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sgunter@wmbb.com

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

A View from the ‘Side’

PANAMA CITY- “Growing up playing baseball, you throw from various different ways. So, you kind of have a feel for it anyway. It’s just a little bit different throwing off the mound that way,” said Gulf Coast sophomore pitcher Curt Trexler.

The move to be different on the pitchers mound is a move that former Bay High and current Gulf Coast hurler Curt Trexler feels is worthwhile.

Trexler walked on last year to the Gulf Coast baseball team as just a normal over the top pitcher, but things quickly changed.

“After a couple of days out here, Coach Kandler wanted to try something new with me, he moved me down to the side and it worked out really well, and that’s where I’ve been pitching ever since,” said Trexler.

“His stuff was just average over the top. He needed some sort of gimmick or some sort of diversion that was different than other guys. We dropped him down and he took to it right away,” said Gulf Coast head coach Mike Kandler.

That change in pitching style didn’t come after weeks of brainstorming, it kind of just happened.

“We did it right in the middle of a bullpen. I was probably ten pitches in and he said why don’t you do it like this and within two or three pitches, I was good to go,” Trexler said.

Indeed, he was good to go.  Soon after the change, Trexler noticed his pitches getting more life and movement.

“I actually like pitching from the side a lot more because I get extra sink to the ball that I didn’t have before and it gives the hitters a lot more trouble,” said Trexler.

“The ball developed tremendous action, he had tremendous sink right away and he had a real feel for it, so it was kind of like a natural thing for him,” said Kandler.

In the long run, switching to the side arm pitching style might have taken away some of the strain on the shoulder he might have experienced.

“Pitching from the side, once it’s in shape, I really don’t ever get tired. I can pitch game after game,” said Trexler.

“I think there’s kind of actually less strain in throwing underneath. It’s more of kind of like the fast-pitch softball type of delivery where it really doesn’t put as much strain on that shoulder,” Kandler said.

So now with the side arm working in his favor, Trexler can focus on what’s important.

“I want to help out my team as much as possible. So, which ever role that can help me do that,” said Trexler.

(High School Boys Basketball Final Four)

3A Semifinals

Marianna 57
Pine Crest 77

Marianna Ends Season 26-4

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