Zach Friedrichs

Steve Virgen

Most Sage Hill School baseball players say they are better this

season because of their new coach, Bert Emerson. It has also been

helpful that the Lightning program is a year older and, in that

sense, Zach Friedrichs has experienced maturity in a variety of ways.

Friedrichs became a leader for the Lightning by taking a

nontraditional route. The Sage Hill senior is not known for being a

vocal leader and he’s not expected to deliver any intense speeches.

Yet, when it’s game time, the light comes on for Friedrichs and, as

cliche as it may sound, he becomes a leader by example.

For the past two years, Friedrichs, without the rah-rah and

let’s-go, quarterbacked the Sage Hill football team. He was expected

to be a leader, yet his personality did not fit the mold. But that,

apparently, made it easier for others to follow Friedrichs’ lead.

In other words, Friedrichs is merely one of the guys. He plays, be

it baseball or football, because it’s fun. To him, baseball is a

kid’s game.

“Baseball is my favorite,” said Friedrichs, who has been a

three-sport athlete for the past three years. “I’ve played football

for three years, soccer my sophomore and senior year, basketball last

year and baseball for three years. Next year, I’m not totally sure

what I will do, but I think I will go to Whittier College and play

football and baseball.”

Football didn’t always seem attractive to Friedrichs. After all,

he just began playing the sport three years ago. But he improved

naturally and he fit in well as quarterback because of his strong

arm. That ability has also helped him in baseball. He has also been

using an aggressive style at the plate.

Coming into this week, Friedrichs led the Lightning with a .421

batting average through 14 games. He’s hitting .476 with runners in

scoring position and he also has a team-best 21 RBIs.

“He has been a tremendous leader for us this year,” Emerson said.

“He just goes out there and competes and gives us opportunities to

win ballgames. He steps up at the right time.”

Friedrichs delivered a two-out, two-run double that proved to be

the difference in a 5-3 win over Brethren Christian April 15.

The Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week then pitched a complete-game,

three-hitter with no walks, but he was victimized by six Sage Hill

errors that led to three unearned runs in a 3-2 loss to Western

Christian. After that pitching performance, his ERA dropped to 0.78.

Friedrichs accounted for both of Sage Hill’s runs, as he went 2

for 2 with a double and drove in both runs. He also scored three runs

and collected two RBIs in the Lightning’s 16-9 win over Liberty

Christian April 18.

Friedrichs acknowledged he is not the vocal type, but that doesn’t

mean he’s quiet.

“I like to joke around, so I’m not totally quiet. But, then again,

I’m not that emotional type of leader,” Friedrichs said. “I think

most people would say that I’m not vocal, but I’m not quiet. I’m just

not big on giving speeches to the team or trying to get them pumped

up for the game. I’ll leave that up to the coach. I try to lead by

example.”