When you watch Tobias Myers pitch, you know he’s got the right stuff.
“He doesn’t pitch like a junior, he pitches like a senior and the strengths that he has are that competitiveness and he also has three pitches he throws for strikes with command—fastball, changeup and curveball,” Winter Haven assistant coach Al Labozzetta said.
Myers had all three pitches on display in his impressive outing against district rival Lake Wales in a 2-1 win. The Blue Devils ace struck out 11 while giving up one run on five hits in a complete game effort to solidify the top-seed in Class 6A District 8.
“I just have to thank my teammates because they did it for me,” Myers acknowledged. “I had a lot of big plays. I think two double plays, had bases loaded, no out, got out of that with one run. It was a big win, probably the biggest game I pitched.”
With the playoffs right around the corner, the 16-year-old wants to be on the mound for even bigger games over the next month. He was a reliever on last year’s 6A state runner-up team, but this year he’s taken on a more prominent role.
“Last year I came in, I’d throw like probably 10 pitches at the most. Now I’m throwing 80-90 a game. It’s a big difference but growing up I was a starter. I’ve adjusted to it pretty well,” Myers said.
Labozzetta said Myers has not only met the coach’s expectations, but exceeded them.
“I talked to him a lot about the No.1 spot and what that means and a little extra pressure about you going against the best guys on the other team. He’s stepped up and he enjoys it and he hasn’t looked back and I expect him to get better each game during the playoffs and I can’t wait for next year.”
But for now, Myers is focused making another deep postseason run to help his Winter Haven squad complete some unfinished business.