Medford native Kevin Hayes has been a saving grace for Lancers baseball team this season. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Carberry Street resident has adapted to the role of closer at Worcester State, racking up saves at an alarming rate. And judging by his team’s most recent performance at the MASCAC Championships, the right-handed hurler is showing no signs of slowing down.
Hayes was instrumental in his team’s recent run to its fourth MASCAC Tournament Championship since 2001, nailing down three saves, while also leading the squad to its fifth ever berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.
“It feels great,” said Hayes, 22, who previously helped capture the MASCAC title his sophomore season, before losing the crown in the finals last year. “I’m just going out there trying to get outs. I know that if I’m throwing strikes they’ll put the ball in play and my teammates will back me up.”
The saves have come fast and furious for Hayes, closing a 7-4 win over Framingham State, a 15-14 triumph over Westfield State and culminating with a 3-2 win over the Owls, May 10, in the championship game.
“We have real good chemistry as a team,” Hayes said. “Everybody was optimistic about this season, because we knew we had the core of the team back. So although it was taken away from us last year, we knew we’d get back there again this year.”
Hayes certainly handled his end of the bargain. The former Medford High hurler has put up one of the best seasons for a closer in the school’s history.
Hayes is currently sporting a 2-1 record with seven saves and a 1.82 ERA. The sidearm pitcher has appeared in school-record 23 games, fanning 23 in 29.2 innings of work.
The role as closer has suited him just fine.
“I really enjoyed it,” Hayes said. “I pretty much worked my way up. As a freshman I saw limited time. My sophomore year I saw myself as long relief. My junior year I was a setup man and this year I took on the role as closer. I had a difficult time at the beginning of the year, but I made adjustments and it’s worked out real well for me.
Worcester sidewinder
One of the major factors that has enhanced his work on the mound has been his delivery.
After finishing his freshman year with an arm injury, the righty opted to throw submarine style developing a sidearm delivery that has been highly effective.
“There was definitely an adjustment period where I was just trying to reinvent myself as a pitcher,” Hayes said. “I gradually went with a sidearm delivery. I had a lot of movement on my pitches so it tends to work out for me.”
Hayes likens his roundabout delivery to former Boston Red Sox hurler and Major League veteran Chad Bradford.
“He doesn’t throw all that hard and I don’t throw all that hard, probably in the low 80s,” Hayes said. “I’m definitely more of a location pitcher as opposed to a power pitcher. So modeling myself after him was the easiest”.
Throwing sidearm, Hayes delivery primarily induces a lot of ground outs and fly balls, tempting hitters with his breaking stuff and low fastball. He has held opposing batters to a .245 average, while keeping righties to a stingy .236 clip.
By the time he finishes his career at Worcester State, Hayes is expected to set the school mark for saves (10) and appearances (59). He should also have the school’s fourth best ERA (2.52) in the 56 year history of the program.
Mustang at heart
Although he currently throws for Worcester State, Hayes’s roots are firmly embedded at Medford High, where he anchored the Mustangs pitching staff under then-coach Paul Mattatall.
“I have a lot of great memories [of Medford High],” Hayes said. “I played with a lot of great kids that I’m still very good friends with today. They had a lot of good coaches. They really helped a lot of us develop as players and I have a lot of gratitude.”
As for postseason plans, Hayes is ready for another semester of school and will focus on his communications major.
“I still have another semester left at school after baseball, so I think it will be a lot easier trying to nail down what I really want to do,” said Hayes, a communications major. “I’m hoping to find something along those lines in that field.”
But for now, the Worcester fireman is focused on a different field of dreams.
Bring on Eastern Connecticut
The fifth-seeded Worcester State baseball team (31-9-1) will hit the road to play fourth-ranked Eastern Connecticut (30-13), Wednesday, May 16 at 10 AM (after press deadline).
The winner will play again Thursday, May 20 at 4:30 PM, while the loser heads to the field for a 10 AM. wake up call in an elimination game. All games played in the tournament are double elimination.
The winner of the New England Regional advances to the NCAA DIII World Series, an eight-team double-elimination tournament which will be played at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wisconsin with the first round beginning on May 28.
“We’re hoping for the best,” Hayes said. “Hopefully we can keep the season going and maybe have some World Series hopes if we win this.”