Cusick Celebrates Successful Summer
9/30/2020 12:00:00 PM | Baseball, Les Johns
Wake Forest pitcher Ryan Cusick was named the Coastal Plains League Pitcher of the Year.
His sophomore season cut short because of the COVID-19 outbreak and his summer plans to play on the Cape canceled, Wake Forest starting pitcher Ryan Cusick scrambled for competition.
He landed with the High Point-Thomasville HiToms where he dominated all summer, capturing the Coastal Plains League Pitcher of the Year Award.
"Going into the summer, I set some goals to improve fastball command and work on my breaking ball to make it the plus-plus pitch I need it to be," Cusick said. "I also wanted to establish my changeup and get a three-pitch mix for next year. Every start I went out there, I thought I made progress. Looking back, it was a really successful summer for me, so I'm happy with the results."
Cusick posted an astounding 1.14 ERA, striking out 40 in 23.2 innings pitched. He gave up only 12 hits all season, allowing opponents to bat just .114 while allowing three total earned runs.
"Cuse (Cusick) was so much fun to coach," HiToms head coach Mickey Williard said in a release from the league. "I had heard coming in about the sheer arm talent, but watching him compete to show off the things that would take his game to the next level was great to see. He exhibited increased fastball control to the tune of 40K/9BB and showed more consistent flash of a plus breaking ball offering.
"He propelled himself up draft boards and is solidly in the conversation to come off the board in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Couldn't be happier for such a hard worker who is very deserving of this honor."
The long, strange summer for Cusick essentially started in the dugout at Coastal Carolina, in what ended up becoming the final game of the COVID-shortened Wake Forest Baseball 2020 season. While in the dugout for that game, the team received notification that spring break was going to be extended for an extra week.
"We thought that was great news," Cusick said.
But by the time they settled in for dinner that night, it started becoming clear that it probably wasn't good news after all. NBA games were suddenly being canceled, as players were diagnosed with the virus. The Deacs were set to host Clemson for a three-game series the next day.
"I was watching Clemson hitters on the bus ride, getting ready for my start in 24 hours," Cusick said. "We got the rug pulled out from us when we got off the bus. Coach Walter told us we wouldn't have games for at least two weeks, and obviously that became the whole year.
"You don't prepare yourself for hearing news like that. I was supposed to be starting against Clemson in 24 hours and suddenly it was canceled."
It wasn't that much longer before the ACC and NCAA pulled the plug on the rest of the season. The Cape Cod League, the preeminent collegiate baseball league in the country, canceled its season on April 24.
"The Cape is known as the best summer league, but the Coastal Plains League is a great league too," Cusick said. "I feel like a lot of the Cape players ended up trickling to the Coastal Plains. They were one of maybe three leagues who were playing. We had nine starters on our team and all nine were Cape bound. There was Cape-level talent on all the teams. It was a great season for the Coastal Plains League."
For the Coastal Plains League to pull off a season, they enacted strict COVID-19 protocols.
"It was definitely weird at first having to wear a mask in the locker room and only being able to go in there in little groups," Cusick said. "We had to be six feet apart in the bullpen, which is such a weird feeling. But you get used to it all. I think everyone was just happy to do it because we were able to play baseball.
"Everyone was smiling, even though it was behind a mask. I would give anything just to be on the field. I was happy to do it. In hindsight, it wasn't that bad, and I'd be happy to do it again."
Cucisk, who had 44 strikeouts for the Deacs last season in just 22.1 innings pitched, will almost certainly be slotted as the Friday night starter for the 2021 season. Because the 2020 MLB Draft was limited to just five rounds, he'll have a potent offense behind him, with several Demon Deacons back for one more season.
"I wanted to see those guys get drafted," Cusick said. "I'm selfishly happy they are back, but those are my guys. I want what's best for them. I'm sure they're going to have a little chip on their shoulder this season. Everything will work out for them after they have a big year."
If everyone does their part, Cusick is hopeful collegiate sports will return safely.
"We have to hold our teammates accountable and be smart by wearing a mask," he said. "Then everything will fall into place.
"When we get on the field, it'll all be positive. We're in this weird situation, and nobody is happy about it. It's easy for negativity to creep in. But if we stay positive and find a way to get better everyday without complaining, we're going to be a few steps ahead of other teams. Our coaches have done a great job of making this happen. We're all praying that 2021 will have a few more games in store than 2020 did."
The Deacs figure to have both the arms and bats to compete in 2021.
"We have every opportunity to put together the season we've been waiting for," Cusick said. "I'm not a guy to talk too much, but if we just put our heads down and do our job each day, we're going to look back after our last game and see that we've had a helluva season. There's a lot to be excited about."
