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Lebanon grad Isaacs has eye on rotation at Georgia Tech

Former Warrior working on developing a fourth pitch

Lebanon High School graduate Dusty Isaacs had a solid freshman season for Georgia Tech this spring, posting a 1-1 record with a 2.72 ERA with 40 strikeouts in around 36 innings pitched coming out of the Yellow Jackets' bullpen.

Courtesy of Georgia Tech Lebanon High School graduate Dusty Isaacs had a solid freshman season for Georgia Tech this spring, posting a 1-1 record with a 2.72 ERA with 40 strikeouts in around 36 innings pitched coming out of the Yellow Jackets' bullpen.

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By Scott Hayes, Staff Writer Updated 12:38 AM Thursday, June 23, 2011

LEBANON — Dusty Isaacs adjusted well to pitching out of the bullpen as a freshman on Georgia Tech’s baseball team this spring.

The Lebanon High School graduate is now spending his summer pitching for the Hamilton Joes, hoping to hone his skills in order to earn a spot in the Yellow Jacket starting rotation as a sophomore.

Isaacs appeared in a team-high 25 games for Georgia Tech in 2011, posting a 1-1 record and a 2.72 ERA, with 40 strikeouts in 36 1/3 innings pitched as a setup man for the Yellow Jackets, who reached the NCAA regionals with a 42-21 record and tied for first in the ACC Coastal Division with Virginia at 22-8.

“Dusty did a real good job for us this year and he has a bright future ahead of him, even beyond his time at Georgia Tech,” Yellow Jacket head baseball coach Danny Hall said. “He’s got a great arm, is a great competitor and I think he learned a lot his freshman year.

“He’s got a great fastball, but this year he developed his other pitches and improved his location which is what he needs to do to work his way into the starting rotation.”

Becoming a pitcher instead of just a hard thrower is Isaacs’ foremost focus this summer while pitching for the Joes, which play in the Great Lakes Collegiate Summer League, a wooden-bat developmental league for college players. He could have gone to play in the Cape Cod League, a higher-profile wooden-bat summer league, but wanted to stay closer to home.

“My freshman year was a great experience and I’m very happy with my choice to go to Georgia Tech,” Isaacs said. “But after being away from home for nine months, I wanted to sleep in my own bed and eat my mom’s cooking this summer.

“I’m still going to be able to pitch a lot of innings with the Joes and work on what I need to work on which is developing a fourth pitch. I’m happy with my fastball, slider and change-up, but I need to have a curve ball to be a starting pitcher in the ACC. Three pitches can carry you through against those lineups once, but to start and pitch a lot of innings, you need four pitches.”

Isaacs said it was an adjustment to pitch out the bullpen. But, he was effective — highlighted by a ninth-inning appearance against the Miami Hurricanes when he struck out the last batter with the winning run on third base.

“The unknown factor of when I’d pitch was the hardest thing to learn,” Isaacs said. “But, thankfully, I had a lot of veteran guys in the bullpen to learn from. I just had to be prepared mentally every day and whenever they called my name, I warmed up and got ready.”

Isaacs hopes his stay in the bullpen was a short one. He hopes to work his way into the top three in Georgia Tech’s starting rotation next year.

“Dusty could easily work his way into the rotation,” Hall said.

“He’s talented enough and he has the work ethic to do whatever he puts his mind to. He had a big role for us as a freshman, and I see him having an even bigger role next year.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4526 or shayes@coxohio.com.

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