Zack Hayes
2007-2010
It was always nice to know that some really good players were going to take the field for Lutheran Baseball. As a small school, we had players that were All-State All-County, All-Conference and players that should have been one of the previous types. But the success of Lutheran Baseball really depended on the players that worked hard and played roles on our teams. These guys were self-motivated, loved baseball enough to stick with it, and improved their skills and athleticism to get on the baseball diamond for our teams. They were great teammates.
As I think back over the years, the player that sticks out the most to me about their efforts to play is Zack Hayes. Zack came to Lutheran High School in 2006-07 from Calvary. He was around 5’8” tall and weighed around 130 pounds. Not exactly a player that one would project to be a varsity player. Zack hit left-handed and had a role model of Ryan Howard, power-hitting first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies.
Zack started out playing JV as a freshman. I have no memory of how well he did but he enjoyed it enough to return as a sophomore. We had a very good team in 2008 with several seniors. Zack did not get much playing time but did get six At Bats and got his first career varsity hit on May 12, 2008 against University High School. Zack mostly got in games as a pinch runner or in the outfield if we were way ahead or way down. In basketball, it is called a 20/20 guy. He gets in when their team is up 20 or down 20! To Zack’s credit, he received the Most Improved Player award for 2008.
In 2009, Zack continued his role with the Varsity team as a pinch runner and outfielder. Zack did start a few games in the early part of the season but his big opportunity came with four games remaining in the season. After playing different players in roles in the field and as designated hitter, we decided to have Zack start in rightfield for his defense and then used a DH for him to get another player in the lineup. Zack had worked to get his chance.
As his senior season came about in 2010, Zack had some opportunities to start and hit along with some other players who were competing for playing time. He was now 5’9” and weighed 145 pounds. He had a couple of years of experience to establish himself. For the first 10 games of the season Zack played in games by starting, pinch running and subbing in. Beginning in the 11th game versus Cardinal Ritter, Zack became the starting rightfielder with a DH for the rest of the schedule. Over the season Zack also got 17AB’s and against Southwestern on April 15, 2010, he had his best game at the plate by going 2 for 5 and had 3 RBI. For the season Zack had a Fielding Average of .905 as our rightfielder.
Zack’s success story with Lutheran Baseball serves as a great example to players at any school. Keep showing up, work hard, love what you are doing and be ready for your opportunity. Certainly Zack demonstrated many positive qualities and when the opportunities came, he was able to produce and earn the playing time and role he wanted. He most likely would have wanted to have hit more frequently, but we did have guys who could step in the DH role and produce who were not the defensive players that Zack was.
As a coach, I am very proud of Zack’s accomplishments and contributions to Lutheran Baseball. He exemplified many of the traits on and off the field that the coaches desired from the players. Thanks Zack!
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