Kiski Area grad Derek Hald cements status as 1 of top catchers in Saint Vincent history

Saint Vincent baseball coach Nick Janosko was a catcher back in the day. Two of his three sons suited up behind the plate for the Bearcats (the youngest, Traynor, is a freshman this year).

So Janosko, in his 28th season, appreciates more than most the benefit of a reliable catcher. For the past three-plus seasons, he has had a stalwart in Kiski Area grad Derek Hald.

Entering Sunday’s nonconference doubleheader at Juniata, the senior had started 32 of the 33 games in which he has appeared this season — Saint Vincent was 10-8 in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, 16-18 overall — and 90 of 102 in his career. His batting average over those 102 games is .298.

Hald won’t dazzle anyone with his offense, but Janosko said hitting is secondary when it comes to what he looks for in a catcher.

“Sometimes I will deal with maybe a little bit lower batting average, maybe a little bit less offensive production if that means I’m going to get a solid catcher behind the plate,” Janosko said. “First and foremost, it’s a defensive position. … The old adage in baseball is you have to be strong up the middle. Well, that starts behind the plate.”

Hald began his youth baseball career as a shortstop, but when opponents continually stole bases, he was moved behind the plate and has been there ever since.

“I love it because I’m involved in every play,” Hald said. “I get to use my head. … I’m very analytical in nature, so working with (Saint Vincent assistant) coach (Parker) Lynn with calling pitches and working with the pitchers, I love (it).

“They say catching is an art, and I really believe that. … I think throwing guys out at second has to be my favorite feeling in all of baseball.”

And it’s something he has done with regularity at SVC. He has thrown out 47 would-be base stealers in his three-plus seasons, including 21 this season.

Hald said throwing runners out requires a calm mind as well as a sound body. He has worked diligently on his footwork behind the plate and on building his arm strength. Janosko said Hald’s throws routinely arrive at second base in 1.9 seconds.

But the coach hasn’t had to sacrifice a lot of offense to keep Hald behind the plate. While his stats might not be as eye-popping as some other catchers, he has proven to be a consistent hitter, particularly when it comes to making contact. In 346 career at-bats heading into Sunday, he had struck out only 35 times.

Hald said being a catcher helps him in the batter’s box.

“It definitely helps from pitch sequencing with kind of expecting what I’m going to get,” he said. “It’s never good to be a ‘guess’ hitter, but it’s good to be one leg up whenever I can tell what’s going to come next.

“… There’s a better zone awareness as well.”

If there’s one thing missing from Hald’s college career, it is an all-conference award. Even after hitting a personal-best .338 last season, he was left off the All-PAC team.

Janosko said while others might overlook Hald’s work, he does not. He calls Hald one of the top three catchers he has ever coached.

“I’ll put him up against any catcher in our conference, without a doubt,” Janosko said.

Hald admitted he was a little disappointed by last season’s snub, even expressing his frustration to Janosko.

But for his final season, he is focused only on making the PAC tournament and passing on his vast knowledge to the up-and-coming catchers on the roster.

“I want to enjoy every moment playing with my guys,” he said, “and I’m not going to let the opinions of a group of people I don’t know and who don’t know me dictate my enjoyment of the game.”