MORGANTOWN — On a WVU baseball team that seems to be built around versatility, maybe no one is as uniquely flexible as Braden Zarbnisky.
That means a lot to the Mountaineers’ version of “Slash,” the nickname once given to former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart, who also doubled as a wide receiver.
For WVU, Zarbnisky holds several responsibilities from starting pitcher to outfielder to leadoff specialist and leader of the stolen base.
“It’s pretty rare when a guy throws the first pitch for his team and then sees the first pitch from the other team,” WVU head coach Randy Mazey said. “There are other two-way guys around the nation.”
Many of them are with the Mountaineers (13-15), who travel north to face Penn State (7-18), at 6:30 p.m. today, at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.
WVU third baseman Andrew Zitel was a backup middle infielder last season, but has worked his way into third base and also first base in a pinch.
WVU catcher Ivan Gonzalez also doubles as a third baseman. Pitcher Alek Manoah also plays first base and outfielder Isaiah Kearns was a starting pitcher for the Mountaineers last season during the NCAA tournament.
Zarbnisky, a third-team all-America last season and a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award, maybe takes it to another level.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Zarbnisky said. “Not many guys can do it. To be able to do it in a conference like the Big 12 is pretty amazing.”
His .293 batting average leads the team and Zarbnisky may have just earned a spot in the Mountaineers’ weekend starting pitching rotation, after giving up just one earned run over five innings Sunday against UNLV.
In seven appearances — two starts — Zarbnisky’s is 2-1 with a 2.76 ERA. He’s struck out 16 in 16.1 innings itched.
His 11 stolen bases — he’s been caught only once — lead the team and is sixth in the Big 12.
“To be a leadoff guy, who can steal bases and get hits, that’s super valuable,” Mazey said. “I wouldn’t trade him for anything.”
