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College Sports
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Saturday, June 28, 2008, 3:00 AM
Second coming Parks finds redemption in second season By Michael Lindsay | Daily Times Staff Writer Justin Parks feels like he is just beginning to warm up. Not that the Wilson Tobs right fielder, who leads the team in just about every offensive category, was terribly cold to begin with, but over the last few games, he has been scorching. "We just came to the end of that streak where we played 16 games, and actually I felt pretty good," Parks said prior to Friday's summer collegiate baseball game against Fayetteville. "I thought I'd be drained from it, but I'd only caught once or twice, so I got a break from that, played the outfield and kept fresh. "I've just been seeing the ball well right now. It's just seeing the ball and trying to lay off the pitcher's pitches and finding something to drive." Heading into Friday's game, Parks, a rising senior at West Virginia University, has gone 6 for 8 with three runs, six runs batted in and his team-leading third home run in the last two games, helping lead the Tobs out of its recent skid where they lost seven of 10 games. "He's the leader of this team, without a doubt," Wilson manager Jeff Steele said. "His work-ethic, the way he prepares himself to play, the work he does before the game starts, his work and desire once the game starts is second to none." Parks, the lone Wilson returnee from last season, carried a five-game hitting streak, going 10 for 18 with seven runs in that stretch, into Friday's game. Against Edenton on Wednesday, he notched his second four-hit game of the season, and he is the only Tob to have one four-hit performance, let alone two. Then, against the Blowfish on Thursday, Parks drove in three and ripped his team-leading third home run in the seventh, setting the stage for Ross Steedley's walk-off home run. "We all rally around him sometimes," utility player Cam Freeman added of Parks. "He gets those clutch hits." Parks isn't known as a power hitter, but his approach at the plate has provided plenty of pop at the plate. "I'm not used to having the power numbers," Parks said with a laugh. "But I guess that comes from hitting the ball hard. That's all I try to do, go up there and hit the ball hard every time, and whatever happens happens." So far this season, that's been the trend for Parks: hitting the ball solidly and consistently. Last summer was so-so for Parks as he battled an injury to his catching thumb caused it to pop out while catching behind the plate. And because of the heavy taping that resulted, he was uncomfortable at the plate. In 26 games, he batted .263 with 21 hits, five RBIs, no home runs and a .352 on-base percentage. This season has been another story, however. Parks, who had surgery in August to repair the injury, has increased production in every category. "I knew a lot of my low numbers last year had a lot to do with my thumb, and maybe that got to me and made it OK," Parks said. "After I had surgery, I just made up my mind that I'm going to hit the ball hard every time I'm at the plate and not worry about what happens. It's worked out well for me so far." In 24 games, he leads Tobs players in batting (.376), home runs, hits (32), RBIs (16) and on-base percentage (.467). And even in the Tobs' error-filled stretches, Parks has committed just one miscue so far. "He's setting himself up for the success he's having," Steele said. "He's putting the extra work and the time in. He's taking control of the situation, and he's putting himself in good situations to set himself up for success." mlindsay@wilsontimes.com | 265-7807
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