Bet you don’t know the difference between a "circle" changeup and a "pitchfork" changeup.
If you do, congratulations. If you don’t, click on the video above and listen to sophomore John Licht explain how he threw one of the changeups last year but has switched to the other this year.
Licht, a sophomore from Minneapolis Southwest, came to St. Thomas with a goal of playing the infield. Coach Dennis Denning had too many infielders and not enough pitchers last year, so he converted Licht into a starting pitcher. He finished his first college season with a 6-2 record and a 3.66 ERA, striking out 33 and walking only seven in 47 innings. He saved his biggest games for the playoffs, throwing nine-inning, complete-game wins to eliminate UW-Stevens Point in the regionals and Carthage in the nationals.
This year, Licht has won his only start – 6-1 over Grinnell on Sunday, when he scattered five singles over seven innings for another complete game. He gave up only one hit and no runs over 4.2 innings in two relief appearances this month in the Metrodome.
