Churchland Baseball: Stephen Butt

PORTSMOUTH Stephen Butt was 12 years old, his Little League team rolling to an easy victory, when he received a surprising request.

“My dad told me to go up there left-handed,” said Butt, a natural right-hander. “I did. And I actually hit a double off the fence. I’ve been working on it ever since.”

Now a senior at Churchland, Butt still enjoys success from both sides of the plate. Last season he batted .491, with three home runs and 32 RBIs.

Though Butt hits primarily from the right side, it was no shock to his father that he’s comfortable either way. .

But the fact that he’s comfortable either way is no shock to his father.

“I did that because every sport he played, whether it was baseball, golf, hockey, he always gripped like a left-hander,” said Billy Butt, who assisted on his son’s Little League teams. “He was very natural. I always thought when he was younger he was better from the left side.”

No matter which side he swings from, Butt will need to be a spark plug for Churchland this season if the Truckers are to win the Eastern District title. He bats leadoff, and was 20 of 21 on stolen base attempts last season.

This is Butt’s fourth season on varsity. Churchland coach Billy Kline said he knew from the start of Butt’s freshman season that he would be a leader.

“He had all the tools,” said Kline, who also coaches the golf team Butt played on last fall. “He has awesome speed, great wheels, soft hands, a lot of mobility, great agility, strong arm, runs well – he just can do it all.”

Primarily a shortstop, Butt also has pitched and played second base and third base at Churchland.

He’s also spent time in the outfield because that’s where West Virginia University, which is recruiting him, wants him to play.

“I had to get used to running down balls in the gap, and that was hard to get used to because the field was so big,” Butt said. “But I’m getting more comfortable with it, every fly ball I take.”

No matter where he ends up, Kline is confident Butt has the skills to thrive in college. He noted that new bats firstbeing used this season have changed what coaches are looking for.

“The coach down there made a comment that the game is going to change completely, it’s going to turn into a speed game,” Kline said. “Small ball, bunting guys over, running. Speed is going to be a huge asset, and this boy can fly.”