South Florida Sun Sentinel from Fort Lauderdale, Florida • Page 97

Sun-Sentinel, Friday, June 6, 1986 7 Speed freak: PBJC's Durkin burns up basepaths There aren't too many kids his age that have his knowledge. It comes from growing up in a baseball family. He probably knows more about baseball than most high school coaches. George Petik, hitting instructor of an Infield," Petik said. "His speed shakes things up.

"With Marty at first, a pitcher can't concentrate as well on a hitter. He's worrying that Marty's going to take off. That means hitters following Marty are going to get more fastballs. If pitchers start throwing curves and changeups, that's an invitation for Marty to steal second." Petik and Keefe said Durkin contributes with more than just his physical skills. "He's got good baseball knowledge," Petik said.

"There aren't too many kids his age that have that knowledge. It comes from growing up in a baseball family. He probably knows more about baseball than most high school coaches." Petik said that knowledge shows itself In subtle ways. "It's not just the fundamentals that set him apart," Petik said, "but all the little things that separate the average player from the good one. "Things like positioning.

It's not just luck when balls are hit right at him. That comes from knowing a hitter, knowing how a pitcher is pitching a hitter and knowing where the ball is likely to be hit. "Things like working the count so you can get a good fastball down the middle. Those are things you work at" it 4 By Randall Mell Staff WrlNT Marty Durkin 'i eyes don't hide his intentions when he takes his lead at first base. It is a look opposing Sltchers and catchers don't like to see.

It means a race i about to begin. And Durkin doesn't lose many races. Durkin, a second baseman for Pompano Beach's American Legion baseball team, can turn baseball games into track meets. His gift is speed. It irritates pitchers, disrupts defenses and makes Durkin an Important ingredient in Pompano Beach's formula for winning baseball.

"He can run very well," said Pompano Beach hitting Instructor George Petik. "When he reaches first base, it's like an automatic double." Durkin, an outfielder for Palm Beach Junior College this spring, leads Pompano Beach with 15 stolen bases In 17 attempts. "I have the green light," Durkin said about his freedom to run the base paths. "There arent many catchers at this level with great arms, so I go any chance I get I'm careful if we're behind and it's not a good time to run, but any other time 111 go. Ill steal third, too." The key to Durkin's game is reaching first base.

He has done that well He bats second and leads the team with an on-base percentage of .576. He is hitting .390 (23 of 59) but has 25 walks in 85 plate appearances. He leads the team in walks, is second in runs scored (24) and tied for second in RBI (16). "He's a disciplined hitter," Pompano Beach manager John Keefe said. "He and Peadoff hitter Jim Van Hart are our catalysts." Van Hart leads the team with 26 runs scored.

"Jim and Marty have accounted for one-third of our runs scored this year," Keefe said. "Neither strikes out much. They both reach base a lot, and we can hit and run with both of them." Keefe said Durkin and Van Hart complement each other. Durkin is a switch-hitter who bunts well and can advance the runner. "Marty's a legitimate switch-hitter," Keefe said.

"When he's batting left, the first baseman has to hold Jim on and that opens a hole for Marty to hit through." If one can't get on, the other probably will. When they are both on base, it is double trouble for pitchers. "Their Job is to get on base and go wild," Petik said. "There's a lot of speed between the two of them and a lot of havoc to wreak in the infield." Durkin, 6-2 and 175 pounds, is a former standout at Cardinal Gibbons High School. He got off to a slow start this season and had only one hit in his first 11 at bats for Pompano Beach.

"I went into a couple of slumps at Palm Beach," Durkin said. "Then I started slow in Legion, but I've started coming around. "I was one for 11 at the start of this season but had 13 or 14 walks," he said. "Pitchers weren't throwing me strikes and I was tempted to start swinging away. But I was patient and finally started getting my pitches." Success for Durkin means success for Pompano Beach.

Petik said Durkin's speed and baseball knowledge make his teammates better players. "When Marty's on base, he breaks up the continuity 4 Keefe said that baseball knowledge gives Durkin a leadership role. "He's one of our co-captains and we look for him to lead on and off the field' Keefe said. "He's matured a lot bv olavins in iunior colleee. He's a little more 4 technical about the game and that helps us as coaches." Durkin was a key to Pompano Beach's success last season.

He hit .342 with three home runs, 35 RBI and 19 stolen bases. His statistics helped Pompano Beach to a 48-14 record and a runner-up finish in the state tournament In the last two years, Durkin has contributed defensively as a middle inflelder, first baseman, outfielder and pitcher. "He's good defensively," Keefe said, "but it's probably what he needs to work on the most. He could be a little more aggressive on some ground balls. That probably comes from moving from the outfield at Palm Beach back to the Infield." Staff photo by St'SAN GARDNER Marty Durkin has worked on his fielding, but his coach says there's still room for improvement.

HID ABSOLUTELY- LAST CMKI 1988 TOYOTA. STANDARD BED 4 SPEED POWER BRAKES 1640 LB. PAYLOAD 2000 LB. TOWING CAPACITY Oh Oh AKTUD ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE LU KJ KJ KJ FROM WITH APPROVED BANK FINANCING MAXIMUM TERM OF 36 MONTHS AVAILABLE ON MORE THAN 1 OA TRUCKS VANS lt)u IN STOCK.