Long history together makes trio an asset to Boulder City

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | 6:01 p.m.

Talk about trusting your teammate.

Boulder City High pitcher Adam Eudy know that when catcher Trevor Messina puts down his fingers to signal for a certain pitch, it more than likely is the right pitch to throw.

The pair, both seniors, have been battery mates – Eudy on the mound and Messina behind the plate – since elementary school when playing for Boulder City Little League.

Now seniors, they have a certain chemistry associated with playing multiple games together over the years.

Messina knows which one of Eudy's pitches will work the best in most situations, and Eagles' coach Bill Strachan has given him the green light to call a majority of the pitches.

The strategy has worked this spring. Eudy is 3-0 through April 6 with a 3.77 earned run average and has been the winning pitcher in all three of Boulder City's victories.

"On a good day, (Eudy) is hitting his spots all the time and has his curveball working," said Messina, who calls pitches for all of Boulder City's hurlers. "He can make people look bad with that curve."

Strachan did not have many reservations about letting Messina call the pitches. He gives the catcher a game plan based on scouting reports before the game and always has a say in what is thrown, especially in crucial parts of the game.

"They trust each other. You won't see (Eudy) shake off too many pitches," Strachan said. "(Messina) has a good feel for the flow of the game."

The pair, along with senior outfielder Shane Levin, have risen through the ranks together in the high school program and Little League.

Together, their performance will have a significant impact on the Eagles' success, Strachan said.

Boulder City has struggled out of the gate, splitting 3A Southern League doubleheaders with Moapa Valley and Faith Lutheran and sit at 3-7 overall through April 6.

"We just lose focus during those doubleheaders mostly," said Levin, who is batting .346 with seven runs scored. "We just need to focus better and keep up our energy."

The senior leaders have a familiarity of playing with each other since Little League they fell could push them over the top.

That holds especially true for Eudy and Messina. The two estimated they have played more than 100 games together since Little League and Eudy wants the ball in his hand with the season on the line.

And, naturally, he wants to be throwing to Messina.

"I trust him on my pitches and trust that he will block balls in the dirt," Eudy said. "He knows what I want to pitch and I don't have to shake him off much."

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or [email protected].