They call him “Z” or even “Big Z”, but like the legend of Zorro, he has made his mark by carving up batters, striking out 65 in 53 innings of work last year. His real name is Zachary Strickland, and he is a senior right-hander for the Ware County Gators’ baseball team. How he does this season could decide his future: He has already signed a National Letter of Intent to play college baseball in Statesboro, but he is also attracting the attention of some major league teams who could choose Strickland in the June 9 draft.
“It depends on the situation,” Strickland told In the Game Radio.
For now, he is concentrating on his senior season for Coach Tony Yeomans’ Ware County Gators, and then the 6’2”, 216-pound right-handed pitcher will be playing collegiately next season for the Georgia Southern Eagles.
Strickland started playing baseball as soon as he could walk, at the age of 2, with his father in the backyard, and then later in recreation league baseball and travel ball with the Ware County Mudcats, the Tifton Mavericks, and now with the Chain Baseball Academy out of Warner Robins.
“I actually played football and baseball in middle school; during that time I realized that I wanted to be able to play baseball at the next level,” he said. “So when I started high school, I concentrated on baseball and made the changes I needed that would allow me the best opportunity to play at the college level, and hopefully the professional level, one day. I believe that sacrifice has been worth it.”
In his freshman season, Strickland found his way into the record books when he tossed a perfect game for the Gators. By his sophomore year, he was starting at third base as well, and was an Honorable Mention member of the All-Region 3-AAAAA team.
Meanwhile in travel ball, Strickland was playing for Coach Andy Buress’ Chain Academy against a team from North Carolina. He was playing at third with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Strickland made a diving catch to end the inning, and then during his next at bat, he connected on a walk-off, game-winning hit. While pitching for Chain baseball, Strickland also tossed an amazing game against a ranked team from Houston, Texas.
“I was able to pitch the complete game and shut them down with a great defense behind me,” he said. “After that, several college coaches called my travel coach asking about me. I realized that my dream to play at the college level was a possibility, and it motivated me to work harder.”
Last year as a junior for the Gators, he was the Sub-Region Pitcher of the Year and an All-Region pitcher. He had an ERA of 1.84 and was named one of the top pitching prospects for the Perfect Game National Showcase. He is ranked the 70th right-handed pitcher in the country and finds himself in the overall top 225 players in the class of 2016 by Perfect Game and the seventh RHP in Georgia.
His favorite part of the game? “Pitching in a close game or against a good team,” he said. “Because it is more intense and makes me a better player.”
Although he can play third base, as well as first, he prefers to be on the mound where he controls the game with a fastball, curveball, slider, and change-up.
He carries a 3.6 grade point average in the classroom and is enrolled in Honors and Advanced Placement courses. His college plans include more than just baseball. He has already decided his major.
“Teaching and education, so I can coach baseball in the future,” he said.
Whether it is D-I college baseball or rookie ball next season, Strickland wants to improve on his mechanics. “Such as staying back and using my lower half to the maximum, and to be able to throw off speed in any count, wherever I want it,” he said. “I want to continue to gain muscle mass and increase my fastball velocity.” His fastball has continued to creep up the Jugs Gun numbers going from 91 to 94 mph his junior year.
Strickland remains humble and credits a crew of coaches and mentors who have helped him reach this point: Andy Buress of Chain baseball, pitching coach Ryan White, Ware County coach Tony Yeomans, weightlifting coaches Franklin Stephens and Sonny Spurlock, and of course, his mother and father. “They have impacted my life and game more than any coach possible,” he said. “I couldn’t be where I am today without them.”
He has also helped with the Miracle League, an organization that allows children with mental and physical disabilities to experience baseball firsthand on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that accommodates wheelchairs and other devices while helping to prevent injuries.
“The way they smile, laugh, enjoy it, and simply have fun just hits you hard,” he said. “It makes you realize how blessed you are. I thank God every day for blessing me with the talent and having the opportunity to go out every day and do what I love to do.”
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PS – Zachary Strickland
Ware baseball
By Rob Asbell
Photos by Jennifer Carter Johnson
Big Z Makes His Mark
