Baseball
Late start doesn't hurt Green senior
OSU recruit Wolosiansky leads Bulldogs in just his fourth year as a pitcher
By Michael Beaven
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Dean Wolosiansky took a somewhat unconventional route to receiving a scholarship to pitch for Ohio State University.
Wolosiansky, a Green High senior who has helped the Bulldogs reach the Eastlake Division I Regional semifinal, didn't start pitching until his freshman season and has only pitched for the varsity team two years.
However, the perception of a lack of experience hasn't affected the 6-foot-5, 200-pound right-hander.
Wolosiansky and the Bulldogs (22-9) will play Euclid in the regional semifinal at 2 p.m. Saturday at Eastlake Ballpark.
``He's a physical presence out there on the mound,'' Green coach Jon Wallace said. ``His velocity has been clocked at 89 mph this summer and a lot of major-league and college scouts think that could go up if he can continue to improve his mechanics.''
Wolosiansky was consistently clocked between 89 and 92 mph in the Bulldogs' 9-4 semifinal win over Canton McKinley a week ago in the Canton District semifinal. He pitched a complete game and recorded 10 strikeouts while throwing 99 pitches.
For the season, he has a 5-1 record with an 2.64 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 45 innings.
``He came in with that height,'' Wallace said. ``Seeing his frame and being as tall he is, the consensus among the coaches was that we need to make him a pitcher. It's been a learning process, but Dean is making significant strides.''
While most of his friends pitched in youth leagues, Wolosiansky instead played third base and outfield. The reason was simple to his father -- avoid injury.
``I wanted him to try to pitch eventually but he was young,'' Walter Wolosiansky said about his son. ``I saw so many scenarios where kids were throwing 130-140 pitches in a game at such a young age. In my mind I am a dad and I have to do the right thing for my son.
``You have to protect your kid. My philosophy was to put him in as many sports as he was comfortable to compete in.''
Dean played goalie in soccer and has been a punter and place-kicker in football at Green. As far as baseball, he waited for his body to start maturing.
At the beginning of his sophomore year, Dean said he began working with former major-league and Kent State pitcher Jeff Tabaka on his delivery and command of the strike zone.
``Probably the biggest turning point for me was meeting Jeff and getting to work with him,'' Dean said. ``I get pitching lessons from a former pro. The knowledge in his head is amazing. He makes it really personable and is a real sincere guy. I was freaked out the first couple of times I met him, but he knew how much I wanted to learn.''
Dean said he realizes he needs to continue to work on a fastball, slider, curve and split.
``The fastball is his best pitch,'' Wallace said. ``When he throws his off-speed pitches for strikes, he becomes very good. Recently he has had better command and been real effective.''
Green has gotten better as the season has gone along -- winning 17 of its last 20 games.
Other contributors are Greg Ferrell, junior catcher Derek Marshall (.352, 21 RBI), senior second baseman John Spinelli (.297), junior Jason Malloy and junior left-handed pitcher Scott Foster.
Ferrell, 5-foot-9 ½ and 175 pounds, leads the offense with a .426 average, five triples, four home runs and 33 RBI as the leadoff hitter and center fielder.
``Greg is the guy that gets everything started for us,'' Wallace said. ``He's gone under the radar. Whoever gets him in college is going to get a solid hitter.''
Foster threw a three-hit shutout in the 2-0 district final win against North Canton on Saturday. Foster has compiled a 6-2 record with a 1.40 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 50 innings. He is also batting .386 with 19 RBI.
Malloy is 4-0 with a 1.47 ERA as a pitcher and is batting .343.
Wolosiansky is carrying a 3.78 grade-point average and has taken two English courses at the University of Akron through a post-secondary program.
``I definitely think he has tremendous upside,'' Wallace said. ``The Ohio State coaches are excited to get him down there. He is a thrower that has the potential to be a very successful college pitcher.''
