On game days, most pitchers utilize a pre-game routine to get them in the zone and ready to take the mound. Sometimes they can be elaborate, but junior Matt Mercer likes to keep things simple. To a point of fixation, the Petal right-hander visualizes maximum effort. Nothing more and certainly nothing less.
“I say over and over that I’m gonna pitch my life out every game,” he said.
Mercer had confidence in his abilities, but he didn’t expect to be in this position. After starting full-time at catcher last season and occasionally taking the mound in non-division games, the expectation coming into this year was for him to serve as Petal’s closer, according to first-year pitching coach Kyle Lindsey.
It was around the start of division play when Mercer realized a larger role was headed his way. In addition to getting the ball to start in key division games, he’s also emerged as Petal’s pitching ace.
Mercer has taken the opportunity and run with it, which doesn’t surprise Lindsey.
“Anytime you get a guy that competes, you’re never surprised of the success he has on the field,” Lindsey said. “He [Mercer] competes in every thing he does. In the classroom, the weight room, conditioning, etc.. And when he gets on that mound, it’s just another day to compete.”
Like his pre-game routine, Mercer’s pitching repertoire is fairly simple. For the most part, he leans on a fastball that can range from 83 to 88 miles per hour.
In just over five innings of work last season, Mercer gave up 13 earned runs, and opponents batted a whopping .444 against him. With better command of his signature pitch this go round and an affective changeup, he’s seen those numbers drop significantly even with more innings pitched.
In 22 innings this season, Mercer’s earned run average sits at 2.26 and batters are hitting .190 off him. He’s also been at his best when the lights are brightest.
On March 8, Mercer got the start for the Panthers at Oak Grove. A week earlier, he learned of the impending start, and in the days leading up to it, his supreme confidence in his team grew.
“I was thinking that we’re about to pull an upset,” Mercer said. “Nobody had confidence in us.”
The Warriors, who were averaging 10 runs per game coming into the contest, were held scoreless by Mercer for six innings. The Panthers, who were 1-6 at the time, went on to pick up a signature win and hand Oak Grove their first loss of the season, 4-3.
A week later, Mercer took the mound again for Petal. This time, it was against a 12-1 Biloxi team at Biloxi’s MGM Park. Like the Warriors, the Indians were held scoreless for six innings, as Petal reeled in another big win, 7-4.
“I think he likes when the lights are on him and being on those big stages,” Lindsey said. “He’s learned to control his energy to a positive, take it onto the mound and use that energy for the entire game.
“He’s also shown he can go deep into games, and that’s something we need, especially with a young pitching staff.”
Despite their youth, the Panthers (6-11) have won two straight and five of their last 10 following their sluggish start. With Mercer leading the way and eight regular season games left, they plan to continue their climb toward .500.
“We have a young team, but if we get hot at the right time, we’re gonna upset a lot of people,” Mercer said. “I have as much confidence in this team as anybody out there.”
