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It Hasn't Come Easy...
Moore credits basketball for conditioning and bettering his footwork, and lots and lots of off-season ground balls with Tipp City head coach Bruce Cahill.
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06/23/09 - Sonny Fulks/1570wptw.com
Credit David Moore for having a sense of humor.
But more importantly, credit the Piqua Post 184 shortstop for having become one of the best at his position in the area, and, a confident leader in all phases of baseball…in the field, on the mound, and at the plate.
This after a struggling sophomore season at Tipp City that routinely saw him have more multi-error games at shortstop than he’d like to remember…six in the second game of a doubleheader last year with Northmont.
“Don’t for get the Bellefontaine game,” he said Monday night with a smile. “I had five in that one, too.”
At least he can laugh about it now. A year hence, he’s making the tough play look easy. He’s turning the double play with fellow Tipp teammate Jordan Stum, and making it look routine. And, in Monday’s 8-2 win over Fairborn Post 526, Moore celebrated his second four-hit game of the summer…with five rbis. Righthander Kevin Tolle (Northmont) scattered four hits through the eight innings to get the win.
“You know David’s a great athlete,” says Post 184 coach Jim Roberts. “I mean, he plays two sports (basketball and baseball), makes the tough play look easy at short, and now he’s hitting the ball so much harder than he did a year ago. He used to poke the ball the opposite way, but we’re trying to get him to make hard contact up the middle and even pull the ball, and he’s doing that.
“He’s become a leader, and he’ll be back next year and even better.”
Without question, Moore has been transformed, from ugly duckling status as a shortstop a year ago, to a swan this season, and one of the most polished shortstops in the area as a junior. And to those who have seen it first-hand, it's no fairy tale.
“When we played them in our invitational tournament this April I thought he was the most impressive player on their team,” says Ft. Loramie coach Bill Sturwold. “He makes all the plays at shortstop and makes them with a lot of confidence, and that’s important at such a critical position on the field.”
The transition did not come easy.
“Playing basketball helped a lot because it’s made my footwork better and my confidence to do things under pressure,” he said Monday. “And, I worked all winter long on fielding ground balls. I learned to attack the ball more instead of waiting on it, and that’s given me more confidence to make the plays I’m making now.”
He’s always had a strong arm, and likes to show it off with laser-like throws from deep shortstop to gun down runners at first base.
“But he’s also given us a big lift on the mound, too,” reminds Roberts. “He can step in a give you a great game.” Originally listed as Monday’s starter against Fairborn, he was a late scratch in favor of Tolle.
Moore has a 3-1 record as a pitcher this summer and was Tipp's most dependable bullpen closer for much of the Red Devils' 20-win season..
“His defense and his ability to close games is one of the things that helped us have a good year,” said Tipp coach Bruce Cahill of Moore during the high school season. “He doesn’t act nervous anymore. He’s willing to do what he can to help us win.”
Hitting .355 entering Monday’s game with Fairborn, his four hits and five rbis did nothing but raise his numbers and status in the eyes of area competition. And competition and winning is more important than ever to Moore.
“I think we’re pretty good, when we finally get everyone together and gel as a team. This was a good win for us tonight, but we’ve struggled against Troy and that’s still a goal…to beat them.”
That would be another welcome transition for David Moore.
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