Friday, March 31, 2000
Brossart's Seiter sets new goals
BY GEORGE RORRER
Enquirer contributor
For Justin Seiter, half of a dreamlike senior year is complete. An award emblematic of the 10th Region basketball championship is safely in Bishop Brossart's trophy case. Now it's time for the baseball half of Seiter's dream year, the one he and his coaches figure even more important.
Things couldn't have gone much better for Seiter in the closing days of his basketball career. He hit the winning shot at the buzzer as Brossart beat Mason County for the regional crown. He then helped earn his team a spot in the Kentucky state tournament's elite eight.
At Rupp Arena against Russellville, the 6-foot-1 Seiter got a daunting assignment from coach Willie Schlarman — guard 6-10 center Tony Key.
“Justin plays a lot taller than 6-1,” Schlarman said. “Key is a legitimate 6-10, but Justin did fine. He usually guarded the biggest guy on the other team.”
Seiter figured Schlarman was being generous.
“I didn't do so well against Key,” Seiter said. “He never got an opportunity to post me up, which I was glad about. He got 15 points, but they were mostly in transition.”
Basketball was fun, Seiter said, but baseball is his game. He is the returning Enquirer Northern Kentucky Player of the Year.
“He's one of the best athletes we've ever had,” baseball coach Bob Rowe said. “He's a great baseball player and a great kid, too.” Rowe said. “He has a 3.6 grade-point average.”
Seiter's baseball numbers for a 26-10 regional runner-up team last spring were gaudy. Against a schedule Rowe said is among the region's toughest, Seiter batted .500 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI. Twenty-seven of his 59 hits were for extra bases.
When Seiter wasn't playing in the outfield, he was one of the region's best pitchers. He had a 12-1 record and a 1.05 ERA. He struck out 98 batters in 79ö innings and walked only 18. He pitched 11 complete games.
But pitching isn't Seiter's forte.
“The hardest we've seen him throw on radar was 86 mph,” Rowe said. “That's not hard enough for NCAA Division I or pro ball.
“But I think he's a college prospect as an outfielder. He has good speed and good instincts, and he has a really good arm.”
Seiter honed his skills last summer with the Comair Jets, a local traveling team that played a 50-game schedule. He also showed off for scouts in a five-star camp at Champions Baseball School in Louisville.
“I know the scouts are interested in me as an outfielder,” he said. “I like to pitch, but I know my velocity isn't what they want.”
Seiter said some four-year college coaches have advised him to consider two years at a junior college. He said he's open to that possibility.
“I'm trying to keep my options open,” he said.
Seiter said he visited St. Catharine (Ky.) Junior College last weekend, and Rowe said Seiter has gotten letters from several other schools.
Seiter said he is looking forward to a banner senior season, but Bishop Brossart's basketball success may lead to a slow start.
“All of our pitchers played baseball,” he said, “so we won't be in throwing shape for a couple of weeks.
“But toward the end of the season we'll be a contender for the regional championship. Our hitting is stronger than it was last year.”
Sports Stories
Nine runs don't worry Neagle
Reese gets scare
Blue Jays 11, Reds 4
Dayton's new team already a winner
Reds teams also hot in Louisville and Chattanooga
For Reds, the house never wins
