Stark Keeps Coming Up Big for the Leopards on Mound and at the Plate

In one of La Grange’s most important baseball games of the season so far, Ty Stark came up huge in Giddings last week – coming within one out of pitching a complete game and striking out 10 in a 7-3 Leopards win. He’s also the Leps’ leadoff hitter and hit a homer and drove in three runs in that game.

Tuesday, he kept the momentum going pitching 4.1 innings of one-run ball against Caldwell.

“He’s come along great this year. His bat has been here all year, he’s put together some good approaches. He’s hitting the ball well,” said La Grange head baseball coach James Zaruba. “We turned him into a starting pitcher here in district and he’s put the innings in. He pitched a complete game against Bellville and six and two-thirds against Giddings. He’s doing a great job of keeping the ball in the strike zone.”

We’re proud to honor Ty Stark as this week’s Fayette County Athlete of the Week.

Here’s our interview with him:

Are you a better hitter or a better pitcher?

“I would say pitcher. I give our team a chance to win.”

When did you start playing baseball?

“Ever since I could walk.”

How many pitches do you throw and which is your favorite?

“I throw four different pitches and my favorite is my curveball.”

Tell me about that homer you hit in Giddings.

“It was a one-two count and he hung a slider. I put a good barrel on it and it went ... It was my first varsity home run. I didn’t even know it was gone until I rounded second base. It felt amazing.”

When you are pitching against your teammates, who is the toughest out?

“Hunter Sabo ... I can never get him out.”

Who is your favorite pro athlete?“ 

Alex Bregman.”

Are there any other sports you play at LHS?

“Strictly baseball.”

If you could add any sport to La Grange High School that it doesn’t already have, what would it be? “

Water polo” 

Do you have any superstitions or things you do before or during every game?

“I wear the same belt. If we win I’ll wear that belt again, but if we lose I switch belts.”

The district race is incredibly bunched, with only one game separating first and last place. What will be the biggest key for La Grange in these final five games of the regular season, to get into the playoffs?

“Finding holes ... we just keep hitting the ball right at people. We’re hitting the ball hard, we just can’t get them to fall .”

You are a senior. What are your plans for after high school?

“Go to college and make some money ... I’m going to go to Blinn and study sports medicine.”