‘That’s our guy’: Columbia’s baseball team knows it can rely on its senior ace | High School Baseball

A pitching machine and a plastic ball at Makle Park. That’s one of Peyton Gilbert’s first, and most vivid, baseball memories.

Columbia’s senior went there with his dad. Those early swings made an impression.

“He saw me hit the ball really far,” Gilbert said. “So he said, ‘This guy is gonna be good.’”

That prediction proved correct, just in a different way. Gilbert has enjoyed his greatest success with his arm, not with his bat.

The 6-3, 225-pound right-hander is an imposing figure on the mound and the anchor for Columbia’s pitching staff. Gilbert earned seven wins and recorded 89 strikeouts in 49 innings last season. The Crimson Tide knows how important he is to the team’s hopes.

“That’s our guy right there,” catcher Cameron McClair said. “Our ace.”

Gilbert’s strikeout total is almost too high to believe. It looks more like a video game than real life. What’s the secret behind all those whiffs?

Some of it comes down to velocity, of course. Gilbert throws in the upper 80s, and that will overpower hitters at many levels. Movement might be a bigger factor. Even McClair, who has seen more pitches from Gilbert than anyone, finds him mystifying.

“Sometimes it gets a little confusing,” McClair said. “You never know how the pitches are gonna move. We’re usually on track together and we’re communicating really well.”

There’s an intangible that an ace brings to his team. A feeling of comfort that can’t fully be measured.

Gilbert was 7-0 in his nine appearances last season. The Crimson Tide went 4-9 when a different pitcher was responsible for the decision.

“He brings confidence to our hitters,” senior Luke Rupp said. “We know we can trust him to secure the runs that we score. We don’t have to be stressed about having to score runs.”

McClair is one of the top returners to Columbia’s lineup. He’s a three-year starter behind the plate in baseball and as a quarterback in football.

The 6-2, 195-pound junior batted .353 with six doubles and 15 runs scored in 20 games. His on-base percentage was .421. That, in McClair’s mind, wasn’t good enough.

“I’m hoping to have a better year than last year,” he said. “I’m trying to improve.”

That means hitting over .400 with a few more home runs, doubles and steals.

Owen Musser, who hit a team-best .391 with six doubles and 18 RBIs, will be another key figure. Gilbert also contributes in the batter’s box with a .312 average.

The goal for Columbia is to qualify for the district playoffs. The Crimson Tide finished 11-9 overall and 5-5 in Lancaster-Lebanon League Section Four last spring. 

“We have a lot of potential,” Gilbert said. “Better than last year. I’d say we look pretty good.”

Columbia coach Joe Spiese coached many of these boys at the younger levels. Spiese remembers Gilbert running around wearing his rec specs many years ago. Even then, his potential was apparent.

“What I admire most about him is his work ethic is incredible,” Spiese said. “He misses by so little that he’s getting strikeouts on pitches because he’s always around the plate.”

Gilbert tried to play basketball. That didn’t work out and only lasted a year. The senior was recruited to join the football team and always turned down that opportunity.

One thing was clear to Gilbert the first time he picked up a bat. Even a plastic one.

“Any other sport, it doesn’t work out for me,” he said. “Baseball is just spot on.”

Some people search far and wide to find their future. Gilbert found his at Makle Park.