Dan Scheffler takes a swing during Tuesday's intra-squad scrimmage. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
'Scheff' serves power
FAU will continue to look to first baseman Dan Scheffler to provide pop in the its lineup.
Originally published on
2/24/2010
by
Chuck King
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BOCA RATON - Dan Scheffler’s vision of his first Division I home run trot didn’t include sliding into third base.
Too bad, because if it did he would have been some kind of prophet.
A transfer from Palm Beach State College, Scheffler had yet to deliver his first extra base hit when led off the bottom of the fifth inning in the final game of the season-opening weekend series on Sunday.
The right-handed swinging Scheffler promptly drove a fly ball to deep right field that carried better than most balls had all weekend. Cincinnati right fielder Jake Proctor reached the wall before the ball did. He leapt, only to have the ball tick in and out of his outstretched glove, off the netting beyond the wall, then carom back onto the field.
Scheffler watched the play long enough as he rounded first base to see that umpire did not give the home run signal.
“I knew it was a home run, but I’m not going to wait for the umpires,” Scheffler said. “I was just running hard into third base. (Third base coach John McCormack) told me to get down so I got down.”
The home run signal didn’t come until after Scheffler popped up from his slide. He trotted home a little dirtier than expected with what he hopes will be the first of many round trippers this season.
Scheffler hit 10 bombs for PBSC last season. He figures moving to FAU, where the wind is more beneficial to his opposite-field swing, could help him approach 20 this year.
That’s right – he’s a power hitter who shuns pulling the ball. It’s a philosophy that goes back to his youth.
“One of my coaches back in the day always said if you want to impress someone don’t pull a home run, hit it to right center,” Scheffler said.
Scheffler’s four RBIs is tied for team lead with Colby Gratton, and FAU needs his big bat to stay hot. The Owls will likely be without designated hitter Eddie Cassidy again when they head to Auburn for the Auburn Classic tournament where they’ll face Missouri, Boston College and the Tigers. With Cassidy likely to miss his second consecutive weekend, the Owls will continue to lean heavily on Scheffler’s run production.
While FAU’s pitching looked fantastic against Cincinnati – they posted a 0.67 team ERA – Owls’ coach John McCormack was still a bit concerned by the 32 runners FAU stranded over the weekend.
“There’s going to be some strikeouts,” McCormack said of Scheffler. “There’s going to be some grounding into double plays, but there are also going to be some big hits in the ninth inning and a home run in the fifth.”
Preview download: FAU vs. Missouri
FAU (2-1, 0-0 Sun Belt)
vs. Missouri (2-1, 0-0 Big 12)
Pitching plans: Owls RHP Taylor Everist (0-1, 1.50) vs. Tigers RHP Eric Anderson (0-0, 0.00)
About the Owls: Colby Gratton went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs after being moved from the third spot in the order up to second on Sunday. …As good as FAU’s starters were on opening weekend, the bullpen also came through – allowing one earned run in eight innings. …Shortstop Nick DelGuidice, who left Saturday’s game after fouling a pitch off his knees, practiced this week and is expected to be in the starting lineup.
About the Tigers: Senior shortstop Michael Liberto went 9-for-13 over three games in the season-opening Collegiate Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz., scoring four times and driving in three runs. Missouri scored a total of 25 runs against Gonzaga, Washington and New Mexico State, doing so with the help of only two home runs….Scheduled starter, freshman Eric Anderson, has yet to pitch in a college game.