Fritsch Catches Athlete of the Week Honors
Fayette Co. Record’s Athlete of the Week
Recent FCR’s Athlete of the Week
April 16: Ilse Salinas, RT-C Track
April 23: Keagan Supak, Fayetteville Baseball/Track
April 30: Bravion Rogers, La Grange Track
May 7: Briana Vavra, Schulenburg Softball
May 14: Trenton Barnes, La Grange Baseball
May 21: Parker Vitek, Fayetteville Baseball
May 28: Logan Fritsch, Fayetteville Baseball
* Read about the new honorees in our Friday editions and then watch their interviews on our Facebook page a few days later.
Fayetteville sophomore catcher Logan Fritsch takes on arguably the most important role on the baseball field with his duties behind the plate. Last Thursday in a playoff contest against district rival Round Top-Carmine, he brought his bat to the dish as well. Fritsch knocked all three RBIs for Fayetteville to capture a 3-2 victory.
“He’s done that all year long,” said Fayetteville head baseball coach Clint Jaeger. “The three runs were crucial. He’s got a lot of clutch hits throughout the season, so it didn’t surprise me too much that he came through against Round Top. As far as him catching, he has come a long way. We didn’t have much of a season last year, but he’s improved so much and taken a lot of responsibility on himself. He does a lot of the pitch calling, almost all of it. In the past, I haven’t really let catchers do that a whole lot, but he’s shown that he’s capable of doing it well. You would believe by the time they’re maybe a senior, you would kind of hand over the reigns to them a little bit and give them more responsibility. Right now, he’s doing a good job doing it himself.”
Fritsch has answered when called upon in all aspects of the game, making him our choice for this edition’s Athlete of the Week.
Question: What all went right for you at the plate in your 3 RBI performance?
Answer: “I was just looking for my pitch. I know Alex (Pieper) and Ryker (Goehring) are great pitchers. They’re probably the top pitchers in 1A right now. I knew Ryker had a good curve ball. Fastball, outside corner, he hit his spot perfect. I didn’t like either pitches. I got myself to a 3-2 count. I knew a fastball was coming at me. I just got lucky and hit the sweet spot, drove it up the middle. I didn’t try to do too much with it, just try to get the runs in.”
Question: If you had to give advice to someone on catching, what would you tell them?
Answer: “I think a big thing most people really don’t look at is receiving. I think the way you catch the ball, you can get a lot of calls. That’s what I really try to work on. I think you have to be a tough guy on the plate. Any ball around you, try to stop it. I think a big part is having the right mindset.”
Question: Who’s a former or current MLB catcher you look up to?
Answer: “I watch a lot of Gary Sanchez. The way he catches on one knee. I got that from him after watching his MLB games, then I started doing it. I really liked it.”
Question: What’s the most rewarding part about being an athlete?
Answer: “Winning games is an amazing feeling. Especially doing it with a group of friends that you’ve been friends with your whole life. I think that’s one great thing. Having the feeling of beating somebody and being on top.”
Question: If you could have dinner with two celebrities, who would you choose?
Answer: “Adam Sandler and Mike Trout.”
Question: What’s something that you’ve always wanted to accomplish?
Answer: “Going to state for baseball. After watching my brother do it two years in a row, I just want to be at Dell Diamond and play for Fayetteville. It’s a tradition at Fayetteville. A lot of people come out to the games to watch us play baseball, so I think playing at Dell Diamond would definitely be my thing. Playing for the community.”
Question: In what ways have you contributed the most to your team?
Answer: “Getting people in. The top of our lineup does a great job at getting on base. I think I have a decent amount of RBI’s this year. The top of our lineup is great at getting on base for me to drive them in.”
Question: How did you become a catcher?
Answer: “When I was 8 years old, I caught off a pitching machine and I loved it. After that, catching was my favorite position. I love being a catcher because you’re involved in every single play. You never really get bored. You always got something going on.”
Question: Where’s a place you would like to visit?
Answer: “Fenway Park. I want to see the big wall in left field. It looks huge. I just want to see it in person one day.”
Question: What motivates you when playing baseball?
Answer: “Just to do good for the team. I don’t really try to play for myself. I try to play for the team, play for the community. I can’t let them down.”
Fritsch’s baseball IQ at an early stage of his career has put the Lions in a great spot.