Crapps ‘loving it’ as Dallas starter [Baseball]
Just because Josh Crapps of Anchorage has won practically every start with the University of Dallas doesn’t mean he assumes victory.
It’s actually quite the opposite.
“Before every game I get butterflies in my stomach, and I have to work through that,” Crapps told me. “After the first inning I settle into it.”
The 6-foot-3 right-handed pitcher has found his groove, winning four of five decisions while posting a 3.43 ERA in 44.2 innings for the NCAA D3 school in Texas.
“I’m loving it,” Crapps said of his situation. “I’m happy I’m getting the chances that I am. I’ve been working hard in practice, working hard in games, and trying to prove that I should be getting these starts.”
Crapps, of South High fame, started the season in the bullpen before getting moved to the starting rotation after a teammate starter got injured.
He didn’t waste his opportunity.
“I did really well that first game and kept it going,” he said.
Crapps ranks second on the team in wins [4], starts [7], innings [44.2] and ERA [3.43]. Batters are hitting just .210 against him, tops on the team.
He throws four pitches: fastball, curveball, slider and changeup.
“I try to see which pitches are working when I’m throwing in the pen, warming up before the game,” he said. “I work with my catchers really well. The catchers we have down here are highly intelligent and know what to call in certain situations, so that works out well.”
With four pitches, Crapps has the artillery to battle deep into games.
“If one pitch isn’t working that day you can always rely on another,” he said. “On a really good day, I can rely on all four.”