Nolan Kinne Makes the Catch as This Week's Athlete in the Spotlight

Success on the baseball diamond is usually measured by statistics. Batting averages, home runs and strikeouts go a long way in determining the winner and the loser on the field of competition.

But they are not the only intangibles when it comes to the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat. The game of baseball is made up of three components. A bat, a ball and a glove.

It’s the last but not least component that shines for this weeks athlete in the spotlight Naugatuck High School junior center fielder Nolan Kinne. Defense in baseball isn’t really viewed the way defense is relied on in football but then again you probably haven’t seen Nolan going after a baseball.

“It’s not very often that you see players around the league making plays like Nolan does,” said Naugatuck head coach Tom Deller. “He is flat out a game stopper. I have seen opponents hit balls off of us and I immediately thought, oh that’s trouble.”

“The next thing I know Nolan is throwing the ball back in. He is constantly competing and the plays he makes fires the rest of the team up.”

It doesn’t hurt that Kinne is a year round three sport athlete for the Greyhounds. He plays soccer, basketball and baseball a throwback to the days of the all out athlete.

Simply put Kinne knows how to put the leather on the rawhide. He has made some jaw dropping catches this season that has played key roles in Naugatuck hanging a ‘W’ in the win column.

On Monday Kyle Lopes got the game winning hit and Mike Burns scored the game winning run in a 2-1 cliff-hanger over Wilby. Matt Zahornasky scattered two hits through seven innings and Adam Neveski picked up the win in relief on the hill.

Arber Mehmedi scored the tying run and Zac Mercer clubbed the RBI double that sent the game to extra innings. But it was two plays made by Kinne in center field that made that all possible.

Wilby had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth inning of a 1-1 tie game. The next batter sent a sinking line drive over the second base bag as the potential go-ahead run raced towards the plate.

Kinne took off after the ball making a head first dive. He tumbled to the turf came up throwing in one motion to second base for an inning ending double play.

One inning later Wilby was looking to close out the game again. With one out and a runner at first the next batter sent a blast that had extra bases written all over it. Kinne put his head down and took off after the shot.

As he reached the warning track with his back to the plate Kinne stuck up his glove and hauled in the ball at the base of the fence in dead center field. Twice Wilby had the game won and twice Kinne took it away from them.

Nolan is no stranger at the plate either. Earlier this season he had five hits and six runs scored against Crosby. He had three hits and four runs scored in a win over Holy Cross. Last week he ignited an 8th inning rally against Sacred Heart crushing a two run double.

“I guess it comes down to taking that extra step,” said Kinne of his ability to catch up with potential hits to the outfield. “Sometimes you think about playing the ball and keeping it in front of you. But I usually will take that extra step or two and catch up to it.”

Kinne said he uses speed to play his position, something that probably comes from from playing soccer. He said he usually knows if he can get the ball at that point.

“I like playing all three sports. Soccer is my favorite followed by baseball and basketball. I will end up playing all three this summer," he said. “I’m looking forward to playing Legion ball but I will also be playing in a summer basketball league and I need to start getting myself ready for the soccer season.”

Three sports year round. That’s what a competitor does. He plays the games and Nolan Kinne plays to win.