Anthony Mesa smacks a single to right field during Wednesday's intra-squad scrimmage. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
Year in, year out
It took an extra year, but Anthony Mesa is playing like the impact centerfielder FAU thought he could be.
Originally published on
3/4/2010
by
Chuck King
BOCA RATON – Anthony Mesa has started this season like he expected to start last year.
All it took to get out of his funk was a strong scolding – delivered as a soliloquy.
“I just got to a point where I was like, what are you kidding me?” Mesa recalls thinking while his struggles continued into summer ball. “You’ve been good at this for too long to even question yourself.”
Mesa said he immediately starting hitting better and that progress has carried over into this season.
Entering this weekend’s series against Boston College, Mesa is second among Owls’ regulars with a .389 average that includes a team-high four doubles.
This year’s hot start stands in contrast to 2009, where Mesa began the season in a 1-for-15 slump and never fully recovered.
“He’s probably been our most consistent player so far,” FAU coach John McCormack said. “He’s played a really good centerfield. He’s swung the bat well. He’s got some walks. He got hit by a few pitches. That’s kind of what we need from him.”
McCormack moved Mesa from the leadoff spot to the bottom of the lineup last season in an effort to remove some of the pressure. Mesa’s still hitting in the ninth, and even though he’s swinging a hot bat, McCormack is reluctant to change that.
“I want him to stay in the nine hole and keep the same approach because it’s working,” McCormack said.
Hitting at the bottom of the line-up, Mesa teams with leadoff hitter Mike Albaladejo to give FAU a two-leadoff hitter look when the Owls turn over the lineup.
Currently tied for the team lead with scored five runs, Mesa’s table setting has been all that McCormack could ask for.
He’s also provided some big hits – none bigger than his bases-loaded double in last weekend’s 13-2 victory over Boston College that blew the game open.
“I really wasn’t worried (the centerfielder) was going to get to it because I knew I put a pretty good swing in the ball,” Mesa said. “I was actually kind of shocked he dove for the ball.”
Saturday’s victory over Eagles provided the Owls’ lone win in last week’s three-game tournament. Boston College also went 1-2 over the weekend, ending the tournament on a positive note by beating Missouri.
“It gives the guys confidence to know that they are coming in and we’ve already beaten them,” McCormack said. “But I think Boston College feels good about themselves and what they did to Missouri at the end of the tournament.”
Boston College (3-3, 0-0 Big East)
at FAU (3-3, 0-0 Sun Belt)
- When: Friday, 6:30 p.m. ...Saturday, 4 p.m....Sunday, 1 p.m.
- Where: FAU Stadium
- Radio: Streaming live
- Scouting the Eagles: Official site
Probable Pitchers
Friday: BC Pat Dean LHP (1-0, 4.50) vs. FAU Taylor Everist RHP (0-2, 2.08)
Saturday: BC Mike Dennhardt RHP (1-1, 7.27) vs. FAU Mike Gipson RHP (2-0, 1.29)
Sunday: BC Kevin Moran RHP (1-0, 5.06) vs. FAU Kevin Alexander RHP (1-1, 5.79)
About the Eagles: Boston College is coming off a 6-1 exhibition loss to the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday. …Leadoff hitter Robbie Anston leads BC in batting average (.462), hits (12), runs (10), doubles (3), triples (3) and on-base percentage (.517). …Outfielder John Spatola has hit at least one home run in four BC’s six games.
About the Owls: Clean-up hitter Dan Scheffler’s .450 average continues to lead the Owls. …McCormack hopes to give DH Eddie Cassidy his first at-bats of the season. Cassidy underwent knee surgery six weeks ago. …Closer Glen Troyanowski will miss the series with a sore shoulder. …Not normally considered a strikeout pitcher, Taylor Everist’s 13 Ks are five more than any other Owl.