The final hurdle in the completion of the outfield fence at C. Milton Wright High isn?t funding. It?s the graduation of Greg Walter.
Walter, a senior center fielder, is such a superb defensive player that coach Tony Blackburn would prefer to have an open outfield. So enclosing the field with a fence will have to wait.
“Some day. Greg?s keeping me from putting it in right now,” said Blackburn, who led the Mustangs to the Class 4A state championship game in his first season with the team. “Maybe some day down the road.”
Until then, the Mustangs hold a distinct home-field advantage with the rangy Walter roaming the pastures that make up center field. The theory is that Walter can chase down fly balls that would otherwise clear a center-field fence.
“He?s the best center fielder I?ve ever had the privilege of coaching or playing against,” Blackburn said, pointing to a number of running and diving catches made during the team?s run to the state playoffs last spring.
Walter?s defensive secret is simple.
“It?s all about getting a good jump,” said Walter, who is called ?G-Walt? by his teammates. “The first step is the most important thing.”
And for Walter, its even more important. He?s not the fastest player on the team. In fact, in 60-yard dashes the team ran earlier this year, Walter tested in the middle of the pack. But he does everything fundamentally correct.
“Just watch how he runs the bases,” Blackburn said. “He cuts and hits that bagperfect. All his angles are right on the money.”
Walter is not physically imposing, either, standing about 5-foot-5 in cleats. That leads to his fundamental approach at the plate. Blackburn credits Walter?s father with instilling in his son a strong work ethic and a strong basic skill set.
At the plate, Walter is the leadoff hitter. He?s patient and makes good, solid contact with the ball from the left-handed batter?s box. In a 5-3 win over Harford Tech Monday, Walter doubled to lead off the game, going 1 for 3 with a walk and a run.
It?s easy to forget about Walter when looking at the rest of the team?s strong lineup.
“He?s the kind of kid you have to see over and over again to appreciate how good he is,” Blackburn said.
But he?s getting college looks, particularly from St. Mary?s in Southern Maryland and Wesleyan in Delaware.
In the meantime, Walter will continue to roam the expansive center field at C. Milton Wright. Dugouts have been installed and a fence has been updated along the hill that drops behind right field. The center field fence, though, will wait.
“You kind of do with what you?ve got,” Blackburn said.
