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Center Field Post
Suits Waters Fine |
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By Dan Mackall, AU Sports Information
Ashland University junior center fielder David Waters (Wadsworth, OH) has been a big-time contributor for the Eagles ever since his freshman year. But this is the first year that he has been asked to be a leader. “I’m an upperclassman now,” Waters said. “I have to try to set a good example for the rest of the guys on the team.” Waters has been setting that example from center field, a spot once roamed by one of the best players to come through AU, Brandon Cornell. Cornell rewrote the record books in his four years here. Cornell holds AU’s career records for hits (255), runs scored (213), triples (22) and total bases (434). He also holds second or third place in batting average, at bats, RBI, games played, doubles, home runs and stolen bases. Cornell had a .974 fielding percentage last year, tops among the outfielders. Waters’ fielding percentage so far this year stands at a healthy, if not spectacular .985, which is the best among starting outfielders. Waters admits that he has some big shoes to fill in center field, but he believes he’s held his own offensively and defensively. “(Cornell) could cover a lot of ground and was very fast,” Waters said. “I just try to play my game and do the best I can. I think I’m doing a pretty good job filling in.” Another important part of Waters’ game, other than to play a strong center field, is to be a table setter for the offense, batting in the number two hole. “There is a little pressure (batting second),” Waters said with a confident grin. “If our offense is struggling it is because (leadoff hitter) Adam Wilson (New Philadelphia, OH) and I aren’t getting on base. We take most of the blame when the team isn’t playing well. But when we are playing well, the whole team feeds off us.” Waters has been doing his job at the plate, batting .355. That’s the fourth highest batting average on the team. Getting on base for the team’s big boppers (Troy Reeder (Medina, OH/Cuyahoga Community College), Allen Ayers (Columbus, OH/ St. Charles Prep), Ron Oneson (London, Ontario/ Saunders Secondary School) and Ray Frisbee (Canton, OH/ GlenOak)) is one of Waters’ most important jobs. His .485 on-base percentage is the best on team. “Offensively, from the two hole he just makes things happen,” said AU head coach John Schaly. “He uses the whole field, he can bunt or steal a base. He’s a good guy in that two hole.” Waters’ production has been consistent all three years he’s been at AU. In his freshman year he batted .336 and in his sophomore campaign he hit .331. Waters has a rare combination of power and speed that Cornell also possessed. His three home runs are second on the team to Reeder’s four and his seven stolen bases (without being caught) are good for third best on the team. Waters, the only lefty in AU’s powerful lineup, is being counted on by his fans, coaches and teammates to have a successful year and help lead Ashland back to the NCAA playoffs. He is doing a good job so far, helping the team to a 25-13 record, but there are two weeks left to play in the regular season and Waters realizes the pressure that comes with being a leader on a nationally-ranked program. “There is always going to be pressure,” Waters says with a shrug. “Teams are always going to throw their best pitcher at us, but Coach Schaly does a good job of keeping the pressure low. I don’t really think about rankings, I just play.” |