Sam Deland during Tuesday’s win over Russia…allowed no runs on 1 hit in a complete-game shutout. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
The smallest man on the roster, physically, Versailles’ Sam Deland was big on the mound Tuesday with a one-hit shutout over visiting Russia…Sturwold, Tigers prepare for conference play.
Versailles, OH – Versailles baseball coach Bill Sturwold makes no bones about it when he’s asked to describe the personality, impact, and performance of senior infielder/pitcher Sam Deland.
“He’s the heart of our team, I think,” Sturwold said following Tuesday’s 7-0 shutout win over visiting Russia, and a game in which his heart and soul pitched a one-hit shutout just to prove his versatility.
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“When we did our off-season workouts he would show up after wrestling practice…he’s big into wrestling. And that tells you he’s a baseball guy, too. He leads by his example.”
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Sturwold’s never been one to mince words, and he’s phi beta kappa in saying a lot with a few words.
“When your pitcher is on, like he was today, it sets the stage for the whole ballgame. Sam can be that kind of player.”
He left little doubt of that Tuesday against Russia, a young and talented group for coach Kevin Phlipot that’s finding its way after last year’s graduation of a coveted senior class. Matched up against senior lefthander Maddox Goubeaux, Deland quickly retired the first six outs in order, striking out three.
That was only the overture to the opera. Before it was over, he carried a no-hitter into the top of the six inning, when with one out that same Maddox Goubeaux hit a hard ground ball just inside the third base bag and down the left field line for a single…only to be thrown out at second base trying to make a single into a two base hit.
Prior to the sixth, however, a Russia batter had hit a ball into right field in the second inning for an apparent single, only to have the right fielder charge the ball and throw the batter-runner out at first base…a 9-3 putout.
“I was aware that they (Russia) didn’t have a hit. Today was the closest I’ve ever come to a no-hitter.”
“I was aware that they didn’t have a hit yet,” said Deland, afterwards. “I’ve never thrown a no-hitter in something like this and I was thinking about it. Today was the closest I’ve ever come. And Maddox and I used to play together on the same summer team.”
In his longest outing of the young season, Sturwold sent Deland back out for the top of the seventh, nearing his 80th pitch for the game.
“He deserved a chance at a complete game,” smiled Sturwold, bowing to teenage pride and baseball protocol. “I wanted him to have it.”
Two fly balls and a finishing strikeout later, he had his complete game and a 7-0 shutout.
He got all the offensive support he would need in the bottom of the third as the Tigers plated three runs (two unearned) off of Goubeaux…then followed that up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to tighten the noose on the Raiders’ struggling batting order. If the curveball is baseball’s kryptonite, then Deland gave Russia little room for hope. He consistently threw the breaking ball for strikes, up in or behind in the count, and when he got ahead with it the Raiders were no match for a firm fastball, in or out of the zone.
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“Either one, curve or fastball, is my go-to pitch,” says Deland.
Leading 5-0 entering the sixth, Versailles plated two more against Russia’s bullpen, securing Bill Sturwold’s 497th career coaching win.
“I’m very confident with throwing the breaking ball,” said Deland, who for his size has good arm speed, good balance through his delivery, and is capable of repeating that delivery. Tuesday he was a strike-throwing machine.
“I’ve been pitching since I was in the fifth grade,” he says. “I think I started throwing the curve even then, but I didn’t really start using it until the eighth grade. Mostly, back then I was an infielder and lived at second base.”
Sam Deland scores in June of 2021 while participating in the Stammen Youth Baseball Classic.
People remember him from playing 12U baseball in the annual Craig Stammen Classic tournaments, the smallest kid on the field hustling to get on base, get to the next base, and get to home plate. As an infielder he showed good hands to catch the ball, and he made strong, accurate throws. Despite his size, the hustle and desire to compete was always hard to miss.
Now, as a senior in high school, he’s part of what Sturwold believes is a strong one-two punch on the mound for the Tigers as they prepare for MAC Conference this week against Parkway, on Thursday.
“I think we’ve got a good team,” said Deland, confidently. “I’ve got high goals.
“I want to win a state championship with this team. We’re pretty young, but we’ve also got five returning lettermen. I think we’re definitely good enough. We’ve lost a couple but those were games against two of the toughest teams we’ll play all year.”
He knows the quality of the conference – Coldwater, St. Henry, Minster, Fort Recovery, and his own team. He’s respectful of those teams, but undaunted. Being the smallest, he’s always played with a chip, and the only thing that’s changed now is the size of the chip.
“With Sam and Ian Bergman we’re going to be in the game,” adds Sturwold, who knows the qualities of title-challenging pitching when he sees it. “Right now we’re putting it all together, and Sam is going to throw strikes. That’s what you’ve got to do at this level.
“And that’s what he did today.”
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