Caleb Williamson’s shot in right field came on a whim by Emporia State coach Bob Fornelli.
Last Monday, Fornelli decided he would start Williamson in right field. Fornelli had not settled on a right fielder all season and kept shuffling guys in and out depending on his feel for the day.
Against Missouri Western that day, Williamson went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, and Fornelli hasn’t been able to take him out since.
“He’s definitely made the most of his opportunity,” Fornelli said.
In Williamson’s last nine games — all starts in right field — he has hit .419, has one double, a triple, two home runs and 12 RBIs. The two homers came this past weekend against Truman State and were his first as a Hornet.
“I don’t hit a whole lot of home runs,” he said. “That’s not really my swing. It went out of the park and that’s cool, but I can’t go up to the plate and try to do that every time.”
Williamson’s recent hot hitting has bumped his average up to .283 from a season-low .138. Williamson attributes the improvement and his unexpected power surge to a few hitting sessions with Fornelli. Williamson worked on keeping his weight back and slowing down his swing.
“I’ve been getting to the ball a lot better and getting more balls on the barrel, trying to hit it hard and not trying to pull so many balls,” Williamson said.
Williamson could feel the change in his first at-bat against Missouri Western.
“I got a pitch away and I hit it well,” he said. “I didn’t even get a hit, I hit it right at the first baseman, but I felt like I saw the ball well, and the next time I hit a double and it just went from there.”
Williamson’s production when the Hornets need him most is nothing new. Last season he thrived early on as a pinch-hitter, and then filled in the last half of the season as the team’s first baseman. In 43 games — including 24 starts — Williamson hit .286 and had 22 RBIs.
“He’s been through the wars and he’s had an opportunity to play in regional play and postseason play,” Fornelli said. “We think he’s a good fit for our team at this point.”
Fornelli continues to go with his gut each day when it comes to his designated hitter. But in right field, Williamson has made it so Fornelli no longer thinks twice when filling out his lineup card.
“He’s our guy,” Fornelli said. “I think he’s earned that. If he goes back to hitting .180 or .170, then we’ve got to make a decision, but for right now, he’s got his confidence and I think he’s going to play well the rest of the year.”
Graham, Anthony get rare midweek start
Without any games scheduled this upcoming weekend, Fornelli will start Ben Graham and Ryan Anthony on Wednesday in Emporia State’s doubleheader at Pittsburg State.
Fornelli would usually start his bottom-of-the-rotation starters in a midweek game, but the schedule allows for the change in philosophy. After Wednesday’s doubleheader, the Hornets do not play again until April 21 at home against Sterling, and then their next conference action is at Missouri Southern on April 24.
“I really would like to play a game this weekend,” Fornelli said. “I’m a little nervous about having an off weekend and then playing Tuesday and having a big series coming up against Missouri Southern. They’ve got to feel like they can still win the conference. It’s just a matter of us staying plugged in.”