The Gardner News: "Slattery Shutting The Door On Worcester State Opponents"

Slattery Shutting The Door On Worcester State Opponents

By Tom Trainque, Sports Editor

April 29, 2011

It didn't take long for former Gardner High baseball standout Shaun Slattery to etch his name into the Worcester State University record books. Slattery, just a sophomore, recorded his seventh and eighth saves of the season in a doubleheader sweep of Fitchburg State University on Tuesday to break the school record formerly held by Kevin Hayes, who saved seven games last season.

With the graduation of Hayes, the Lancers were in need of a new closer and Slattery, a hard-throwing southpaw, fit that role perfectly, according to his pitching coach Rick Smith.

"We look for a guy who can throw strikes and a guy who has the mental and psychological makeup that can handle those situations with good composure and likes to compete and Shaun has all of those," said Smith. "It's nice to have people at the end of the game that can get the final three outs.

"Those are the toughest three outs to get and we've been fortunate that we've had guys at the end of the game that can do it. Shaun was a starter last year but he had such dominating stuff and for an inning or two he's usually lights out."

Slattery also had a sensational freshman season where he went 4-0 in eight appearances, including five starts. He had a 2.88 ERA in 34 1/3 innings and struck out 26 batters. The former Wildcat embraced his new role as closer, however, where he has been even more brilliant.

In 17 games so far this season, his ERA is down to 1.42 in 25 1/3 innings, he has struck out 36 batters against just eight walks and opponents are hitting just .140 against him. He has also won three games in addition to his eight saves.

"I broke Kevin Hayes' record. He's the man and I really looked up to him last year. He's a sidearm pitcher and when he came into the game we had a lot of trust in him and that's really the role I took," said Slattery. "I just wanted to be a lot like him and just close out the games and have the trust of the coaches and the players and I feel like I really stepped in and filled those shoes."

The transition from starter to closer was a bumpy one for Slattery, who battled an injury throughout much of the preseason and did not pitch until a bullpen session in the final week of practice. Slattery's coaches were excited what they saw though and gave him the job as the team headed down to Florida for its first eight games of the season.

"I got hurt and they shut me down for two to three weeks and I was behind stamina-wise," said Slattery. "Then the last week of practice I was throwing a lot of strikes and really hitting my spots. They told me they were not afraid to use me as a closer down in Florida and that became my role."

Slattery saved the Lancers' very first game of the season, a 3-1 victory over Husson in Lakeland, FL on March 11. He saved two more games during the trip — a 2-1 win over Curry College and a 5-3 win over Roger Williams — and continued to dominate once the team returned to Worcester. Slattery has allowed an earned run in just two of his 17 appearances and has given up just 12 hits all season.

His other saves this season have come against Castleton State, MCLA, Framingham State and the two against Fitchburg State earlier this season to set a new team record with eight. Slattery also has wins against Westfield State, Brandeis and Bridgewater State. It's been a really enjoyable season for Slattery to say the least.

He didn't see himself as a closer prior to this year, but it's really grown on him.

"I've never been a closer. I've been a starter my whole life and it's a whole different mentality and I kind of like it," said Slattery. "As a starter you think about making it all seven innings or nine innings or whatever it is and as a closer you're a fireballer and just throwing as hard as you can. I've always been a strikeout type of pitcher and in the closer role you've got to be like that and try to blow people away."

"I really just use my fastball," added Slattery, who also has a changeup, splitter and curveball in his pitching arsenal. "I haven't really been working offspeed as much and just try to beat everybody with my fastball and it's working."

Smith said there's a possibility Slattery could become a starter again for the Lancers after this season, but he has definitely liked what he's seen this year.

"He throws strikes, he throws hard and he can overpower people in situations and that's why he's been effective," said Smith. "I think Shaun projects as a starter but we'll use our personnel accordingly and he might be a prospect to play at the next level."

Slattery will take on any role given to him in his final two seasons at Worcester State, but has certainly enjoyed the ride during his sophomore campaign.

"As of right now closing is working for me so I might as well stick to it," he said. "If they put me as a starter next year then that's what I'll do."

And Slattery's plans for after college just may include some more baseball. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father, Pete, who played professionally in the Oakland A's farm system where he reached Double-A .

"That's the dream," said Slattery, whose grandfather, another lefty pitcher, also played professionally and brother, Matt, played for Worcester State rival Fitchburg State. "You've got to dream."