental switch, since his entire baseball life has been calling pitches and trying to cross-up hitters.
But he has learned to turn that process off now when he steps into the batter's box, and that has greatly improved the offensive productivity of the junior from Port St. Lucie, Fla.
As the Wolfpack prepares to play No. 1 Virginia in a three-game series this weekend at Doak Field at Dail Park, Schaeffer remains one of his team's most consistent weapons, coming up with big hits in clutch situations. He had an 11-game hitting streak earlier this season. He hit the game-winning sacrifice fly in the second game against Miami last weekend, capping off one of the most amazing comebacks in recent memory.
He has already topped his career high with four home runs, added 15 RBIs and owns the team's second best slugging percentage at .617, trailing only Dallas Polk. He's done little things to contribute as well, leading the team in sacrifice bunts and hits by pitch.
"He has been pretty potent offensively," coach Elliott Avent said. "In our first 15 games of the year, he was as good at the plate as anybody on the team."
For Schaeffer, who hit three homers in each of his first two seasons with the Wolfpack, the improvement has been more mental than physical.
"Instead of looking for certain pitches in certain counts, I just decided if I see it where I want it, I swing at it," Schaeffer said. "If it is my pitch, go after it. If it's not, leave it alone.
"You have to get yourself out of the catcher mindset when you are up there hitting. That was my biggest problem last year, I was thinking like a catcher, not a hitter, trying to guess what the pitcher was going to throw. You can drive yourself crazy doing that."
Not to mention make a few outs.
Schaeffer has been the Wolfpack's best defensive catcher since he arrived two years ago, after spending one red-shirt season at Florida. He has made at least 34 starts behind the plate each season. But his batting average dipped to just .258 last year, and Avent often looked for other options behind the plate.
That had an impact on Schaeffer's mental acuity as well.
"It's tough not knowing whether you are going to play every day," Schaeffer said. "I know I have always been a solid defensive catcher. It's just my hitting has been a little spotty at times.
"So you know it is never a set thing about being in the lineup, because we have some other really good catchers. But it's a little easier to relax when you know you are going to be there. It makes the whole game easier."
Schaffer is looking forward to the coming series and the rest of the ACC season. He hopes to help put the Wolfpack back in position to make a long post-season run, the way he did as a redshirt freshman two years ago.
"That first year, we went to the NCAA Super Regional against Georgia, one game away from the College World Series," Schaeffer said. "Playing here in our own regional was a lot of fun.
"Last year, even though it was kind of rough, it was a year to build and grow. I think we have all kind of grown up together over the last year. We know we don't want to let the same thing happen to us. The way we hit the ball in the early season, I think we will be fine."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
