 A win over highly ranked Notre Dame has pitcher Matt O´Donnell getting attention.
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Humility, composure, and a sense of humor. That's what high-quality college pitchers are made of. Don't go thinking Mother Goose. She dealt with little boys and little girls and didn't know too much about baseball. Think Matt O'Donnell and be glad he's pitching for you.
There is no "I" in team. That much everyone knows. It is far more difficult, however, to abide by this celebrated mantra of coaches everywhere rather than just know it.
Imagine the following situation. You recently pitched your team to a victory over fourth-ranked Notre Dame, hurling a complete game six-hitter. This performance led to you being named the Big East pitcher of the week, the only Eagle to be recognized all season. And to top it all off, the Major League Baseball draft is in June.
If you're looking for arrogance, you won't find it here.
When asked about his stellar Notre Dame performance, O'Donnell was quick to deflect praise for the victory. "Coach [Peter] Hughes called a good game. He knew what they could and couldn't hit," O'Donnell explained of the strategy behind the win. "He is very passionate about winning. His attitude rubs off on his players." In reference to being named Pitcher of the Week, O'Donnell said, "My mom called to say congratulations. That was the first I heard of it. I'm just glad we won the game."
O'Donnell admitted the season has been disappointing thus far, especially after having such high preseason expectations. "We need to hit more. The pitchers can always improve, throw more strikes. For whatever reason, we aren't doing as well." Yet, he remains optimistic. "We still have time to improve," he said.
O'Donnell was also quick to extol the talents of his catcher and roommate, Garrett Greer. "I've played with him since I was 12 years old. We played AAU together. I knew what he did in high school and he knew what I did. He's a big target to throw to."
The pitcher is front and center when he stands atop the mound. When the team wins, he is the hero. When the team loses, he is the scapegoat. The scrutiny of the position demands a calm demeanor, something O'Donnell certainly possesses, according to Hughes.
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