BASEBALL: Stavisky has rare dedication to teammates, program
By JEFF BALTRUZAK
Assistant Sports Editor
Irish rightfielder and cleanup hitter Brian Stavisky is a superstar, but in many ways, he's the anti-superstar.
Stavisky is a superstar in the classic sense, being an outstanding athlete, mentally tough and confident in competition.
But Stavisky is the anti-superstar in the modern sense, when superstars flash their jewelry, act too good for the fans, and are interested only in personal glory and money.
"He's not the typical superstar," commented Irish head coach Paul Mainieri. "He's always putting the team before himself."
Stavisky's team mindset, combined with a God-given talent to hit baseballs, makes the right fielder a truly unique athlete and a standout player on a standout Irish squad.
Coming to Notre Dame
Stavisky is an athlete in every sense of the word. He lettered and excelled in football, basketball and golf, in addition to baseball while in high school.
His senior year he put up 23.5 points per game while grabbing 14.2 boards for Port Allegany High School.
Why baseball?
"I've played baseball the longest. I got into baseball all-stars before junior year and I knew baseball was the future, and then all the recruiting stuff," said Stavisky. "I still like to shoot some hoops or play a round of golf."
When Notre Dame was recruiting Stavisky, it helped that his cousin Dan Stavisky was a former Irish pitcher that graduated in 1998. "Growing up I always looked up to him, when we were at our grandparents' house. I got to see what Notre Dame baseball was all about," said Stavisky.
But recruiting Stavisky was no slam-dunk for Mainieri.
"He could have gone to any baseball powerhouse or signed professionally," said the Irish coach. "But he was a perfect fit for Notre Dame. He's an outstanding student and works as hard as anyone."
The Player
Stavisky the baseball player is imposing at the plate. With 220 pounds spread over a 6'3" frame, there's no missing the sophomore from Port Allegany, Pa. As a freshman, Stavisky had a monster campaign, hitting .298 while slugging 14 home runs with 45 RBIs, a season so impressive it landed him a spot on the 2001 Preseason All-American Team.
But don't peg him as some Mark McGwire home-runs-only hitter. "I definitely say I'm more of a power hitter," said Stavisky. "But this year I've be able to be a finesse hitter too, sacrificing power for hits."
Stavisky's transition to an all-around hitter shows in his 2001 stats. He has
raised his average 60 points to .358, while hitting 3 home runs and knocking in 29 runs through the first 31 games. Big East pitchers are on notice that Stavisky is a human ERA killer, and he has seen fewer fastballs this season.
Stavisky is an especially difficult out because his aggressiveness at the plate. Rather than taking the first pitch of an at bat, common in baseball,
Stavisky says he "goes aggressive at the first pitch. Some pitchers will throw a fastball the first pitch to try to get a first strike, and I'll hit that pitch."
In right field, Stavisky has been solid this year. He has only made one error in 27 games, having missed four games earlier this season with a hamstring injury. Surprisingly enough, Stavisky also has eight stolen bases in nine attempts this year, an anomaly for a cleanup hitter.
Still, Stavisky seeks to improve his game. He points to defense and throwing as areas he wishes to polish. In addition, he has been working on strengthening his arm, and his hitting of course.
Mainieri knows the source of Stavisky's success at the plate."He has a major league swing," said Mainieri. "His wrists move lightning fast through the hitting zone."
Still, there are areas Mainieri believes his star right fielder can improve.
"He needs to develop more consistency, and the ability to hit all kinds of pitchers. He's made big improvements in those areas from his freshman to sophomore seasons," said Mainieri.
The Teammate
Stavisky is rare in that he dedicates himself to his team. He has set no personal goals for the season, no amount of home runs he wants to hit or RBIs he wants rack up.
He just loves his school and Irish baseball.
"He's just one of those guys that loves ND," said Mainieri. "He cares so much about our program and the success of the team."
Stavisky enjoys playing with his teammates as much as he enjoys belting baseballs, citing fellow outfielder Steve Stanley and designated hitter Ken Meyer as his two closest friends on the team.
"I get along real well with everybody," he said.
With his teammates, Stavisky has created lasting memories in his first two years at Notre Dame.
"My best memory from baseball here was going back to Mississippi State early this season and beating them twice. It was a great start to the season," he said, referring to the Bulldog team that knocked the Irish out of the Starkville Regionals in last year's postseason.
The Potential Major Leaguer
Because he will be 21 years old before July 15, Stavisky is eligible for this year's Major League Draft. But don't expect this selfless player to take off for the minor leagues just yet.
"I've thought about it, and I'm really happy here," said Stavisky. "Just being at Notre Dame, you can't duplicate it."
For now, the plan is for Stavisky to sign after his junior year, and then return the next two falls to finish his degree.
"I'm pretty set on signing after next year," he said. "Then I will have three years of school done, and I'll be able to finish in basically four and a half years."
Fortunately, Irish baseball fans will be able to enjoy the sight of Stavisky giving opposing pitcher fits the next season and a half.
All Sports Stories for Thursday, April 12, 2001
