Left handed pitchers are important to any pitching rotation. From Randy Johnson’s left handed fireball to Steve Carlton’s nasty slider, they bring a uniqueness to the pitcher’s mound. Their delivery from the opposite side of the plate throws even the most experienced players off their game. Lucky for De Smet Jesuit, its varsity baseball team has three lefties.

Eric Miller has always been a sizable kid, and he is starting his second year on varsity at 6’4, 210 pounds. As a big as he is, he brings the heat to this pitching staff. “I turn to my fastball more than, say, Zach or Mike, because it’s a more effective pitch for me,” Miller said. His substantial size attracts colleges, but sheer velocity of his pitch is what really grabs schools like Stanford. This style sets him apart from the rest of the rotation. His ability to throw such a breakneck ball compared to the other left handers blows opposing hitters away. “I don’t want hitters to be able to see a resemblance between the lefties on our staff. I can show them something different and hopefully be effective,” Miller said.

Mike Plassmeyer is the senior work horse on the staff. Part of what makes Plassmeyer so effective is his experience as a four year varsity pitcher. “We all have experience in big games which helps us carry and teach the younger guys,” Plassmeyer commented about the staff. As a four year player, Plassmeyer relates to some of the younger varsity players. As he rose through the ranks, he took on the responsibility of showing the pitchers the ropes. His skillful command of the ball is something that many college scouts seek. “I am all about control. I can use any pitch at any point in the count with pinpoint accuracy,” said Plassmeyer. “I don’t necessarily look for strikeouts. I pitch to contact and let the defense do their job.” This method of pitching meshes well with other pitchers on the staff like Miller, who throws the heat.

The final left handed starter is senior Zach Boersig. Similar to Plassmeyer, Boersig brings a level of experience to the pitching staff that few players can boast. He also instills the crafty, veteran attitude in the pitching staff. Unlike most pitchers, he changes his arm angle for his pitches, bringing special movement to the ball. “Lefties have natural movement,” said Boersig. “I may not have as much speed as the other pitchers, but my arm angle allows me to produce even more movement than normal.” His tricky pitches make him a force to contend with.
As Boersig notes, “Lefties are a rare breed, but luckily for us we’ve got three filthy ones returning to the team.”