For the first time since tossing 4.1 scoreless innings in a round one playoff win over Orleans last summer, Carson Ballard (Georgia Tech) made his return to the mound for Y-D in the 3-2 loss to Wareham at Spillane Field on Tuesday.
Ballard made five appearances and four starts with Y-D last year, pitching to a 3.63 ERA in 17.1 innings. His summer was highlighted by leading the pitching staff to a shutout in the postseason, along with a 10-strikeout outing in 5.2 innings against Brewster on July 23. Heading into this summer, the decision to return to Y-D was an easy one for Ballard.
“We had such a great team last year, and I just loved being up here,” Ballard said. “[Y-D Manager Scott Pickler’s] a great coach; it’s great development and great competition. So, it’s obviously really fun to be up here, but it’s also really rewarding.”
This past season at Georgia Tech, Ballard was mainly used as a reliever, with just one start after he made six starts in his freshman year. The switch to the bullpen resulted in an uptick in his strikeout numbers, as he increased his rate by nearly 3 K/9. Although he returned to his role as a starter on Tuesday, the swing-and-miss stuff carried over with six strikeouts in four innings.
“It’s definitely different because you know ahead of time that you’re going to be starting,” Ballard said. “But, other than that, nothing really changes. Same approach, same pitches I’m going to use, so I just try to keep it the same as possible.”
The right-hander set the tone out of the gate when he needed only 15 pitches to strike out the side in the first inning. He capped off the frame by getting Kollin Ritchie (Oklahoma State) to swing through a cutter, which was his go-to pitch throughout the night.
Pounding the zone was a constant theme during Ballard’s outing, throwing 39 of 61 pitches for strikes (64%) and not walking any hitters. Limiting free passes has been another area where Ballard has shown constant improvement throughout his career at Georgia Tech. He lowered his walk rate from 2.34 BB/9 in his freshman year to a minuscule 1.49 BB/9 this past season.
“One of the things we preach at Georgia Tech is attacking the zone and always trying to get ahead of batters,” Ballard said. “So, I felt like that was my main focus, and I thought I did a good job today.”
Ballard allowed his lone run of the start on a homer to left by Vance Sheahan (USC Upstate) in the second inning, but he settled down quickly with a lineout and strikeout of the next two hitters. He finished his outing with a five-pitch frame to complete four innings with only two hits and one run allowed.
Despite the loss, Ballard continued a trend of stellar performances from the Y-D starters early in the season. Through the first four games, the starters have thrown 15.1 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out 18 batters.
Ballard and the rest of Y-D will head to Boston for Fenway Day on Wednesday before returning to the diamond to take on Orleans for the second time this season at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday.
(Photo by Sophie Solarino)
