Dynamic Duos of the Diamond

Opponents of several of the top baseball teams around the area may have their mitts full more than usual this spring. That's because several teams don't have just one tough out this season, they've got two. From the South End to St. Matthews, from the Outer Loop to the outer reaches of the Gene Snyder Freeway and beyond, you'll find a depth of dynamic diamond duos. "I think our duo is the best," says Ballard senior pitcher Curtis McCombs, who combines with John Fidanza to give the Bruins one of the top 1-2 punches in the city, if not the state. And though opinions on the top tandems may vary, it's difficult to deny the fact that there are enough terrific twosomes to fill up a field (of dreams), and then some. Let's begin with Ballard's battery of Fidanza, the junior catcher who was among the state batting leaders (.437) last season, and McCombs, who was 6-2 and among the state leaders in earned run average (1.59). McCombs, who has signed with the University of Louisville, has a fastball that has been clocked in the low 90's, while Fidonza anchors the Bruins' defense behind the plate in addition to bringing a big bat. "It's a perfect match," Fidanza says. Both are tireless workers, according to coach Greg Gilbert. Fidanza, for example, follows a Ballard practice with dinner, then it's back to the batting cage. "They talk about guys in basketball being gym rats, but baseball isn't played in a gym. He's baseball, baseball, baseball all the time," Gilbert says of Fidanza, who wants to follow in the footsteps of his father (John Fidanza III) and play professional baseball. Not too far away you'll find Trinity's tandem of senior shortstop Chris Berry and junior pitcher-first baseman Corey Littrell. Berry, who has signed with Western Kentucky, hit .348 with four homers last season. "Chris is probably one of the best shortstops in the state," says Littrell, who was 6-0 with 39 strikeouts in 37 innings and a 0.95 ERA last season and has verbally committed to the University of Kentucky. "He's a good leader, good worker, he tries hard, and a lot of the guys on the team look up to him." On out Shelbyville Road you'll find Eastern's prime pair - seniors Ben Lady and Tyler Dunaway. Lady, a pitcher-second baseman who has signed with Evansville, was second in the state in runs (52), tied for sixth in hits (56) and was also among the best batters (.441) last season. Additionally he was 3-0 with one save and a 2.03 ERA on the mound. Meanwhile Dunaway, a pitcher who has signed with Wabash Valley Junior College, went 10-1 last season, tying for second in the state in wins. He also ranked among the leaders in innings pitched (73 2/3s innings), strikeouts (99) and complete games (five). A little bit off the beaten (base)path you'll discover Moore's Jalen Miller and Keith Russell. Russell is a senior shortstop-pitcher, while Miller is a sophomore center fielder who had a phenomenal first season. "He hit .427 last year as a freshman and he's a top 15 player in the region, hands down," says Moore coach Jared Baker. "He has the speed, hits for average and power, and has a D(ivision)-1 arm. By the end of this year he should be looked at as a top player in the Seventh Region." Over in the Sixth Region you'll find that defending state champion Pleasure Ridge Park potentially has double trouble squared in senior center fielder-second baseman Alex Hornback, junior catcher-designated hitter Taylor Banks and senior pitchers Cody Gibson and Trey Harper. Hornback, known as "Peanut" when he was a member of the Valley Sports team that won the 2002 Little League World Series, hit .324 last season while Banks batted .414, including a whopping .750 (6-for-8) with eight RBIs in in PRP's three games in the state finals. Meanwhile Gibson went 6-1 with a 2.10 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 50 innings and Harper 7-0, including the victory in the state championship game against Lawrence County, with a 0.96 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 51 innings. Heading south, Bullitt East boasts senior outfielder-pitcher Zack McCarthy and junior pitcher-shortstop Matt Bowles. McCarthy was sixth in the state in hitting (.459) while Bowles tied for the state lead in complete games (nine) and tied for second in wins (10) last season. In Shelby County you'll find center fielder Jarred Clarkson (.301 batting average with 4 homers in 2007), who is returning from an injury, and pitcher-first baseman Eric Standafer (.333 at the plate, 3-2 on the mound last year). "When scouts talk about a five-tool prospect, Jarred is someone that possesses several of those tools," Shelby County coach Bart Roettger says. "He is extremely gifted athletically. He is blessed with a great arm, can hit for power and is a great defensive center fielder." As the season heats up, we'll see which of these dynamic diamond duos proves the most formidable to area opponents this season.