A year ago, junior Kyle Krebs exploded onto the scene and compiled an impressive .402 batting average.
One would think that it would be hard to improve on that, but Krebs has done it.
Krebs, Carson High’s senior catcher, has compiled a .432 average as the second-place Senators open the Division I regional playoffs today at Ron McNutt Field (4 p.m.) against the seventh-place McQueen Lancers.
“I think I’ve played pretty well,” said Krebs who has been a key reason behind Carson’s 22-9 record. “It was tough right after basketball was over, but I started to play better a couple of weeks after that. I didn’t do that much (baseball) during basketball season. Sometimes I’d go hit off the tee or throw with Bryce (Moyle).
“I never hit over .300 in high school until last year. My freshman year I didn’t hit that well and then I had a broken finger my sophomore year. My first year playing summer baseball, I think I hit something like .176. Once the high school season started (last year) everything I saw I hit hard.”
And, Krebs has become a hitter that the team depends on in the clutch this spring. He drove in a team-leading 32 runs this year, an average of a little more than one per game. Being a clutch hitter is mind over matter. You have to embrace pressure situations, and Krebs does exactly that.
“I expect that (success) from myself, and I like that people depend on me,” he said.
Carson coach Bryan Manoukian said much of Krebs’ success this year is physical as much as mental.
“Kyle has a better understanding of how people are trying to get him out this year,” Manoukian said. “Last year was the first opportunity they had. This year, Kyle has made adjustments.
“Kyle is a pretty good natural hitter. The best thing about Kyle is his natural hand pattern through the ball.”
And, Krebs gives Manoukian a lot of credit for his hitting success.
“Bryan knows what he’s talking about,” Krebs said. “He played Pac-10 baseball (Portland State played in the Pac-10 Northern Division), so he knows and understands hitting. He told me to be like Buster Posey, so I changed my stance and started using a big leg kick. The key is making sure I get that front leg down.
“He stresses using the entire field when we’re hitting. When you do that, the hits start falling. North Valleys played a shift against me both games, and I hit a couple of shots that would have been hits but balls were caught. I go up there with a plan of what I want to do up there. I know what I’m doing this year.”
And, Krebs hasn’t just improved on offense. His defense behind the plate has been pretty solid, according to Manoukian.
“He has become much better at blocking the ball, and he is much better handling the pitching staff. I think he’s a lot more confident back there. He is a much better defensive catcher.”
And, since he has hardly pitched at all this year, Krebs admits his arm feels a lot better.
“My arm is fresh; not so tired,” Krebs said. “I’d pitch on Tuesday or Thursday and then have to turn right around and catch the next game. It’s helped (that I’m not pitching that much. I really don’t like pitching that much. I did like it when I was in Little League.”
Krebs has closed a few times, but with the emergence of Joe Nelson, who has come back from knee surgery, he may stay behind the plate. Nelson has been very solid in short-inning stints in the last couple of weeks. He has two wins and a 2.52 ERA.
Krebs’ play the last two years has caught the attention of college scouts. Krebs has opted to take his game to Solano Community College in Suisun, Calif.
“They don’t have a catcher coming back, so I probably be catching there,” Krebs said. “I feel I could play first or third, too.”
“I think catcher is going to be his main position, but if that didn’t work, he an athletic enough guy to play first or third,” Manoukian said.
