Scheiner’s power giving ‘people what they want’
Jake Scheiner steps to the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning.
It’s a fairly pressure-free at-bat, with the University of Houston holding a comfortable eight-run lead over Incarnate Word.
“I haven’t seen a home run today,” a fan yells from the first few rows at Schroeder Park.
Scheiner pops out harmlessly to center field.
“Thanks for trying, Jake,” the fan responds.
Not known for putting up power numbers, Scheiner is among the national leaders in home runs, including a remarkable six in a four-game stretch earlier this month. His nine home runs lead the American Athletic Conference and are tied for sixth nationally.
“You’ve got to give people what they want,” the junior shortstop said.
The early production by Scheiner is just one of the many reasons the No. 23 Cougars (19-5) have won 11 in a row — the program’s longest winning streak in 15 years — entering AAC play this weekend with a three-game series at Central Florida.
“We knew when we signed him that he was an offensive player,” UH coach Todd Whitting said. “That’s the thing that was attractive about him. He’s been extremely hot.”
A simple approach Scheiner (pronounced Shine-Er) hit his first two home runs of the season in back-to-back games against Missouri and Illinois in late February at the Kleberg Bank College Classic in Corpus Christi.
He had two home runs and five RBIs on March 14 against McNeese State, but the UH cleanup hitter was just warming up. Four days later, he hit another against Alabama State and followed the next day with three more (along with seven RBIs) in the series finale.
The totals from a memorable week: .813 batting average (13-of-16), six home runs and 15 RBIs to earn national player of the week.
“When I get the right pitch, I will take a good swing on it, and most of the time, the results are a hard hit ball hopefully over the fence,” said Scheiner, whose nine homers are more than the rest of the UH roster (seven) combined.”
What did Whitting say to Scheiner during the hot streak?
“You don’t even talk to him,” he said. “You don’t want to wake him up. You just let him play.”
Whitting said Scheiner has two factors working for him: a simple approach at the plate and strength.
“He can mishit some balls and still get some production,” Whitting said.
More than just homers
Even so, Scheiner said he has never considered himself a home run hitter. His previous career high was eight, set last season at Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College. He already has two multi-homer games after never having one.
“I’m just looking to hit balls hard,” Scheiner said. “If I hit it right, it goes out. Every at-bat, I’m just looking for another opportunity to hit a ball hard. I don’t care where it goes.”
Scheiner has shown he is not just about home runs, spraying balls in all directions of the field. His .436 batting average is second in the AAC and ninth nationally. He also leads the conference in hits (41), RBIs (31), slugging percentage (.840) and total bases (79) and is second in doubles (nine) and on-base percentage (.491). Just how consistent has Schooner been? He’s only been held hitless in four games.
Not to be overshadowed has been his glove work, allowing Whitting to move Scheiner from second base — where he began the season — to shortstop.
“I feel like I’m pretty locked in,” Scheiner said. “All year I’ve been hitting balls hard all over the field. It feels good.”