When Zach Hartle took over for injured shortstop Hayden Johnston on April 18, he had played in 13 games and had a .172 average.
Now, with a nine-game hitting streak that's seen him go 16-for-37 (.432) with 10 runs scored and six RBIs, the junior college transfer's average has risen to .273.
It's just all about confidence
Hartle said. I started out the season really rough and I've lately just been looking for fastballs to hit and getting lucky too.
Hartle started the Bobcats' first four games this season, and over that stretch, went 0-for-10 with eight strikeouts. Not exactly the way he'd hoped to start the season.
Coming from (junior college) ' it was a lot different he said. People throw a lot harder here with a lot more movement. I had a hole in my swing
and working with (assistant) coach (Scott) Malinowski and coach (Joe) Carbone
I got (my swing) shortened up
and I tried finding more fastballs instead of off-speed.
And Carbone likes Hartle's progression.
Zach's come around
Carbone said. He needed to make an adjustment in his swing G? and he's doing some things I want him to do defensively ' getting away from some of those old habits he had that were hurting him.
He has all those other intangibles that you like in a young guy, Carbone continued
and I'm happy with what he's done at shortstop for us after he's settled in.
But Hartle isn't the only Bobcat who has gone through a transitional year. In fact
as Ohio's three starters head into the season's final home series
this weekend against Mid-American Conference rival Miami
each only has six starts in college baseball.
It has been a lot different this year as compared to last year, especially for me, said right-hander Matt Schlarb
