For the past two weeks, Arden McWilliams has caught the attention of Copperhead fans with his efficiency at the plate and his late-inning heroics.
McWilliams has become a terror for pitchers when at the plate, batting .476 and tallying 13 RBIs in his last six games. His performance during this stretch has totaled 24 RBIs and raised his batting average to .328 for the season.
There are a few reasons for the improvement lately
McWilliams said. At first you have to get used to the adjustment of using wooden bats. I also started swinging later in the count. I saw more pitches and I started getting into a groove.
The Copperheads infielder also came up with some clutch hits at big moments early in the season. One of his biggest hits came late last month when he knocked in the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth with a stand-up double against the Stark County Terriers.
McWilliams modestly claimed that he has not always been as clutch.
This summer has worked out well for me because the three hitters in front of me are always on base he said. It's much easier to come up big when your teammates take some of the pressure off.
After his freshman season at Indiana, McWilliams transferred to Florida Southern College. As a third basemen for the Moccasins, McWilliams made the All-Sunshine State Conference Team by turning in a .343 batting average in 57 games last season. He decided to play summer ball in Ohio for a few reasons.
I wanted to play here because Great Lakes is one of the top five collegiate summer leagues he said. There's a lot of great competition in this league
plus I'm really close to my hometown of Cleveland.
McWilliams has made a name for himself in the Great Lakes Summer League. He leads the league in RBIs and doubles and is tied for first in triples.
McWilliams said he knows he is being watched by many scouts this summer, so he is doing everything he can to help his chances of being noticed. His play on the field has reflected the work ethic he has for the game.
He's a worker
said Mike Deegan, Copperheads manager. He is at the field a lot
working on his game. Whenever it's game time
he always comes to play.
Performing in front of scouts is not the only thing that is fueling McWilliams' desire to succeed. Three of his fellow Florida Southern teammates were taken in the draft this year, and McWilliams has used their selections as a motivational tool.
Seeing them drafted has helped me build my determination. It gives me hope because I know I'm being looked at. I know if I work hard
anything is possible.
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