Baseball: Study helps Ocean Lakes junior shine

VIRGINIA BEACH

Ocean Lakes left-hander Shawn Morimando has developed into one of South Hampton Roads’ best pitchers by doing his homework.

For roughly an hour each day, Morimando sits with his father, Frank, and studies film of other lefthanders, such as the New York Yankees’ Andy Pettitte, and tries to incorporate their strengths into his skill-set.

Then Morimando studies video of his own outings, taking notes on what needs improvement.

“He understands you don’t get good standing out on the mound,” Ocean Lakes coach Gary Spedden said. “When he was in ninth grade, he was feeling his way. Now he embraces the work.”

This season, Morimando, a junior, has blossomed, going 8-1 with a 2.17 ERA heading into Thursday’s regular-season finale against Princess Anne.

Morimando – batting .462 with a team-high 30 RBIs – is a major reason Ocean Lakes is ranked No. 1 in South Hampton Roads and a serious contender for a long postseason run. The Beach District tournament begins Saturday.

On the varsity team as a freshman, Morimando went 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA, then was 1-3 with a 2.90 ERA last season.

“I had to get stronger and more mature,” said Morimando, who has committed to East Carolina. “I had to learn how it was playing at the varsity level. The competition was a lot higher, so I had to make sure I was more sharp.”

Homework hasn’t been the only thing that’s helped Morimando improve. He runs six days a week, mixing sprints with longer distances. He’s also added roughly 35 pounds of muscle since his freshman year and now is a 6-foot-1, 165-pounder. That extra bulk has added to a fastball that reaches 90 mph.

But it’s the little, sometimes imperceptible, things that often make a big difference.

In an April 28 game against First Colonial, Morimando allowed four runs in the first three innings. Going over the trouble in his mind, he realized standing on the right side of the pitching rubber was causing his throws to break in the wrong location.

Morimando switched to the left side and pitched four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. He also had a three-run home run and a two-run shot as Ocean Lakes won 5-4.

“If I’m struggling at the beginning, I try to picture, 'Are my mechanics good? Am I overthrowing?’” he said. “I just make those certain adjustments.”

Morimando isn’t the only reason for Ocean Lakes’ success. Shortstop Alex Lambert was hitting .509 with five home runs and 27 RBIs entering Thursday. Pitcher/outfielder Tyler Clements had recorded six wins, and third baseman Killian Strenn, who moved to the area from Wisconsin, had 26 RBIs.

But the players take comfort when Morimando is on the mound.

“It puts more confidence in us knowing he will throw strikes and give us a chance to win,” Lambert said.

Morimando, a first baseman when he’s not pitching, likes hitting. But he loves pitching, which he start ed as a 7-year-old Little Leaguer in South Carolina.

“Ever since I was a little kid, being out on that mound, being centerstage, it’s a great feeling,” he said. “Throwing strikes is always something I’ve loved to do.”

Morimando will need to keep throwing strikes if he’s to reach his first Group AAA state tournament. He came close as a freshman, when the Dolphins lost in the Eastern Region semifinals. They lost in the Beach District quarterfinals last season.

“I’ve been shocking myself a little bit this season,” Morimando said. “But as a team we’re all growing. Everything’s coming together.”