It’s one thing to be selected as the most valuable player on your summer baseball team, but to also be given that honor for your entire league is a real coup.
But when you consider what Connor Hartmann did on the mound over the past couple of months, it shouldn’t come as a major shock that the 16-year old achieved both honors. As a pitcher for the Jefferson County Blazers 16-U squad, the Windsor product was nearly flawless.
Hartmann finished the summer with a 4-0 record, and even recorded a save. His control was nearly perfect, as evidenced by the fact that he walked just two batters all season, while striking out 29.
And, oh, by the way, Hartmann allowed one earned run all summer, which accounts for his 0.35 earned-run average. And he didn’t handle the bat too shabbily, either, posting a .382 average at the plate.
“He’s a beast,” Blazer manager Ben Robinson said. “And it all goes to his work ethic. He works harder than anybody I’ve ever had. That showed in his determination at the dish. Last year his batting average was, maybe, a little above .200, and he almost doubled it this summer. On the mound, he’s not afraid. He goes at people with his best stuff. Not only does he come right at you with the fastball, but he developed an off-speed pitch this year, which is huge.”
Hartmann said improving his off-speed pitch was his top priority going into the summer. He also wanted to do better at the plate.
“I wanted to bring a certain value to both parts of my game, and this season I was just looser and hit the ball hard,” Hartmann said. “On the mound, I’ve typically seen a lot of guys over the years bring that intensity throwing the ball, and that’s how I approach the game. I’m just doing the same thing I’ve always done on the mound – continue to work and trust the guys behind me.”
Both Robinson and Hartmann were pleased that, in addition to the team MVP honor, the St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association chose to bestow theirs on him as well.
“At the beginning of our season, I would have told you, because of his bat, that he would have a hard time,” Robinson said of the league accolade. “But the way he hit the ball, when I went to the (selection) meeting, it was a no-brainer to me. I mean, there were games where he could be 3-0 (on a hitter), and then throw three straight fastballs to get the strikeout.”
Although he was honored with the dual MVP selections, Hartmann tried to downplay it just a little.
“I’ve got 14 other MVPs on that team,” he said of his teammates. “They help me out in a big way, but it was fun to be recognized like that.”
“It really was a privilege to coach him,” said Robinson, who will relinquish Hartmann next summer to Aaron Kutilek’s 18-U Blazer team. “You always want the best kids, kids who are definitely coachable, and Connor was certainly a silent leader on our team.”