Shipley’s Tommy Ball is Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week

The junior shortstop/pitcher, an All-Main Line baseball second team selection as a freshman, is currently batting .485 as a leadoff hitter with five triples, 14 runs scored and 10 RBIs. On the mound he has posted a 3-1 record and 2.05 ERA this spring with 23 strikeouts and only three walks allowed in 20 innings. Off the field at Shipley, Ball is a member of the Help 4 Homeless Club and is a member of the school’s Athletic Committee.

Q: What do you think has been the most important thing you’ve learned recently regarding hitting?

A: The most important thing I’ve learned recently is to keep my front shoulder closed. In the past I’ve found myself throwing my shoulder open which causes me to rollover pull side but keeping my shoulder in allows me to stay through the ball.

Q: Tell us a little about your infielder leadership role as a shortstop.

A: As the shortstop, I need to make sure the other guys in the infield know what we are doing and where we are going with the ball. Being vocal is one of the most important parts of being a shortstop. We also have a young infield so it’s important that I’m positive and work to keep them focused.

Q: What do you consider your best pitch? What aspect of pitching are you working on the most?

A: I would consider my best pitch my four-seam fastball. If you can command a fastball well, you will have a lot of success being able to control the count and set up opportunities to throw different pitches. The three things that I’m working on most are my arm strength, velocity, and a solid breaking ball.

Q: As a pitcher, after facing a hitter a couple of times in a game, you probably have a better idea of what to throw him late in a game. Can you give us an example of how this has worked in your favor?

A: In the past, after one or two at-bats, you get a sense of whether or not they can hit your fastball or not or if they have success in hitting your off-speed pitches. In our FSL semifinal game, I got a sense that they were a little late on my fastball but could hit it any moment so I would mix in a lot of my breaking balls. This resulted in a ton of pop-outs and ground balls, which is exactly what a pitcher wants.

Q: What aspect of your game did you work on most during the off-season? Tell us a little about your baseball training during this past COVID pandemic year.

A: This off-season I devoted a lot of my time to the cages and working on my swing and I’d like to say that the time I spent paid off. During the COVID spring, I worked a lot on my own in the weight room and also against a wall doing drills to make my hands quicker in the field. Over the COVID summer I spent my time playing and practicing for my travel team, which segued into the fall season. At the end of the summer, I really devoted myself to the weight room and gaining weight.

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’ve been playing baseball for as far back as I can remember. My biggest mentor and supporter has been my dad. He’s always been there for me and has devoted so much to wanting to see me to succeed. He’s always taught me to persevere and try my hardest 100 percent of the time. Another influential person in my baseball life has been my high school coach, Bryan Bendowski. He gave me a chance to start varsity as a freshman, which has given me a lot of confidence to play at this level.

Q: Who is your favorite baseball player and why? What is your favorite ballpark and why?

A: My favorite baseball player is Clayton Kershaw. When I started becoming serious about pitching, I always looked up to him and how good of pitcher he is. It’s also hard not to stare in awe at his curveball. Despite being a Dodger fan, my favorite ballpark is Fenway. The Green Monster and the fans make it hard to not love that ballpark.

Q: You wear uniform jersey No. 22 for Shipley baseball. Was there a reason you chose this number?

A: I wear No. 22 because of Clayton Kershaw. I have stuck to this number for all three seasons and have made it a point to keep it. I also think 22 on a jersey is a pretty clean number that fits on the jersey well.

 

Q: Tell us a little about your pre-game preparation the day of a game.

A: Besides stretching as a team, I make sure I do my J-bands before games and when I’m pitching, I use weighted balls. I also always make sure I throw with my throwing partner, Jake Vickers, who I’ve thrown with for all three years.

Q: What do you think you might like to major in at college? Is there a career field that particularly interests you at the present time?

A: I hope to major in business or economics. I’m interested in working in the sports management industry, preferably baseball.

Fun facts – Tommy Ball

Favorite book: To Kill a Mockingbird.

Favorite author: William Shakespeare.

Favorite TV show: Stranger Things.

Favorite movie: Pulp Fiction.

Favorite athlete: Clayton Kershaw.

Favorite pre-game pump-up song: Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin.

Favorite team: Los Angeles Dodgers.

Favorite place to visit: Sunriver, Oregon.

Favorite pre-game meal: Wawa quesadilla.

Person I most admire, and why: “I admire Mike Trout the most. He’s one of the best baseball players of all time but his humility would make any young ballplayer like him.”

Family members: parents Charles and Stephanie, little brother JD.

(To be selected as Main Line Boys Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by his coach.)