The Strike Zone

By Sam Cattau

Without the pitching lessons I had with Joe Knudsen, I’m sure I would not be going to Carleton College (Northfield, Minn.) to play baseball. For most of my travel baseball days in Park Ridge, I was a catcher but also did some pitching. I wanted to continue playing baseball in high school at Maine South but did not make either the A or B teams.

I was very discouraged by being cut from a sport that I thought was my best. So I transferred to Walther Lutheran High School, where I could play baseball and basketball. Last spring, I pitched some for Walther but, more importantly, I started working with Joe at the Strike Zone. I felt encouraged immediately. “You already have a Division I forkball,” he said. “You’re a big kid and you haven’t even grown into your body yet.”

Joe taught, and is still teaching me how to use my body, and especially my legs, to get the most velocity, accuracy, and movement out of every pitch.  To highlight this point, Joe said “use what you got” and then proceeded to slap my rear end with his mitt.

I found that I had unrealized potential, and thanks to Joe and the Strike Zone, I learned how to maximize what I have as an athlete.  The importance of weight training and having a throwing regimen was also stressed to me, which was important because my high school team did not focus on these things as much as is needed.  For example, I was pitching in the mid-70s range with my fastball when I first started and hope to be in the mid-80s by the end of the summer.

Then, on his recommendation, I played Morton Grove’s Legion team. I pitched well enough to be noticed by some college coaches at excellent academic Division III schools, including Haverford and Kenyon. Coach Aaron Rushing of Carleton asked for a tape and we put one together at Strike Zone.

The tape, combined with a good year pitching Legion ball and continued lessons with Joe, made me a prospect.