The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Avon Lake returns, Graham leads pitching staff
It’s been a long journey back to the field for the Avon Lake baseball team.
After not having a season in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Shoremen are happy to be back and are more motivated than ever.
“It feels amazing,” pitcher and first basemen Kevin McKinley said. “We love playing with each other. We have a tight-knit group, great leadership and great everything.”
Not having a season last year was tough on area teams and senior players. The Shoremen did what they could to make the best of the situation. Seniors were honored by the school and the community, while returning players made sure to play in the summer to stay in baseball shape.
“Last year was tough. It was tough on the kids, tough on the program and tough for all high school baseball teams,” Avon Lake coach Andrew Means said. “We made the best of it. The parents and coaches got involved. We tried to do whatever we could to keep the kids going during that time. We did our best and kept the kids in until they finally called (the season) off. We did a big car parade for the seniors to commemorate them being here all four years.”
The program has turned the page on last year and is focused on this upcoming season. The energy level and excitement around the team are high as the players know they are having a season this time around.
“We all have one goal in mind and that’s to play at Canal Park in late May (for) a state championship,” shortstop Aidan Grabowski said. “The energy is really good.”
To get to Akron, the Shoremen will need to come together and play as a team to make that happen. With 10 seniors on the roster, expectations for the team are high.
“The juniors from last year that are now seniors are extremely disciplined,” Means said. “They really got to work last year when they were off. I’m excited to see them. We have a great group of leaders — kids that want to better the program for years to come. I’m excited to watch them play.”
Avon Lake’s offense this year is expected to be solid with McKinley and Grabowski leading the way.
“The offense is looking great. We have a great lineup,” McKinley said. “We’re disciplined, we take pitches, we swing at good pitches and we don’t swing at anything outside of the strike zone. I think we’ll be a really solid offensive team.”
The big ticket unit for the Shoremen this season is their pitching staff, which is the strength of the team.
Leading the charge is freshman Drew Graham, who is Ohio’s No. 1 baseball prospect for 2024, according to Prep Baseball Report.
The 5-foot-10 southpaw has a full arsenal to work with. His pitches include a fastball, a curve, slider and changeup. At age 14, Graham’s fastball has been clocked at 86.7 mph.
“We expect a lot out of Drew,” said Means. “Drew is a kid that doesn’t come around very often. You want to make sure that you use him in a way that he is comfortable. I think that Drew is so mature beyond his years for a 14-year-old kid. He can handle a lot. We’ve thrown a lot at him and he’s done nothing but handle it very well. He’s the real deal.”
While a lot is expected of Graham in his first season of high school baseball, the freshman is ready to learn and grow.
“I am going to see everything and see how the seniors do everything,” Graham said. “I don’t want to be that guy that is doing anything more than anyone else on the team. I don’t want to step on anyone’s foot. I want to see how everything works and then go from there. I want to do my best, not really talk and let my talking (occur) out on the field for my guys.”
As the season rolls along, Graham will have his teammates to support him and help him along in his development.
With the season starting next week, McKinley has some advice for the freshman on how to handle himself in his first season.
“Just be yourself. Varsity baseball is just like any other baseball,” said McKinley. “You just have to go out there, do your thing and don’t let the fans or your age affect that. You have the ball. He’s obviously been doing it his whole life so just do your thing and you’ll be successful.”