Nidiffer doing solid job behind the plate

By Douglas Miles

CEDAR RAPIDS-According to Marcus Nidiffer, he's got the best seat in the house.

As the starting catcher for the Cedar Rapids Kernels, Nidiffer is responsible for calling what type of pitch to throw in any given situation.

As of late, those calls have been on the money.

“You just gotta be aggressive with the fastball early, and you kinda see what their game plan is early,” said Nidiffer, whose Kernels beat Bowling Green last night, 9-6, to sweep the three-game series before 2,567 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium.“Our main thing is, try to get three pitches or less in every at-bat, get quick outs, kind of just attack the zone.Our pitchers have done a great job with that here recently, so it's been good.”

With legendary Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable in attendance to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” the Kernels (42-49, 10-11 second half) never looked back after a four-run first inning, highlighted by a two-run single by Justin Bass. The fourth straight win matches their longest win streak this season.

After beginning the second half with four straight losses, the Kernels have won 10 of 17, bolstered by effective pitching from its starters.

Kernels Manager Brent Del Chiaro credits the trust and confidence the pitchers have developed in Nidiffer.

“The biggest thing for me is that pitchers love throwing to him,” said Del Chiaro, a former catcher himself. “For a catcher, that's the greatest compliment you can get.”

Nidiffer, 24, signed with the Houston Astros as an undrafted free agent catcher out of the University of Kentucky. Despite earning postseason all-star honors at first base with Greeneville (Tenn.) of the Appalachian League, he was released to make room for younger prospects. Nidiffer arrived back home to his native Tennessee to find the Angels waiting on the phone with the opportunity to return to catcher.

“It's been a great adjustment,” Nidiffer said. “I feel like everyone's helped me out with how they do things around here ... It worked out great, being here. I don't know how I could see it work out any better.”

The Kernels host Dayton at 6:35 Saturday night.