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Poland’s Knodle showcases speed
By TIM CLEVELAND
The odds were long against Poland’s Chase Knodle on Aug. 4 in Dublin. More than 28,000 baseball players in 100 cities across the country were trying out for 51 spots for three Under Armour Baseball Factory teams that would go on to the Senior Fall Classic tournament Oct. 10-13 in Peoria, Ariz.
Knodle used his skills — especially his speed — to earn one of the spots and a trip to Arizona. He was one of only three players from Ohio to claim a spot.
“I’m actually shocked that I made it,” he said.
Knodle participated in an intensive tryout in Dublin.
“I ran the 60-yard dash in 6.43 seconds,” he said. “I went to my position [second base] and fielded ground balls and turned double plays. Then we went off into groups and hit. They also evaluated our arm speed.”
Chris Brown is the Under Armour representative who signed Knodle to the event.
“We hold Under Armour national tryouts so players can get unbiased evaluations,” Brown said. “Chase was a pretty easy selection as he’s a standout player. Right out of the tryout he ran the 60-yard dash in 6.43 seconds, which is among the top times among players in the country.
“He has speed and is good defensively. Because he has good speed he’s a threat offensively. He runs from home to first base in 4.22 seconds, which is above the Major League average right now.”
Once in Peoria, Knodle went through a grueling four-day process.
“On the first day we had practice as team,” he said. “The next day we had a game and after the game we had practice again. The next day it was the same thing, go to practice and have a game all day.”
Knodle’s efforts paid off as he was named an Under Armour preseason All-American. He said playing against top players from around the country has helped him raise the level of his game.
“I definitely learned a lot,” he said. “It was really competitive.”
“He did great out there,” Brown said. “He hit .400 in the tournament and continued to run well.”
Knodle hopes the skills he learned will transfer over to his play this spring as he enters his senior season at Poland High. In addition to second base, he will also play center field for the Bulldogs and hopes to lead them deeper in the postseason than they have recently gone.
“We want to win districts for sure,” he said. “Last year we lost in the district semifinals.”
As for college, while Knodle said he isn’t sure yet where he will go, Brown said he and his staff are helping him to make sure Knodle maximizes his college experience.
“Right now we’re helping him put together lists of colleges he’s interested in,” Brown said. “We’ll continue to delve into that aspect of the process with him.”
Wherever Knodle ends up, Brown said his speed will make his stand out.
“His speed is going to be what keeps him going in this game,” Brown said. “You just don’t see many guys like that out there when we look for guys with speed, with power. Speed is something you can teach a little bit, but you really can’t teach speed.”