The scene this weekend at Plumeri Park was a familiar one.
It started in the top of the first inning when a William and Mary pitcher would take the mound. As the Tribe hurler toed the rubber and delivered the first pitch, the scouts behind home plate would point their radar guns at the mound in hopes of a read on the pitcher’s velocity. Then, on the very next pitch, they would put the guns down.
The major league scouts were not there to see the Tribe pitchers.
They were there for Old Dominion starters Anthony Shawler and Dan Hudson. Shawler, who also played right field in the weekend series, was a first team All-American last season. Hudson was first team All-CAA. Both consistently hit 91 miles per hour and - judging by the way the scouts talked behind home plate - both have professional futures.
Pete Vernon does not throw 91 miles per hour. The Tribe lefty’s fastball tops out in the 81-82 miles per hour range, which is average for a good high school pitcher. He has a good breaking ball and an excellent change-up, but neither is of professional quality.
Barring a miraculous stroke of luck, or an added 10 miles per hour on his fastball, Vernon will not be pitching in the minor leagues next season. However, if you joined the scouts in the concession stand line when Vernon took the mound Friday night, you missed out.
Vernon was not spectacular, he allowed six runs on twelve hits over eight innings, but what Vernon’s performance lacked in flash it made up for in substance.
Old Dominion was picked in the pre-season to finish first in the conference. Any hopes the Tribe have of competing for a CAA or NCAA berth go through the Monarchs, who the Tribe haven’t taken a season series from since 2003.
In order to be what they hope to be, the Tribe needed to win this weekend. To win this weekend they needed a win on Friday. To get a win on Friday night, the Tribe needed Pete Vernon.
The qualities that make Vernon the ace of the William and Mary staff are not the things that show up on a radar gun.
It’s the way Vernon is able to pick off two consecutive runners in the fifth inning after already allowing three runs in the inning. It’s Vernon battling into the eighth inning to preserve the Tribe bullpen for the rest of the weekend. Most of all, it’s the way Vernon acts at every game - like something more important is at stake.
William and Mary certainly has players who will have a future in professional baseball. Guys like Tim Park, Mike Sheridan, Ben Guez, Pat Kantakevich and possibly even others will most likely one day find themselves on a minor league diamond playing for more than school pride.
What the Tribe doesn’t have is the surefire, first round, “bonus baby” talent. While the future is bright for Tribe players, it is by no means certain. It could be that for many of the players, this year’s team will be the best - and last - team experience they get.
Vernon pitches with this in mind. It is not something that is inherently valuable to scouts, but it’s something that fans should all recognize.
For all of us in the stands, there was a time when they took our jersey away from us. It is one of the reasons we watch; we want to re-experience those days when we were like the heroes we see on the field.
Vernon pitches knowing this might be one of his last chances to play the game he loves. While it may do nothing for scouts, it does something for us fans. Those who saw the game on Friday night know that while Pete Vernon may not have been the top prospect on the field, on that night he was the best pitcher.
Jack Lambert is a staff columnist for The DSJ. His views do not necessarily represent those of the entire staff.