No one probably likes the summer months as much as Elkins Post 29 right-handed pitcher Trevor Mouser.
That's because over the last three years, when the weather heats up, so does he. Not in the sense of getting so hot he needs a little extra deodorant because of perspiration, but as in sizzling on the pitching mound where he's posted an impressive 16-3 record during his time with Elkins' American Legion squad.
"Trevor has been a big part of our teams' success the last three years because of what he's done on the mound," Elkins general manager Chris George said. "He's been really good since he came here three years ago and he continues to be one of our top pitchers."
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The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley
Elkins pitcher Trevor Mouser delivers a pitch during Sunday’s win over Grantsville at Robin Harvey Memorial Field. Mouser has posted a 16-3 record during his three seasons with the squad.
Mouser, who redshirted for Alderson-Broaddus College this spring and was an All-State selection for Philip Barbour High School in 2011, posted a 9-1 mark during his first summer in Elkins.
The following season he finished with a perfect 5-0 record and is currently off to a 2-2 start this year, with one of his losses coming to Hillbilly Hardball Classic champion Columbia, Md. He allowed just two runs in that contest as Elkins dropped a 2-0 decision.
"He didn't get to pitch in college this year, so he's just now getting back into the groove of things," George said. "I'm sure he's going to be very strong the rest of the season for us."
Mouser isn't what most folks refer to as a "flame thrower" on the hill. He depends more on his breaking stuff and excellent control to get batters out.
"He's a control pitcher that keeps batters off balance," George said. "He relies on his defense to get outs instead of going up there and trying to strike everyone out."
Mouser also throws with two different pitching motions, which more times than not sends batters back to the dugout scratching their heads.
George says Mouser makes it very tough on hitters because he pitches both submarine style and over the top.
"He gives hitters so many different angles with his arm that they really never get a read on what he's throwing," he said. "It really throws batters off when one pitch he goes submarine, then on the next one he's coming over the top."
George said that Mouser can twirl most of his pitches from his arsenal in both throwing motions.
"He can throw his curve, change up and slider from underneath," he said. "He sometimes throws his fastball from over the top, but with him you never know, sometimes he even surprises me."
George says the one thing that Mouser and the rest of the team are striving for is a state championship. Post 29 has finished runner-up in the state the past two seasons.
"All of our kids are real hungry for a state championship," he said. "That's what they all want."
Elkins will return to action on Wednesday when it plays a 5:30 p.m. doubleheader in Beckley.
