By Ben Fischer
University of Maryland
July 7, 2018

Zach Humphreys (TCU) had three extra-base hits, including a home run, in Cotuit’s 8-3 win over Hyannis

COTUIT – At the halfway point of the season, Cotuit Kettleers catcher Zach Humphreys (TCU) had made his presence felt behind the plate, but not at it. But Saturday against Hyannis, Humphreys made an offensive impact, registering three extra-base hits, including his first home run of the season.

Entering the game, Humphreys had only seven hits, all of them singles. In addition to registering his first extra-base hits, he also added his third RBI on the solo shot.

“Me and coach [Mike] Roberts have been working on my hitting a little bit, so it was just that stuff getting put into play,” Humphreys said. “I’ve just been feeling really comfortable up there and I was seeing the ball really well.”

Postgame, Roberts praised his backstop for his attention to detail, calling him “an old-school baseball coach behind the plate.” However, at the plate, Humphreys was not overthinking, especially on his home run.

“I didn’t even see what kind of pitch he threw me,” Humphreys said. “I just saw it and put a good swing on it.”

In addition to hitting the ball hard, Humphreys ran the bases effectively. In his first and third at-bats, Humphreys hit balls down the third base line that could have easily been singles. In both cases, Humphreys hustled out of the box and legged out a double.

While aggressive baserunning is a cornerstone of Roberts’ squads, Humphreys credited the coaching staff at TCU for instilling the desire to take an extra base, saying that they “don’t care if you get thrown out being aggressive.”

Humphreys, who estimated that he had not homered in a year and a half, said that he was happy to get his home run with a wood bat. However, he added that after a wait that long for a longball, he would “take one any way I could get it.”