Power surge

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SWEET SWING- Westlake High sophomore first baseman Christian Yelich displays his home run stroke. In a league loaded with lefthanded sluggers, Westlake High first baseman Christian Yelich may be the best of the bunch.

Only a sophomore, Yelich has begun the 2008 campaign with a bang, cranking out four home runs in the Warriors' first 11 games.

While his talent has always been immense- Yelich was AllMarmonte League honorable mention as a freshman outfielder last year- his early-season power surge has been a bit of a head-turner.

"It's actually been a big surprise, but a welcome one," Yelich, 16, said.

As a freshman, Yelich batted .373 with 12 RBI, but he didn't have a home run in 67 official atbats. With the assistance of firstyear head coach Zach Miller, Yelich hit the weight room hard during the offseason, trying to add muscle to his lanky 6-foot-4 frame.

The results have been palpable- a .400 batting average, 12 RBI and an off-the-charts slugging percentage of .800 to start the year. And then there are the home runs, several of which have been long bombs to the opposite field.

Christian Yelich "He's very heavy-handed, and he completes his swing," said Miller, who's guided Westlake to an 8-3 overall record and a 3-0 mark in league.

"Most kids just initiate contact, but Christian makes sure that he explodes through contact. He practices hitting the baseball where it's pitched, to all fields. We work on that repeatedly on a daily basis."

When the season started, Yelich was batting third in the Warrior lineup, behind leadoff hitter Cutter Dykstra and third baseman Shane Kroker, both of whom are highly touted seniors who've already accepted scholarship offers to major college programs- Dykstra to UCLA and Kroker to Wake Forest.

Hitting behind Dykstra, however, proved to be a bit of a challenge for Kroker, who sometimes found himself distracted by Dykstra's base-running prowess.

Kroker suggested to Miller that he and Yelich swap positions in the order, and the coach obliged. The move also gave Westlake a powerpacked righty-lefty-righty combo at the top of its lineup.

"He's only a sophomore, but he looks like a big leaguer to me," Kroker said of Yelich. "He's so calm up there, and with his ability to take pitches, it's unbelievable. . . .

"In the second spot, Christian just keeps getting on base, and now it's my job to drive him in. The plan is working to perfection," Kroker said.

Calm was also the way Dykstra described Yelich's approach at the plate.

"The key to hitting is to have a good eye, and (Yelich) is so calm that he rarely offers at bad pitches," said Dykstra, the team's starting shortstop.

"His swing is incredible. It's going to be amazing to see how much power he's going to have as he continues to develop."

Yelich said he's benefited from the lineup switch as well.

"I'm seeing some really good pitches," he said. "If (Dykstra) gets on, the other pitchers worry about him running. And with (Kroker) behind me, nobody wants to walk me. Guys are coming right at me. It's a good spot to be in in our lineup."

Yelich, however, is much more than just a slugger. He can flash the leather, too.

In the field, he can play just about any position, including in the outfield, at third base, shortstop and first base. While he's starting at first base this season, Yelich often practices at shortstop, a position he may take over next year when Dykstra graduates.

"We'll see what happens with that," Yelich said. "I'm not totally sure about what I want to do next year. Coach and I will have to sit down and talk about that and see what would be best for the team."

When you put up numbers like he's putting up, college and pro scouts quickly take notice. Yelich said he's already received recruiting letters from universities across the nation. When he has questions about the recruiting process, Yelich often turns to Dykstra and Kroker for advice.

"All the time," he said. "I'll ask them about what they do in practice and the things they've done to get noticed. I keep it all in mind as a way to help myself."

Personal goals aside, Miller said Yelich is a quiet, selfless, consummate team player. Like the rest of his teammates, the sophomore works on improving his game seven days a week. Such dedication to his sport has allowed Yelich to quickly gain Miller's respect.

"He comes from the model we're trying to put out here: 'Put up or shut up,'" Miller said. "He lets his actions speak for themselves, and does what he can to help this team win.

"Believe me, I'd love to have a team of 16 Christian Yeliches."