AWT BASEBALL: USJ's Rolison kept top batters guessing with pitching

Coming off a state championship season, expectations can far exceed the potential of the team.

The University School of Jackson baseball team lost key parts of the batting order from that team. But the pitching staff was still mostly intact led by junior Ryan Rolison.

Rolison faced the opposing team's best pitchers and hitters and stood up to the challenge. He finished with a 6-3 record with a 0.74 ERA and 104 strikeouts to be named The Jackson Sun's 2015 Baseball Pitcher of the Year.

"Expectations were high," Rolison said. "Expectations were for us to make another run at the state title. We worked the hardest of any team, in my opinion. We just came up a little short."

The Bruins finished third in the region but went on the road and beat Davidson Academy to reach the Division II-A state tournament.

"I believe that we started slow, but we started to figure things out toward the middle to end of the season," Rolison said.

Rolison's abilities were more visible during this past season, and they came from the hard work he put in before the season started.

"I worked in the offseason to be where I wanted to be," Rolison said. "I worked hard every day, whether that was in the weight room, long toss or band work trying to get my velocity up to where it is now. I wanted to outwork my opponent."

Being a No. 1 pitcher can be tough because you are matched up against the opposing team's best pitcher, and one misplaced pitch could be the difference in the game.

"I believe that when the pressure is on, I perform better," Rolison said. "I had a great defense behind me, so I just had to make the pitches and trust my defense to make the play."

With one year left in his high school career, Rolison is focused on improving as an individual and USJ improving as a team.

"Our team goal is going to be the same as every year, and that is to win a state title," he said. "For me, it is getting better in situations. I want to cut my pitch count and get outs in less than three pitches.

Rolison is still an Ole Miss commit.

Michael Odom, 425-9754