Star catcher Holtz savors his time at Arrowhead
Jeff Holtz is like most players. He plans to drain every ounce he can get out of the game.
“My goal is to make it as far in baseball as I can, until I’m either not allowed to play anymore or I can’t play,” he said.
That time for the Arrowhead standout will be a least a few years away. The senior catcher, a threeyear starter at the position, signed with Indiana last fall.
Holtz orally committed to the Hoosiers almost four years ago. Since then he has lived up to the hype, earning second-team allstate honors the past two years from the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association. Last year he was the Journal Sentinel’s area baseball player of the year and helped his team make its third straight state tournament appearance.
He hit .452.
But that’s just a number. There is a lot more on the field and off that makes Holtz one of the state’s best players.
IDEAL EXAMPLE
Ask Holtz about his favorite player and he’ll tell you Mike Trout for his work on the field. Who wouldn’t want to follow the lead of the Los Angeles Angels star centerfielder?
“I look up to him because of how confident he is,” Holtz said. “It’s kind of a swagger. It’s not really cocky. But swagger is something in baseball that is important to have. It’s cool to see him up there and all the success he’s had.”
The more impactful influence, however, has been his father, Kent. Holtz’s father had to grow up quickly after his mother died during his youth. He didn’t have the opportunity to play baseball. He did, however, encourage his son and supported that pursuit as it has taken them across the country.
Even today, Holtz thinks his father is more a fan of supporting him than of the game itself.
“He has more of a passion of making me the best player I can be,” Holtz said. “He knows what it takes. He used to think I didn’t realize it, but he was the one who told me everything and taught me everything I know.”
CONTROLLING THE SHOW
Last fall Holtz played quarterback on the school’s football team. As a catcher, he serves as the field general of the baseball team. This marks his third straight season calling pitches for the Warhawks.
It is a responsibility that has led to many brainstorming sessions over lunch with Arrowhead coach Nick Brengosz. In the process, Holtz has come to see the game in a different light.
“There is a lot more to it than you think. Just the lineup, knowing where to put people, when do you bunt, when do you not, moving people over,” he said. “It’s a big responsibility for coaches. I look up to Brengosz for that. He’s been an awesome coach for us.”
How has Holtz done? Not bad. Two years ago, he caught two allstate players, Nathan Brown and Ryan Schmitt. Last year, Derek Crawley and Davis Zeutzuis received all-league honors for their work on the mound.
“I think it’s my responsibility to calm (the pitcher) down if he gets a little wild, but I usually don’t like to go pump him up or tell him what to do because pitchers hate that,” Holtz said. “They hate being told what to do, so I try to go out there and get their mind off it, just talk to them like a friend.”
LIFE AS A TWIN
Not only is time ticking on Holtz’s time as a Warhawk, but time is also running down until his first extensive separation from his twin brother, Lance. The brothers, who are fraternal twins, have already taken different paths in some repects. Lance, for instance, has really had little interest in playing sports.
“He’s just a genius,” Holtz said. “He’s got the major brains in the family.”
However, like most twins, Holtz and his brother found a number of ways to connect. They’re both Harry Potter junkies. Last month they saw Goblet of Fire. Holtz says he has seen every film in the series,
“That is one thing my brother and I have in common is Harry Potter. We like seeing them together.”
LESSONS LEARNED
When Arrowhead switched to the spring season three years ago, some probably thought the program would have a state title by now.
Instead the Warhawks have experienced tough season-ending losses. In 2015 Arrowhead was upset by Milwaukee Reagan in the sectional final. Two years ago, Burlington rallied from a 4-0 deficit in the final two innings of the state final to win, 6-4. Last year Sun Prairie outlasted the Warhawks, 6-5, in 10 innings in the state semifinals.
That last loss ended with Holtz striking out with the tying run in scoring position. Consider it a difficult moment in an overall great experience
“Arrowhead baseball has made me grow as a player, exponentially,” Holtz said. “They have made me a better player, better in school. They’ve always been pushing me. It’s been awesome.”