Ober Ready For Big Season With Cougars
2/24/2014 4:30:00 PM | Baseball
WHEN true freshman Bailey Ober ran down to the bullpen in the fourth inning of last Saturday's season opener against No. 12 North Carolina, he had a hunch that his first collegiate appearance would be coming sooner than expected.
Ober was slated to pitch in relief at some point on Saturday and Sunday, but after the Tar Heels scored four runs on four hits, a walk and a wild pitch in that fourth inning, head coach Monte Lee went straight to the freshman to start the fifth with the Cougars trailing 4-0.
Growing up right north of Charlotte, N.C., Ober had played in and won two straight NCISAA state championships while at Charlotte Christian High School, the alma mater of products like Daniel Bard and basketball players Willis Hall and Stephen Curry.
He had been in big situations before.
But now he was tasked with limiting the damage from a team that was the defending ACC champions and had boasted the number one overall seed in last year's College World Series before finishing in third place. Ober was plenty familiar with the powerhouse Tar Heels right down I-40 from his home town of Huntersville, N.C.
The first batter that Ober faced was none other than the All-American Skye Bolt, one of North Carolina's top hitters. Ober struck out Bolt on four pitches. But Bolt wasn't the only one. Ober retired 13 batters in a row over the next five innings, before giving up two singles in the ninth. He used a diving catch from Morgan Phillips to put out Zach Daly and then struck out Tyler Ramirez to win the game, 7-4.
“I didn't really feel any pressure,” Ober said. “We were already trailing when I came in so I just wanted to go in there and keep the damage limited. After we retook the lead, the approach may have changed a little because I wanted to get outs quicker and give the offense more shots. The ninth inning was exciting. Morgan made a great play in center field and then I just took a deep breath before the final batter and struck him out.”
In just over an hour and a half, Ober went from a strong freshman prospect in the Cougar bullpen to CAA Pitcher of the Week and CofC midweek starter.
Lee was more proud than surprised.
“I really can't say that Bailey exceeded my expectations that afternoon. I was just really impressed at his composure in making his first collegiate appearance, regardless of it being against such a talented team like North Carolina. I knew that we were going to go with him if the score was close when Nathan Helvey reached his pitch count. And he strung together some good innings, we scored some runs and by the end, he was the guy to give us the best chance to win in the ninth inning. And he did.”
Ober's first start came last Wednesday as he moved to 2-0 with a win over Charleston Southern, allowing just three runs in five innings with four more strikeouts.
He has been a crucial cog in a young pitching that staff was described as untested before the year began. Along with Ober's strong performances, that group of first-year pitchers have combined for a 5-1 record with two saves, a combined ERA of 2.64 and 32 strikeouts against just 13 walks.
Standing at 6-8, Ober's physical prowess is obvious. His ball releases from such a high angle that it gives batters plenty of trouble, especially considering his ability to mix his fastball and devastating changeup.
Although he only spent two years at Charlotte Christian High School after transferring from Hough High School, Ober wasted no time collecting accolades. He threw a no-hitter in March of his junior year on the way to a 10-1 record and ERA of 1.00. He followed that up with a 10-0 performance and 0.45 ERA in 2013, earning Collegiate Baseball All-America Second Team honors and winning the Charlotte Area Pitcher of the Year award.
Ober received high praise from his high school coach, Greg Simmons, who compared him to a former Charlotte Christian star and major league pitcher Daniel Bard.
“He has incredible poise,” Simmons said of Ober. “He has a plan, and he sticks with it. He works hard and he isn't overwhelmed when he gets out there.”
Lee agrees that the intangibles are what make Ober special and give his Cougar career plenty of promise.
“Bailey brings incredible consistency, poise and composure for a young man. Any time that you look at a pitcher and try to determine his success, outside of watching his physical tools, you look for a guy with low anxiety. Bailey can move on from a bad pitch or a tough play. That's what impresses me the most about him. He doesn't get rattled or get up or down. That type of mental makeup bodes him well.”
When pitching coach Matt Heath saw Ober play at a summer game in 2012, he saw something special that he wanted the Cougars to take a chance on. Ober hadn't received a ton of attention through high school, but after his award-winning seasons at Charlotte Christian, he ended up choosing the Cougars over the likes of N.C. State and Appalachian State.
Tomorrow afternoon he will have the opportunity to show another North Carolina school what makes him such a special pitcher when he starts against UNC Charlotte (2-2).
It will be another big game against a strong regional opponent, and all eyes will be on Ober to see how he fares in an emotional game against a rival school right down the road from his home.
However, if past experiences in high-pressure situations are any indication, Ober will treat it just like any pitching appearance, with poise and confidence and calm. And the Cougars' outstanding start to the 2014 season will continue.
