Jeff Dietz '08 earns a top preseason accolade, has high hopes for 2007
Megan McCahill
Issue date: 2/1/07 Section: Sports
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"I made the (junior varsity) basketball team in high school, but I quit the next day. It wasn't for me," Dietz said, "My whole life has been about baseball."
Sticking to baseball turned out to be a good decision. In the most recent issue of Collegiate Baseball, he was selected as the Ivy League preseason pitcher of the year. Dietz was 3-1 with a 2.73 earned-run average in Ivy League play last season. His 31 strikeouts were the second most in the conference, and he allowed just five walks.
"In my mind, Jeff is very worthy of the award," said Head Coach Marek Drabinski. Drabinski pointed out that Dietz was selected over some tough competition, including Shawn Haviland of Harvard, the returning Ivy League Pitcher of the Year.
"What makes Jeff stand out from most pitchers is his unique pitching style," Drabinski said. Dietz, a right-handed pitcher, throws side-armed and from three different arm angles. Drabinski compared Dietz to former Red Sox pitcher and current San Diego Padres reliever Cla Meredith, whose .170 batting average against led the National League last season.
The only thing about Dietz that stands out more than his side-armed throwing motion is his passion for the game.
"I just love baseball. I love spending all day at the field. Like on a Saturday or a Sunday, when you have games and you're just at the field all day, getting ready to play," he said.
It is hard to keep Dietz off the field. When he is not on the mound, he plays first base. He is also one of Brown's best hitters. Last season he was second on the team in batting average, hitting .364 while driving in 33 runs. He also scored 20 runs himself.
"I don't really have a preference between first base and pitching," Dietz said. "I like them both. I just want to play, no matter what position it is."