SANTA CLARA, Calif. Summer and baseball have always seemed to fit together perfectly. For fans of the game, summer is a time to enjoy the sights, sounds and atmosphere of America's pastime. For college baseball players, it is a time for development. In summer 2015, 15 Santa Clara baseball players are competing for 12 different teams from the Bay Area to New England. The "All Summer Long" series, in its fifth season, chronicles these Broncos as they play in various summer leagues nationwide.
Mitchell White took the mound more than any West Coast Conference pitcher during conference play by making 17 appearances for the Broncos in 2015. He stepped into Santa Clara's closer role when Reece Karalus moved into the starting rotation, and finished tied for fourth with five conference saves — just one behind the three pitchers that tied for first with six saves apiece. The San Jose, Calif. native recorded either a win or a save in seven straight conference games April 26 through May 10.
White and the Lima Locos won the 2015 Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League Championship Tuesday, defeating the Hamilton Joes with a 5-4, walkoff win in 10 innings. SantaClaraBroncos.com caught up with White to get his take on the championship effort and summer baseball in Ohio.
Mitchell White – Lima Locos – Lima, Ohio
SantaClaraBroncos.com (SCB): How is your first season of summer collegiate baseball going?
Mitchell White (MW): Summer ball in Ohio is great so far. I've had a lot of fun getting to know the guys and coming to the field every day. We have had a lot of downtime with a crazy summer of rain so I've had a chance to hangout a lot. We go bowling or hit the driving range a lot.
SCB: You led the team with three saves, and had five other teammates who have also recorded a save this summer. What did you learn by pitching in a closer by committee bullpen?
MW: We have a lot of guys on this team who have the stuff mentally and physically to close games and that flexibility has helped us win a lot of games. It means we don't have to go back to one guy over and over, which keeps our pen fresh and ready to go whenever needed.
SCB: The Locos were one of the best teams in the GLSCL, and capped the season with a championship. What made Lima successful this season?
MW: It's simple — we can hit. I don't think I've been on a team with a better lineup 1-9 like this. Everyone hits well for average and we have several guys that can put the ball out in any given at-bat. As a pitcher, it's great to know that I've got run support to fall back on. I don't know how many times our starter has had a rough first couple innings, then settled down and watched the offense put up 10 runs. We've won a lot of comeback games like that. It seems like we average eight runs per game.
SCB: Fellow Santa Clara teammate Joe Becht was the only other Bronco in the league at season's end. How did the matchups go against Becht and the Southern Ohio Copperheads?
MW: Well, the first time we played them Max Kuhns and Alex Barden were on the team as well. Max had been putting up zeros for the Copperheads. He struck out something like seven of nine batters. Then I come in for my first appearance with the Locos in the 10th inning and the score was 0-0. I gave up six runs in one inning plus I walked Joe with the bases loaded. That was fun.
SCB: You're a San Jose native and play college ball right in your hometown's back yard. How have you adjusted to life in Ohio?
MW: Honestly, I could live here for another three summers and still wouldn't have quite adjusted to life here. It's definitely a change of pace being in Lima coming from a place like San Jose, and the rain out here is insane. I think we've had more rain here in these past two months than we've had back home all year. Still, being in Ohio has given me a great chance to work out some things on the mound and just get better overall. I've enjoyed my time here a lot, but I'm beyond excited to get home and back to school.
All Summer Long 2015
Mitchell White
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