MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — In baseball — like in life — one never knows when an opportunity is going to present itself. But when it does, you need to be prepared to make the most of it.
Morgantown Post 2 Junior Legion slugger Cam Musgrave has displayed a knack for coming through at the plate early on this year.
As a result, Post 2 coach Tyler Barnette called upon Musgrave when he wanted to spice things up with the designated hitter spot in the lineup against Romney Post 91.
While some might falter due to nervousness or inexperience, Musgrave found himself right at home, going 2-2 at the plate and knocking in the team’s sole RBI of the contest as the team cruised to its second victory of the season.
“It felt good to finally have a chance to show what I can do. Just to get two hits at the plate today felt good,” he said following the game.
“We told him he was going to be back and forth and we put him at the DH spot to see what he was capable of. He had a good game of Junior Legion ball on Friday and we needed something like that,” Barnette added.
Musgrave brings a cool composure and patience to the plate that Barnette isn’t used to from players his age — an asset that could prove crucial to a heavy-hitting Post 2 baseball this summer.
“He has a great approach at the plate, and he knows what pitches he can hit. It’s overall great plate discipline,” Barnette said.
“Against Romney, he got up in the count with a runner on second, let a couple of pitches he knew he couldn’t get to go by, and connected on the third one and put it into a gap. To have that from a young guy is big.”
Development at the Junior Legion level is a critical focus of Barnette’s program — and Musgrave attributed being ready in his big performance to the level of preparedness instilled by the coaches at the lower level.
“It’s definitely helped me. Our coaches down there are very good and they train us to be able to compete at this level,” Musgrave said.
“These kids all work really hard, and to have kids make it from that level up to the main roster is a grind. But this is a kid who put in the work. I see how hard he works. There are a lot more like him and more opportunities for them,” Barnette added.
