Bryon Kucharski grew up playing baseball and only baseball so the three-year starter for the Yellowjackets' varsity squad was happy to be named one of the captains for this season's team.

"It's a big honor. I'm excited to be captain because, along with the baseball, I work hard off the field," says Bryon who is a member of the National Honor Society and a two-time recipient of SCC All-Academic honors. "I always work hard every time I play. I always put in 110 percent and, as a captain, I want to see my teammates do the same."

Bryon developed a passion for baseball when he was just 12 years old and loves being out on the field and thinking about baseball all the time.

"I started having a lot of fun playing with my friends and, during middle school, I'd come up to watch some high school games and get excited to play in high school," says Bryon. "Once I got into high school, I started going to college games and now I'm excited to go play in college."

Before Bryon gets there, however, he must focus on continuing a stellar senior campaign. With his athlete having caught on the varsity squad for the past two seasons, Head Coach Butch Johnson gave Bryon the freedom to call his own game behind the plate this spring.

"I know it's a big responsibility to have, but I'm excited to have that responsibility," says Bryon. "I think I can call effectively and call a good came now. There's not really one way to call a game. There are so many factors that can be different between each pitcher and each day. I have to look at everything and put it into one to call a pitch."

Prior to catching, Bryon played at the hot corner and so some of the technical things about being a backstop-like blocking the ball and the long throw across the diamond-have come easier.

"I was used to always putting my body in front of the ball because, at third base, sometimes you have to just stop the ball," says Bryon, who loves when base runners try to swipe a base on him. "I've always liked throwing more than catching and I like throwing guys out. It's the best part of catching."

Where Bryon may excel even more this season is in the batter's box because of his strong work ethic.

?He's one of those guys that is always staying around for extra swings," says Johnson. "He's always the last one to leave the field and he's just a real good kid."

Bryon has also put in 15-plus weeks worth of work with his hitting coach to not only improve his confidence at the plate, but his mechanics and mentality, as well. It has led to a quick start to the year as he's hitting over .500 with a few extra base hits and RBI.

"I've been seeing the same level of pitching since my sophomore year so I'm really comfortable. There's not really one pitcher that I'm afraid to go against. I didn't have a great junior year-I didn't hit anywhere close to where I wanted to hit-so I spent a lot of time in the winter to get comfortable with my swing," says Bryon, who will look to play at Wentworth Institute of Technology in the fall. "I came out ready to go and I felt great and still feel great. I hope I can stay this productive throughout my whole senior year and not just have a hot start."

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