Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Nick Rhodes - No Fear

Tony Altobelli

It was an outing that Nick Rhodes will have trouble trying to top,

but fortunately for the Corona del Mar High baseball team, he’ll have

plenty of time to try.

The sophomore left-hander made his varsity debut as the Sea Kings’

opening-day starting pitcher on March 1 against Magnolia.

“Yeah, I was a little nervous,” Rhodes said. “But I had been pitching

for the varsity during the fall and winter ball, so I wasn’t as nervous

as I probably could have been.”

What little nerves he did have, he hid well as Rhodes mowed down the

Sentinels with a complete-game, three-hit shutout, leading the Sea Kings

to a 6-0 win.

“First varsity appearance and he throws a three-hit shutout,” CdM

Coach John Emme said. “That’s about as good as it gets when it comes to

varsity debuts.”

The Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week struck out nine, including four of

the first six batters he faced.

The key to Rhodes’s success comes from the curveball and the ability

to find the zone.

“Nick used both halves of the plate very well,” Emme said. “He has

command of three pitches and he can throw the curve ball for a strike

whenever he wants to. He’s got poise beyond his years.”

Rhodes does not have Nolan Ryanesque power, so he makes up for that

with precision.

“If I can throw the first pitch for a strike, that sets up the rest of

my pitches,” Rhodes said. “I try to hit corners and to stay within my

capabilities. My curveball has a tendency to cut inside to a right-handed

batter.”

Rhodes first caught the eye of Emme this past fall in a game against

one of Orange County’s top teams. “He was throwing against Fountain

Valley,” Emme recalled. “He calmly went out there and struck out four of

the first six batters he faced. I was trying to figure out if he truly

realized what he had just done.”

Rhodes began playing his baseball career at the T-ball level and

played a number of positions. “I’ve played first base and outfield,” he

said. “I didn’t get into pitching until the AA level.”

After little league, Rhodes played on CdM’s freshman team last year

and was used on a rotating pitching staff, throwing two or three innings

at a time.

“I was definitely feeling it in my legs late in the Magnolia game,”

Rhodes said. “I still managed to keep some gas in the tank, but I know I

need to get stronger to me more successful.”

Rhodes tries to pattern his style of pitching to Boston Red Sox great

Pedro Martinez.

“He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but he still finds a way to

get the job done,” Rhodes said. “He’s just a great athlete and a great

pitcher to try to copy.”

On the Sea Kings’ staff, Rhodes looks toward senior Cavan Cuyler for

guidance. “He’s a gamer out there and a good pitcher to follow,” Rhodes

said. “I definitely look up to him.”

Despite the nine strikeouts, Rhodes knows his success comes when his

defense is involved. “I’ve gotten as many as 12 strikeouts in my career,

but usually get batters to hit the ball on the ground with my off-speed

stuff,”

When not on the mound, Rhodes is a beachcomber, movie watcher and

plane builder.

Using his curve, change-up and fastball, Rhodes has pulled the biggest

compliment out of Emme. “I wouldn’t want to face him,” he said.