Erin Slinde is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Scottsdale Christian Academy for AZPreps365.com 

There are many pitchers on a baseball team, but SCA baseball’s senior Drew Zittel stands out.

One may think it’s because of his fastball, which arrives at just under 90 mph.

One may think it’s his height or his throwing hand. A 6-foot-3 lefthander is a rare find. 

But to his coaches and teammates, what really separates Zittel from other pitchers is his character, both on and off the field. 

“Drew is consistent in everything he does,” SCA baseball coach Jon Zaborowski said. “He walks the walk.”

Zittel worked to find that consistency on the mound. His love for the game is what drove him to improve and find that consistent strike zone. 

“Baseball is all about perseverance,” Zittel said. “Most of the time you won’t succeed, you may get knocked down, you may struggle, but you still have to keep pushing and try your best.”

Zittel has been playing the game since he was 3 years old. Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Zittel worked day in and day out to get to where he is today.

“He loves the sport,” SCA senior catcher Tucker Willingham said. “His baseball IQ is through the roof.”

Willingham and Zittel have been playing together on the same high school and club baseball team since they were freshmen. Both were “swing players,” meaning they played on both JV and varsity as freshmen before they made the varsity team their sophomore year. 

With Zittel on the mound, SCA won a state championship his sophomore year. Last year, Zittel was really looking forward to repeating his success, but the season was cut short due to COVID-19.

One of Zittel’s goals this year is to prove what he couldn’t do last year.

“This year as a senior and a leader on the team,” Zittel said, “I’m really looking forward to leading the team and showing our experience in the playoffs and being able to win that state title.”

Not only is Zittel a strong baseball player, but he’s a strong athlete. Zittel was also a member of the SCA basketball team that won a state championship this year.

“He wasn’t one of the starters on the basketball team this year,” Zaborowski said, “but any time you put him in the game he did something good.”

Zittel played many sports growing up, but he knew baseball was his true love. Zittel’s club baseball coach, Jeff Rodin, knew where Zittel’s talent was going to lead him to pitch.

“While he did play other sports and other positions,” Rodin said, “pitching was always where I projected him to be, and he didn’t disappoint.”

Rodin said Zittel’s mindset helped him become a better pitcher 

“He always had the presence of a pitcher out there,” Rodin said. “He always seemed super confident and in control.”

Zittel has focused on his strength to help him throw harder, but his coaches believe that his leadership skills have grown the most. 

“He’s pretty quiet and he still doesn’t talk a whole lot,” Zaborowski said,” but he commands respect from his teammates.”

Zittel went 7-0 his sophomore year for SCA, but there were still two pitchers ahead of him that year. Although his record this season is 3-2, his ERA is 2.47. Zittel threw the first perfect game of his high school career on Monday against Scottsdale Prep. 

“This year, he’s the guy,” Zaborowski said. “It’s interesting to see how he’s handling that and how he’s stepping up as having to be that person that’s the lockdown starting pitcher for us.”

Zittel uses his poise on the mound to help him in tight games. 

“That can be an advantage as a pitcher,” Rodin said. “You don’t get too high. You don’t get too low. You stay on the even-keel. You don’t get rattled in a tense situation.”

Zaborowski said he will miss the example Zittel has set for the younger players in the program. 

“Anybody that has his character and his work ethic and his respectfulness, that’s the type of guy you want in your program,” Zaborowski said. “We want quality guys in the culture of our program that are willing to listen and just work hard.”

Zittel throws a great fastball and curveball, but that’s not what he wants to be remembered for.

“Leaving an impact and hopefully being able to change some people and the way they think and motivate them to be great as well,” Zittel said. “That would be a huge deal for me.

Zittel has decided to attend Biola University, a private Christian school in La Miranda, California.

“He is a follower of Christ,” Zaborowski said. “He’s a Christian and he lives it out.”

Although Biola may not be the best baseball school, Rodin said Biola is going to be the perfect fit for Zittel to continue to play baseball for a Christian school while getting a great education. Rodin still believes that if Zittel wants to play at a higher level, he could.

“I still think he has a very high ceiling on the baseball field if he wants to pursue that,” Rodin said.

Although Zittel does not know what his future holds, he believes that if he keeps on progressing, playing at the next level could be an option.

“He is potentially a Division 1 pitcher. I’m excited to see how well he develops,” Zaborowski said. “He should be throwing in the 90s before he’s done, and who knows what happens after that.”

Zittel’s teammate Willingham is planning on playing for Colorado Christian University in the same conference as Biola. The two best friends will have the opportunity to face off against one another in college.

“It’s going to be a little sad to see him across the field in a different dugout,” Willingham said. “He’ll be my enemy on the field, but after the game and before the game, he’s my brother.”

SCA (12-2) will travel to Northwest Christian at 3:45 p.m. Monday.