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FAYETTEVILLE — James DeCremer says a phrase to himself before every pitch.
"This pitch. Right now."
That internal monologue has lengthened Arkansas baseball's up-and-down pitching staff.
Head coach Dave Van Horn issued a challenge to his arms after a loss on May 10. The Razorbacks (36-19) struggled to record outs during a 15-10 defeat to Oklahoma. Colin Fisher and Mark Brissey's SEC struggles continued as they gave up seven runs in the top of the seventh. Their conference ERAs rose to a combined 16.20.
So Van Horn announced at his postgame press conference that the Hogs needed to find one more pitcher. He only had seven trustworthy arms with one week remaining in the regular season.
Now, it appears Van Horn has an eighth option after a sterling weekend performance against Kentucky from DeCremer.
The redshirt sophomore struck out for, allowed three hits and fired 3⅔ scoreless innings across two appearances. He sealed the series by recorded the final nine outs in a 16-12 win on Saturday, May 16. Neither offense could be stopped until DeCremer took the mound and silenced the Wildcats' bats.
"(DeCremer) was getting ahead in the count," Van Horn said. "He just did a great job of mixing, and you know, his fastball was up to 95, I think, and he just pitched really well."
Late innings in series finales doomed Arkansas in Game 3 losses to Georgia and Oklahoma earlier this season. It felt like Arkansas was steamrolling toward a similar defeat on Saturday. The Wildcats scored nine runs in the fifth against Cole Gibler and Steele Eaves, and it was unclear who Van Horn would turn to after Parker Coil pitched a scoreless seventh.
The answer was DeCremer (0-1, 3.94 ERA, 1 save), who proved why he should be the answer to Van Horn's need for another pitcher.
"You're starting to run out of pitching, and guys are being maybe used a little bit for the second time. If you could bring somebody in that can go, you know, three innings, man, that's kind of middle reliever stuff with closer stuff," Van Horn said.
DeCremer matched closer Ethan McElvain's performance in Game 2 after the lefty pitched three scoreless innings to close out a 5-4 win. Two quality arms who can go multiple innings at the back of a bullpen is a major boost for Arkansas with a regional on the horizon.
The Oregon State transfer was supposed to be a big part of the Arkansas pitching staff this season, but he's only logged 16 innings across 10 appearances. He had three strong outings to begin the year before getting shelled for four runs in a loss to Stetson. DeCremer couldn't even record an out as the Game 4 starter.
He also struggled in a loss to Missouri State, and after a clean inning against Auburn on April 2, DeCremer disappeared for a month. It was eventually revealed he was dealing with a calf injury.
DeCremer rested his body and tweaked some mechanics in anticipation of his eventual return. He changed his routine, no longer lifting his glove over his head when he pitches from the windup.
"Just trying to keep focus on the catcher at all times," DeCremer said. "Been taking notes and stuff, and I just feel like that's a really good piece for me, just having a focal point."
The righty returned to action in that same series-finale loss to Oklahoma. He entered after the seven-run seventh and pitched the final two innings. The Sooners scored one unearned run.
DeCremer knew he had a chance to gain some trust from his coaching staff.
"I go to the yard every day, trying to earn opportunities," DeCremer said. "Trying to show that I'm a good teammate and that I'm ready for this."
Van Horn's pitching options remain limited compared to recent years, but Arkansas now has another righty primed for a big role in the postseason.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: James DeCremer answered Arkansas baseball's need for one more pitcher
Continue reading...
"This pitch. Right now."
That internal monologue has lengthened Arkansas baseball's up-and-down pitching staff.
Head coach Dave Van Horn issued a challenge to his arms after a loss on May 10. The Razorbacks (36-19) struggled to record outs during a 15-10 defeat to Oklahoma. Colin Fisher and Mark Brissey's SEC struggles continued as they gave up seven runs in the top of the seventh. Their conference ERAs rose to a combined 16.20.
So Van Horn announced at his postgame press conference that the Hogs needed to find one more pitcher. He only had seven trustworthy arms with one week remaining in the regular season.
Now, it appears Van Horn has an eighth option after a sterling weekend performance against Kentucky from DeCremer.
The redshirt sophomore struck out for, allowed three hits and fired 3⅔ scoreless innings across two appearances. He sealed the series by recorded the final nine outs in a 16-12 win on Saturday, May 16. Neither offense could be stopped until DeCremer took the mound and silenced the Wildcats' bats.
"(DeCremer) was getting ahead in the count," Van Horn said. "He just did a great job of mixing, and you know, his fastball was up to 95, I think, and he just pitched really well."
Late innings in series finales doomed Arkansas in Game 3 losses to Georgia and Oklahoma earlier this season. It felt like Arkansas was steamrolling toward a similar defeat on Saturday. The Wildcats scored nine runs in the fifth against Cole Gibler and Steele Eaves, and it was unclear who Van Horn would turn to after Parker Coil pitched a scoreless seventh.
The answer was DeCremer (0-1, 3.94 ERA, 1 save), who proved why he should be the answer to Van Horn's need for another pitcher.
"You're starting to run out of pitching, and guys are being maybe used a little bit for the second time. If you could bring somebody in that can go, you know, three innings, man, that's kind of middle reliever stuff with closer stuff," Van Horn said.
DeCremer matched closer Ethan McElvain's performance in Game 2 after the lefty pitched three scoreless innings to close out a 5-4 win. Two quality arms who can go multiple innings at the back of a bullpen is a major boost for Arkansas with a regional on the horizon.
The Oregon State transfer was supposed to be a big part of the Arkansas pitching staff this season, but he's only logged 16 innings across 10 appearances. He had three strong outings to begin the year before getting shelled for four runs in a loss to Stetson. DeCremer couldn't even record an out as the Game 4 starter.
He also struggled in a loss to Missouri State, and after a clean inning against Auburn on April 2, DeCremer disappeared for a month. It was eventually revealed he was dealing with a calf injury.
DeCremer rested his body and tweaked some mechanics in anticipation of his eventual return. He changed his routine, no longer lifting his glove over his head when he pitches from the windup.
"Just trying to keep focus on the catcher at all times," DeCremer said. "Been taking notes and stuff, and I just feel like that's a really good piece for me, just having a focal point."
The righty returned to action in that same series-finale loss to Oklahoma. He entered after the seven-run seventh and pitched the final two innings. The Sooners scored one unearned run.
DeCremer knew he had a chance to gain some trust from his coaching staff.
"I go to the yard every day, trying to earn opportunities," DeCremer said. "Trying to show that I'm a good teammate and that I'm ready for this."
Van Horn's pitching options remain limited compared to recent years, but Arkansas now has another righty primed for a big role in the postseason.
Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: James DeCremer answered Arkansas baseball's need for one more pitcher
Continue reading...
