New delivery gives D-C grad, ISU baseball team a boost

Kenny Long dabbled with throwing sidearm last season at Illinois State University.

The result was a 7.71 ERA and nearly twice as many earned runs as appearances out of the Redbirds' bullpen.

When ISU pitching coach Billy Mohl suggested in the offseason that the left-hander transition primarly to a sidearm style, Long didn't hesitate.

"I was all for it," said Long, a Dundee-Crown graduate. "(I wanted) anything that could make me better and help the team. I was 100 percent behind it."

This spring, Long's delivery has devastated opposing hitters and made him one of the Missouri Valley Conference's most feared relief pitchers.

Long, a sophomore, was named the MVC's Pitcher of the Week on Monday for the second time this season after allowing two hits and striking out eight in three relief appearances spanning 3 2/3 innings.

Opposing hitters are batting only .143 against Long, which leads all NCAA Division I pitchers. Long, who has seven saves and a 4-2 record, also leads the MVC with a 1.24 ERA.

Long deceives hitters by throwing his curveball from an overhand delivery, then drops to sidearm to use his slider. As for his fastball? "That's a last-second decision how I throw it," Long said.

"I feel like I'm two pitchers at once," he said.

This season, though, more hitters have seen Long's slider.

"I probably throw it 70 percent of the time," he said. "It definitely sweeps a lot more."

Thanks to Long's success, which includes allowing an MVC-low six earned runs this season, the Redbirds (24-18) lead the conference with a 12-3 record.

ISU's offense has gotten a boost from fellow D-C grad Ryan Court, the team's third baseman. Court, who is hitting .272 with nine homers and 34 RBIs, posted a three-homer game May 1 in ISU's 18-8 victory against Wichita State.

As for Long's success, it has given him immense confidence in the slider.

"I'm able to do more with it," Long said. "I feel like I can throw it at any time. I'll throw it with a 3-0 count. I don't care."

Sterchi, Calvin soar: Carson Sterchi, a sophomore at D-III Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich., had a strong showing May 6-7 to help the school to its 16th consecutive Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association men's track and field title.

Sterchi won the 800-meter run in 1 minute, 54.69 seconds in the meet at Alma College to earn All-MIAA honors.

In the 4x400 relay, Sterchi ran the third leg and helped the team into second place. When the lead team dropped its baton on the final leg, Calvin took over the lead and won the event title in 3:22.52.

The league championship was the 35th overall for Calvin.

Super Star freshman: Crystal Lake South grad Emily Mahoney earned a spot on the D-III Northern Athletics Conference All-Freshman Team in softball.

Mahoney thrived at Dominican University in River Forest, posting a team-best 2.58 ERA with 79 strikeouts in 78 2/3 innings. Mahoney went 7-5 for the Stars (24-13), who fnished third in the NAC with a 17-7 record.

Barry Bottino writes a weekly column and a blog about local college athletes for the Northwest Herald. Write to him at BarryOnCampus@hotmail.com and check out his On Campus column every Saturday in the Northwest Herald sports section.