ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The 2014 baseball season started out disastrously for UNM right-hander Conner Rusch. After spending the majority of his career at Juanita High School as a shortstop, he converted to pitcher at UNM and found himself on the mound in the third game of the season. Facing a loaded San Diego lineup that featured four hitters that finished the season batting .342 or better, he allowed five runs in just two-thirds of an inning for a mind-boggling ERA of 67.50. Rusch didn’t let the rough start get him down, though, and in six more appearances later in the season allowed just two runs in 4.2 innings for a very respectable ERA of 3.86. In the latest issue of Inside Lobo Baseball, Rusch talks about his first year as a Lobo.
GoLobos.com: Your freshman season started about as terribly as possible …
Conner Rusch: (Laughs) Yeah …
GL: But as the season went on, you showed improvement and pitching coach Dan Spencer showed confidence in you and put you back out there. What was that progression like for you?
CR: Well last year was my first full year pitching. In high school I pitched a little bit but was mostly a shortstop. I was learning how to pitch all year. It was hard with the first outing being so rough, but I got a few more outings the rest of the season and that helped my confidence. Then I went and played summer ball in the Northwoods League, and that’s where I really felt like I got into a groove. That’s where I figured out how to pitch.
Editor’s note: Rusch posted a team-leading 2.43 ERA in 33.1 innings for the Eau Claire Express last summer.
GL: When you say you learned “how to pitch” do you mean what to throw in different counts and how to attack hitters?
CR: Yeah, but also learning when I’m at my best and how to pitch my best. Usually when I’m at my best I get a lot of ground balls and contact because I’m more of a sinkerballer. Pitching to each side of the plate and location is also big for me. In high school I was more of a thrower. I just threw it hard over the plate. There’s a lot more that goes into pitching than people realize sometimes.
GL: Did you play any other sports in high school?
CR: I played basketball for a while, but I had a knee injury and it kind of stopped after that. I mean, I was alright, I could shoot a little, but I wasn’t going to the NBA or anything. (Laughs.)
GL: What was your recruiting process like?
CR: Well actually I was playing in a tournament, and I think Spence was watching some of the younger guys that came this year, and I happened to throw three innings in relief. He just happened to see me pitch, and then he talked to me about coming here. I signed like a week later because it was only a month or two before school started. I think it was July 4 when they offered me.
GL: That really was quick. Were you looking anywhere else?
CR: At the time, no. Everyone was looking at me as a shortstop because I hadn’t pitched that much. A couple places wanted me to walk on, but I didn’t want to do that. I did pretty much have a full ride for engineering at the University of Washington, but I decided to come here because I wanted to play baseball.
GL: So you’re studying engineering then?
CR: Yeah, civil engineering. I initially started in electrical but it wasn’t that interesting. I was a little bored after a while, so I decided to switch to civil because I like building things and structure. Maybe I could help build some additions to Lobo Field in the future (laughs).
GL: Your uncle, Glendon Rusch, played in the majors.
CR: Yeah, he played in the big leagues for like 11 years. He bounced around for a while. He played for a bunch of different teams.
GL: Did you ever have any cool experiences with major leaguers?
CR: I think he was on the Royals and they played in Seattle, which is where I’m from, and – I was really young so I don’t really remember it – but I think I got to go in the dugout and meet some of the players. I think I got to meet Johnny Damon actually. I’d have to ask my parents (laughs).
GL: Okay before we let you go, what’s it like being a Lobo? How are your teammates to work and play with?
CR: I think we have a really good group of guys. There are a lot of hard workers. I think everyone’s ready for the season to start. I think we have a special team this year. We’ll see how everything works out, but I think it could be a good year for us.
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