Unexplainable power

Tim Rogers, Plain Dealer Reporter, June 19, 2009 7:10 a.m.

Mayfield senior Tyler Begun hit .550 this spring not only because he's obviously a tremendous hitter, but as he says,

His statistics suggest other wise but Mayfield shortstop Tyler Begun has never considered himself a power hitter.

"Other people might think so, but I have never gone up here swinging for the fences, or looking to hit a home run," said Begun, an Akron recruit. "I just went up there looking to hit a line drive."

Begun hit enough line drives - and deep fly balls - this season to be named The Plain Dealer's Baseball Player of the Year.

The 6-1, 175-pound senior emerged as one of the area's best all-around hitters. He hit for average - finishing with a .550 mark - and power - belting an area-best 14 home runs - in helping the Wildcats finish with a 16-6 record.

Begun had no explanation for his power surge. He hit his school-record 14 homers in 60 at-bats this season, compared to hitting seven in 86 at-bats last year. He drove in just two fewer runs and hit the same number of doubles as a year ago. He finished with 22 career homers, also a school record. He drew 20 walks and was walked intentionally eight times.

"I don't have a plan when I go up there," said Begun, a 3.5 student who will study pre-pharmacy. "I'm kind of a hack, not the most disciplined hitter around.

"I've hit some pitches that were out of the strike zone for base hits and I've hit some pitches that were just a few inches off the ground for homers."