Bringing the heat
Heritage Hall senior pitcher Chandler Shapard headlines The Oklahoman’s Little All-City baseball team and is the Little All-City Player of the Year.
Chandler Shapard’s pitches were rarely clocked this spring, yet he still had an idea how fast he was throwing. Faster than ever. “I’m hoping it was up there between 89-90,” Shapard said. “That was a pretty good feeling knowing that it’s actually showing I’m throwing a little bit harder.”
Heritage Hall’s senior right-hander had never felt so good on the mound, and it showed.
Shapard had his breakout season some had hoped would emerge as he led the Chargers back to the Class 4A state tournament.
He is The Oklahoman’s
Little All-City Player of the Year.
“We knew he had electric stuff, and we never got to release it,” Heritage Hall coach Breck Draper said. “Then we got to release it this year, and it was awesome to see how much success he had.
“It was cool to see him get the spotlight. I think it
was shocking to him, too, how well he produced all year.”
Shapard, who has signed with Central Oklahoma, used his newfound velocity to the tune of a 0.66 ERA and 8-1 record in 63 ⅔ innings. He struck out 104 and also recorded two saves.
His fastball jumped from topping at 85 mph to 90 mph to go along with
his sweeping slider.
Finally, he was nearing the 94 mph velocity he had from center field and bettering his 87 mph velocity at catcher.
No longer was Shapard just a fallback option when desperately needed.
“We handed him the ball in any situation we needed to win because he was so dominant,” Draper said. “I don’t know how
many times somebody got a hit on the barrel, to be honest. Everybody had a hard time hitting him, and that stuff translates to the next level, too.”
Shapard still had to work to make sure his arm remained healthy.
When he wasn’t pitching, he was catching or roaming the outfield, positions that still needed his electric arm.
He often ate dinner at his home, ran in the neighborhood an hour later and then iced his arm just so he could move his arm the next day.
But it was worth it. He’s now in position to play at the next level, where he can see just how far his arm will take him.
“I really think last summer was head-overheels my turning point,” Shapard said. “That led into this spring. Hopefully it’ll carry over.”