Radnor catcher George Hoysgaard is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week
The senior catcher was batting .447 (as of May 6), with eight extra-base hits and a Delaware County-leading five home runs, as well as 17 RBIs and 10 runs scored. One of his biggest hits was his seventh-inning, tie-breaking home run off Marple ace Alden Mathes. A three-sport athlete, Hoysgaard also played soccer and basketball for Radnor.
Q: What do you think has been the most important thing you’ve learned recently regarding hitting?
A: Throughout the first half of the season, I have learned that the first pitch of my at bats are most likely going to be the best pitch I will see. Knowing this, I look for fastballs in my zone where I can have the best chance of getting a hit.
Q: How do you see your on-field leadership role on the team as the catcher?
A: My job on the field is to help out the pitcher any way I can and make them better. Also, I like to calm my pitchers when they’re in a tense situation and help them get through it.
Q: What attracted you to the position of catcher?
A: To me, catchers were always the most athletic and versatile players on the field. I always wanted to be that type of player and that’s what attracted me to the position.
Q: What aspect of your game did you work on most during the off-season?
A: During the off season, I spent most of my time working on my swing. I would watch MLB players such as Mike Trout and Christian Yelich swing BP as well as live at bats. After seeing how they approached hitting, I then starting comparing it to my own swing, so throughout most of the last offseason I worked on my load and timing.
Q: You mentioned that the tie-breaking home run you hit off Marple ace Alden Mathes earlier this season was your most memorable experience as a Radnor baseball player. Tell us a little about that at-bat.
A: It was tied 6-6 and I had a feeling something big was about to happen. Mathes came in to pitch and got the first two hitters – good hitters – out and I knew coming to the plate he had a lot of confidence on the mound. After battling with his pitches to a 2-2 count, I was confident he was going to throw a curve and I just had to put the ball in play to give us a good chance of taking the lead. He threw a hanging curve and I just put the best swing I could on it and it was one of the best feelings ever to watch that ball go over the fence and rounding third seeing my whole team ready to celebrate.
Q: Tell us a little about your start in baseball. Who have been your
biggest baseball mentors, and what was the most important thing each of them taught you about baseball?
A: I first began baseball like most others in Little League. Throughout playing in LL, I wasn’t always the best player and my dad always pushed me to continue playing because he knew I would get better as I grew older. My father, who played baseball at Wake Forest was my biggest baseball mentor. The most important thing he taught me was to never give up and always strive to be the best on the field. Coach [Mark] Jordan has also been a big mentor in my high school baseball career. He is always helping me to be a better player and a better person.
Q: Who is your favorite baseball player and why?
A: Christian Yelich is my favorite baseball player. The way he approaches the game and what he does on and off the field most resembles what I enjoy doing.
Q: What is your favorite ballpark and why?
A: Wrigley Field is my favorite ballpark because I am from Chicago and the Cubs are my favorite team.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.
A: When I get to the field I like to take a couple of practice swings trying to work on my load and getting my hands going. I then hop in the cage and like to get 15-20 quality swings. Once we stretch as a team, I like to long toss with the starting pitcher to get my arm loose and ready for the game.
Q: Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?
A: I don’t know as of now what my major will be in college but I’d like to be involved in business because I’ve always had an interest in any business-related field.
Fun facts – George Hoysgaard
Favorite TV show: The Office.
Favorite movie: The Other Guys.
Favorite athlete: Christian Yelich.
Favorite pre-game pump-up song: The Show Goes On.
Favorite team: Chicago Cubs.
Favorite pre-game meal: Qdoba.
Family members: parents Rob and Julie, brothers Will and Teddy, sister Janie.
(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)
