Fresno State Athletics
All in a Day's Work -- Brad Harper
5/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Calling a game, squatting down for over an hour and a half, directing traffic and taking foul balls off your limbs. Doesn't exactly sound like a glamorous position, but for senior Brad Harper, it's all in a day's work.
The Madera, Calif. native has been catching since he was eight years old and would never trade it for any other position. Harper welcomes the challenge that comes with being the battery of the defense. He knows that not only is he required to not make mistakes, but keep his composure if he does. Any mistake the catcher commits can add to disaster, like a bad pitch-call, a passed ball or directing infielders in the wrong direction. Harper must always lead by example and make sure everyone else follows.
"I like the fact that I'm in control. I have a say in what the pitcher throws and it translates to how the game turns out," said Harper.
One of the most frightening aspects of catching is the collision at home plate. A runner comes full speed ready to blindside the catcher and make sure he doesn't tag him out. For an experienced catcher, though, it's just another part of being a catcher and they know they are expected to make the play.
"In high school I usually won the battles at the plate," recalls Harper. "The first time I ever got laid out was my freshman year at Fresno State against Hawai'i," recalls Harper. "I just got up and thought it was fun."
Along with the physical toughness that the catcher must posses, he must also have the smarts and knowledge to out-think the opponent. When calling pitches, the catcher has to know the hitter, the team and style of play of the other coach. There are hitting charts that are used to study hitters and it's vital to the success of the team that a good game be called. After three seasons with the Bulldogs, Harper is called upon time and again to call a good game behind the dish.
"I always pride myself in doing that. Coach Bennett has a lot of confidence in me and I always try to do my best," explains Harper.
Of course with every apprentice, there is a teacher. With former catchers Bob Bennett and Matt Curtis as part of the coaching staff, Harper has been fortunate enough to learn from the elite. For three and a half years Harper has been honing his style of play after two of the best catchers to play at Fresno State. The proof is in the All-WAC selection received by Harper last season along with his nominations for the Johnny Bench Award, given to the best collegiate catcher in the nation.
