Leatherwood earns stripes as No. 1

As both co-captain and scholarship recipient, pitcher boasts undefeated record

Photo courtesy of JMU Photography Right-handed pitcher Brian Leatherwood is a co-captain for the Diamond Dukes' 2004 season.

Three years ago, a 6-foot-1-inch Granby High School graduate stepped onto JMU's campus as a freshman for the fall 2001 semester.

Now a junior, Brian Leatherwood, who had been named the Most Outstanding Scholastic Baseball Player in the city of Norfolk while a senior in high school, sits atop the Diamond Dukes' pitching rotation as their go-to guy.

Aside from being relatively small for his position, coach Spanky McFarland referred to Leatherwood as a player he can count on to find the extra energy needed to battle teams and get after them late in a game.

"He's had a couple of complete games that he has actually pitched better in the late innings," McFarland said. "He smells victory and gets after it."

McFarland added that he and the team have nicknamed Leatherwood "Seabiscuit" because of his never-say-die attitude.

"When he plays, he plays for keeps," associate head coach Chuck Bartlett said. "[Leatherwood] is very tenacious."

Leatherwood was a walk-on player as a freshman and he since has earned a scholarship. This year he was named co-captain, along with red-shirt senior outfielder Alan Lindsey for the 2004 season.

"I was just hoping to make the team," Leatherwood said of his freshman year. "I am grateful for it all. I did not expect any of this to happen. I am just glad it's falling into place."

The right-handed pitcher saw minimal action his first two seasons on the Diamond Dukes' roster, but his tenacity has proven unstoppable so far this year, posting a 5-0 record entering his start Friday against the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.

"He's our Friday pitcher," McFarland said. "Being the Friday pitcher — that is a big deal. It's pretty much going ace-against-ace.

"[Leatherwood] knows it's not going to be easy because he has to pitch against the other team's No. 1 [pitcher]," McFarland continued. "[Pitching against the other team's top pitcher] usually means you don't get as many runs scored. And there is a little pressure that goes with that, but I think he showed he can handle the pressure."

Leatherwood's hard-working attitude has paid off. He went from throwing in only six innings his first season to tossing a total of 42 2/3 innings as a sophomore. He gave up 63 hits and 39 earned runs as a walk-on athlete during those first two seasons.

Each season, Leatherwood has progressed and become more comfortable with his pitches and role on the team.

"All he wanted was an opportunity and he works real hard," Bartlett said. "He's not necessarily extremely [talented], but he's a good solid athlete."

He spent this past summer playing in the Central Illinois Collegiate League, where he was named an all-star. Leatherwood said he gained a lot of experience and confidence on the mound, as he was a regular starter for the Quincy James team. His off-season workouts have played a major role in his success as well, according to his coaches.

"He knew coming back [this year] that he would be the oldest pitcher and he knew he would get his opportunity to start," McFarland said. "He took advantage of it and worked hard this summer."

So far this year, including his perfect record entering Friday, Leatherwood has accumulated a 4.78 earned- run average (his career low) and has given up only 46 hits and just one home run.

"[Leatherwood] is a professional in his approach to the game," McFarland said. "He doesn't get too rattled out there [on the mound]."