BATON ROUGE, LA. –
Cade Martin wasn't sure if he'd make the active roster let alone play a key role for the Little Rock baseball team this spring.
However, as Little Rock prepares for its second NCAA Regional in school history Friday, the 6-foot, 215-pound catcher is one of the reasons for their success.
"I didn't think I'd play at all. I am just taking it one day a time working my butt off," he said. "When I got the opportunity, I made the most of it."
And he's peaking at the right time. Martin hit .500 during the Trojans unexpected Ohio Valley Conference Tournament run last week taking tournament MVP honors.
"I was just trying to play my game and be as relaxed as possible and slow the game down because it is a totally different speed from high school to a Division I program," Martin said.
Martin is second on the team in hitting with a .309 average with 5 home runs and 31 RBI. It's taken some time for Martin's bat to come alive, but he has found the rhythm he had in high school when he hit .345 as a senior. He drove in the go-ahead run in the 2-1 win over Eastern Illinois in the league title game.
"Eventually, when you play enough games, the hitting will come around," Martin said. "Once you find it, it stays hot for you."
Martin initially was heading SAU Tech in Magnolia, Ark. The junior college was the only school interested in the burly catcher, even though he was a four-year prep letterman and started late in the year as a freshman as the squad won a state title.
However, he ended up in Little Rock thanks, in part to his girlfriend Bella Cherry. Cherry is a Trojan sophomore volleyball player and connected him with the coaching staff. Martin attended a prospect camp in January of his senior year and after making contact again with the staff was awarded a chance to walk on.
However, he had junior starter
Trey Hill and
Graydon Martin ahead of him. Martin decided to transfer to another program in Texas and Hill went down with a knee injury less than a month into the season, thrusting the freshman into the starting role.
"You have to take it one game at a time and make practices as game-like as possible," Martin said. "You just have to have a mindset that you can play as good as anyone else out there."
The transition behind the dish has been aided by an experienced Little Rock pitching staff that includes senior starters
Jackson Wells and
Jack Cline.
"It's nice to play with guys who know where they want the pitches and can set you up and make you look better," he said. "It makes me more relaxed knowing I've got guys more experienced that can keep the game slowed down for me."
And Cherry, whose father Mike played briefly in the NFL as a backup quarterback after starring at Murray State, has also lent her support.
"We've dated two years and to have someone as supportive as her is awesome," he said. "She is there to lift me up if anything bad happens."
Delivering during the OVC Tournament was a remarkable achievement, but Martin knows he and his mates have an even bigger challenge awaiting playing LSU on its home field in the Baton Rouge Regional Friday.
"Having huge games like Ole Miss earlier in the year, there were probably just about the same amount of fans," he said. "Going out there and being relaxed and keeping your heart rate as low as possible is key. Just playing your game and being focused on what is going on in front of you and not around you."
A Homecoming for Katz
Brennan Katz couldn't believe his eyes when 'Little Rock' popped up on the screen in the Baton Rouge Regional. Katz may have been the only player on the team hoping to be paired in that region.
"I think at least 10 times I've gone up to guys and said, 'Is this real life," the 6-foot-5, 210-pound pitcher said. "I just can't believe we are getting to come play an hour form my family. I've got about 15 coming out and some of them haven't seen me play since high school and some of them have never seen me play so to be on a stage like this against one of the best teams in the country is … You can't even dream about something like this. It's awesome."
Katz grew up in Miami, but his parents are Tulane alums and returned to the New Orleans area after Katz's two other older siblings landed at their alma mater. Katz's sister attended medical school at LSU. He spends his summers in Slidell, La. living with his parents and has become acquainted with the SEC athletics power.
Katz's collegiate journey has taken him around the country. After a standout prep career that earned him all-state honors, Katz wound up at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey. After one season there, he transferred to Parkland College, a junior college in Champaign, Ill. After starting there, he transferred to Georgia Southern and tore his labrum in the fall. He went back to Louisiana to rehab and then landed in Little Rock.
"I think coming in injured slowed me down a little bit," Katz said. "Recently, I think I've been at my best. This time of year, is when I think you want to be your best."
Katz showed flash of brilliance in his longest outing of the year when he pitched 3.2 innings in a loss at Arkansas allowing just one run on four hits.
He was on point last week when he pitched two scoreless innings to pick up the save in a 4-1 win over Lindenwood in the OVC semifinals.
In another tournament scenario, it's very likely Trojans head coach
Chris Curry will call Katz's number again this week and the journeyman, who has adopted Louisiana as home, will be ready.
"If I could have picked a place in the country, it would have been LSU because my dad just drove eight hours to the conference tournament, and he was getting ready to drive 10 hours to Fayetteville," Katz said. "I called him right after the show, and they were so excited. Now, they only have to drive an hour. I am ready."
Little Rock's Good Luck Charm
How did the Trojans win five games in four days to capture the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament? Trojans head coach
Chris Curry will tell you it was complete-game wins by senior pitchers
Jackson Wells and
Jack Cline and timely hitting.
But something else may have been at work. The UA Little Rock marketing/communications department is encouraging students and staff to take cutouts of the Trojans mascot Maximus with them on trips this summer. A play on the children's book 'Flat Stanley' Flat Maximus was born.
Little Rock Athletics AD for Marketing and External Relations,
Brandy Dixon had the idea of sending Flat Maximus with the baseball team to the OVC Tournament. Each day
Michael Gibbs.
Little Rock Senior AD for Internal Operations, took a picture of the figure. First, he was published on social media channels on the bus heading to Marion, Ill., and then each day on different parts of the field.
Flat Maximus is 5-0 and looking for more at the Baton Rouge Regional. Gibbs will ensure he makes appearances at Alex Box Stadium this week.
