VANHOUTEN: Pitcher helped elevate team through work ethic

When Watertown High School baseball coach Matt Covey thinks about what it will be like next season without Will VanHouten, he rolls his eyes.

Not only because VanHouten leaves the Cyclones' program as one of the school's all-time leading hitters and a valuable pitcher for four varsity seasons. But because of the work ethic, love of the game and attitude that VanHouten brought to the team during his WHS career.

"He's been probably the key player to help us reestablish our program," Covey said. "Will is one of those kids that would play baseball 365 days a year. He's a workaholic that loves and enjoys the game. And that really carried over to a lot of our younger kids this season."

VanHouten's statistics speak for themselves.

At the plate, he set a school record this season for batting average (.515) and tied the school record for runs batted in (29). He finished with 35 hits in 68 at-bats, scored 28 runs, struck out just four times and had an on-base percentage of .674.

VanHouten recorded 10 doubles, two triples and a home run, and had an on-base percentage of .674.

"He almost never had a poor at-bat," Covey said. "And a lot of teams didn't really give him many good pitchers to hit this season."

VanHouten said he became a more consistent hitter this season because "my balance was so much better. I learned to use my hands to hit the ball to all fields with more power. And I had a lot more patience to wait for a good pitch to hit."

During his four-year WHS career, VanHouten had a .416 overall batting average and a .556 on-base average with 109 hits, 79 RBIs, 19 doubles, four triple and two home runs.

On the mound, VanHouten was consistent all season. He won seven games and lost four, including two to bigger schools on the team's trip to Myrtle Beach, and finished with a 2.33 earned run average.

Once Frontier League competition began, he was basically unhittable. In 54 innings of total work, he struck out 81 and held opposing teams to a paltry .185 batting average.

He also pitched the Cyclones to their first Section 3 victory in nearly five years, a 2-1 win over Henninger.

"Will's mechanics were so much more consistent this year," Covey said. "That helped his control and to spot his pitches a lot better."

VanHouten said, "I think the key was I was a lot stronger and kept my speed later into games. My curve ball was better, and that allowed me to not just have to throw fastballs. And I was able to hit the spots I wanted in key counts. Especially in that second IHC game."

Playing the outfield and also some first base, VanHouten made just two errors.

With VanHouten leading the way, WHS finished 9-1 in Frontier League play, winning the "A" Division title, and finished 15-6 overall.

"We did a lot of things right this season," VanHouten said. "There were only one or two games where we let down a little. That is probably the most satisfying part of this season for me."