HAWK TALK

February 2018

Issue link: http://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/935355

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 34 of 174

35 T he experience Tyler Cropley gained during his up-and-down first season with the University of Iowa baseball team has the catcher primed for a big finale. To say Cropley got off to a slow start to his Hawkeye career is an understatement. e McCook Lake, South Dakota, native had only four hits in his first 13 games and the junior was carrying a .105 average. Cropley slowly started getting on track, but he was still hitting below .200 through Iowa's first 25 games. "It was difficult," said Cropley, who was voted one of Iowa's team captains in 2018. "Coming back from that second Florida trip, we had a conversation and figured out what we were going to do. "I wasn't worried about it because I knew I hadn't seen that kind of live pitching in close to a year since my surgery (aer breaking a wrist at Iowa Western Community College). I knew I was here for a reason, that I could play, and my hitting would come around." Until his bat came to life, Cropley was Iowa's MVP in the field. "When he slumped early (at the plate), he didn't take it to the field," said Iowa head coach Rick Heller. "He did an awesome job with our pitchers and I think he's one of the best defensive catchers in the country. He's a fantastic receiver and he blocks and throws well. "He is a great defensive player and that is the No. 1 priority in that position. Anything we get offensively is a bonus. It worked great that he came on last season and provided a big boost down the stretch." Aer entering April with a .203 average, Cropley hit .311 the rest of the way, connecting on seven of his nine home runs. He finished his junior season with a .268 average, 18 extra base hits, 36 RBIs, and 41 runs scored to earn second-team All-Big Ten honors. He was also named to the Big Ten All-Tournament team aer hitting .412 with three home runs in Iowa's Big Ten Tournament title run. Cropley hit two home runs, including a go-ahead extra-inning blast, in a semifinal elimination game victory over Minnesota. "He finished last season strong," said Heller. "is year his role is going to be different. He's going to be looked upon to be one of those guys that needs to step up and be a consistent run-producer and protect Robert (Neustrom) in the lineup. "I think he's ready for that. He has worked on his hitting and I think he's a much better hitter now than he was at this time last year. He was voted a team captain, he's in great shape, and I think he's set up to have a nice season." Persevering through the ups and downs of his first Hawkeye season gives Cropley confidence heading into 2018. "I have had more than a full year to get ready and that's going to help the most," he said. "My confidence is going to keep growing because my teammates and coaches believe in me. ey want me to be a guy in the lineup that is up in tough situations to make a play or make a big call behind the plate." FEBRUARY SCHEDULE Feb. 16 ! vs. Toledo Feb. 17 ! vs. Oakland Feb. 18 ! vs. Old Dominion Feb. 23 $ vs. Virginia Tech Feb. 24 $ vs. Ball State Feb. 25 $ at New Orleans Feb. 27 Cornell College ! Diamond 9 Sunshine State Classic Series (Kissimmee, Fla.) $ Urban Invitational (New Orleans, La.)

Articles in this issue

view archives of HAWK TALK - February 2018