Nick Domitrovich has been an outstanding hitter throughout his career at Carson High School, and he's taken it a step further this year.
The left-handed hitting Domitrovich is hitting .400 with 16 runs and 14 RBI through the Senators' first 10 Northern 4A games, and he's a big reason why the Senators are off to a 7-3 start.
"I feel like I'm seeing the ball a lot better than I have been before," said Domitrovich, who has hit safely in eight of the first 10 games thus far. "Coach (Bryan) Manoukian thought it would be better if I changed to more of a straight-up stance instead of the open stance I used last year.
"There were times when I was off balance which threw off my timing and I would roll over on some balls."
Manoukian clarified things a bit.
"It wasn't so much changing his stance as it was dropping his foot down earlier so he wasn't drifting over the top," the Carson assistant coach said. "I want him to have a firmer front side."
"If the foot is down, you're going to read the pitch better," Carson head coach Cody Farnworth said. "He needs to stand tall in there. Sometimes he gets bent over and doesn't swing it as well."
What makes Domitrovich's offensive numbers is that high school players are playing with a less-lively bats than in previous years. Wood and composite bats have replaced the high-powered metal bats. Carson players started making the adjustments over the summer.
"You can't get away with bad swings anymore," Domitrovich said. "The sweet spot on these bats is a lot smaller."
In past years, a strong high school player could get pitched in on the hands and still hit the ball a decent distance. Now, he's going to break a bat or the ball isn't going to go nearly as far.
One if the best things about Domitrovich is his versatility at the plate. He's batted in a bunch of diffrent spots in the order because he's a solid contact hitter (he strikes once in every seven at-bats), and he can run a little bit which is why he's batted leadoff or No. 2 during his career.
"I like hitting third because it gives me a chance to produce," Domitrovich said. "I like the pressure of hitting there. When I bat leadoff, I take a lot of pitches; see a lot of pitches."
Domitrovich has enjoyed success in recent games which helped bost his average. He went 3-for-3 in a loss to McQueen and followed that up with back-to-back 2-for-4 and three RBI efforts in the sweep of North Valleys.
"I kind of lik him in the two hole because of what he can do with the bat," Farnworth said. "When he's hit leadoff he does look at a lot of pitches. Anywhere in the top three spots he's going to help us."
Domitrovich is also versatile defensively. This season, he's pitched, played catcher and shortstop. He's also played third and second and the outfield at one time or another. That versatility no doubt will come in handy at the next level. Domitrovich has verbally committed to play at WNC next season, and he believes the more positions he can play the more valuable he will be.
"I like catcher the best," the Carson senior said. "You're involved in every play. I think it's my best position to go somewhere. I'm not sure where WNC might want me to play. One of the coaches mentioned outfield. I don't really know what they might have me doing. I still have to sign first."
"It is nice to have soembodfy like Nick whoo we can plug in anywhere," Farnworth said. "His best spot we believe is catcher. He's stepped up his leadership role, calling pitches and setting up the defense. We'll continue to switch off him and Rory (Petersen) the rest of the season."
Domitrovich is a rarity in high school sports these days - a one-sport athlete.
"When I was younger, my parents wouldn't let me play football because they were worried about me getting hurt," Domitrovich said. "Once I got to Carson I'd wished I'd played."
It's given him a chance to play all year around, and that has certainly helped.