Power surge: Independence’s Mitch Johnson has erupted for 9 home runs in his last 10 baseball games

INDEPENDENCE — Mitch Johnson produced a spike in power.

His recent surge at the plate is enough to overload Buchanan County electrical grids.

The Mustangs junior continued a hot home run stretch, smacking his 11th long ball of the season in Class 3A 10th-ranked Independence’s 14-3 loss in five innings to 4A No. 10 Cedar Falls Tuesday night at Kegler Field. His two-run shot over the right-field fence was his ninth home run since June 20.

“I’ve hit the ball well with power a little bit, I guess,” Johnson said. “It’s just kind of clicked here the last few games.”

Nine home runs in nine days and in just 10 games. The outburst has him one shy of the school’s single-season record shared by Dustin Hopkins (2002) and Scott Bantz (1997).

Johnson’s added effort has been a catalyst, placing him atop the 3A home run list and into a tie for second-most for all classes.

“I think just hitting in the cage extra,” Johnson said. “Coach staying after and throwing to me a lot. I’ve been working on just throwing hands to the ball.”

Johnson is hitting .375 with 41 RBIs. Nearly half of his 36 hits have been extra-base hits, tallying six doubles as well. The right-handed batter has had a couple home runs to left field, but the majority have been to center or right field.

“Our coach really talks about going opposite field, the other way,” Johnson said. “If you’re out in front if it you’re still good. Just get your hips out of the way and go. I like going opposite field, but if there is a ball in the middle of the plate just drive it wherever.”

Independence Coach Matt Miller praised Johnson for his hard work and attributed part of the success to it. He said Johnson devotes as much time as possible in the batting cage. Miller said he would tell Johnson to finish hitting by 11 a.m. after an 8 a.m. start and Johnson wouldn’t pack up until 10:59.

Johnson will get 150 to 200 swings in before a game, which is an approach that doesn’t work for everyone, according to Miller. The routine allows Johnson to get his body in sync and the effort is paying dividends.

“He puts in a tremendous amount of work,” said Miller, noting Johnson has generated power by actually shortening his swing. “He’s made a couple of adjustments at the plate with his posture. Just simple things and he’s locked in, right now. He’s focused.”

Speaking of routine, Johnson has another habit that has coincided with the positive production. He has joined friends at Del Rio, a local Mexican Restaurant, at the start of each week. Expect them to return the rest of the season.

“It’s a place in town and we go there every Monday and get lunch there,” Johnson said with a laugh. “We’ve been doing that the past two weeks, so keep doing that, for sure.”

Johnson had two home runs through the beginning of this month. On June 20, he hit a home run in the nightcap against Benton Community and had six RBIs. Two days later, he hit two at Decorah. The day after against Williamsburg was an eye-opening eruption.

Johnson hit four home runs and drove in 10 in a doubleheader against the Raiders. Three came in the opener and he added another in Game 2. The performance started to put everything in perspective.

“I hit a couple and I was like this is a cool experience,” Johnson said. “It kept going from there.”

Johnson had another against 2A fourth-ranked Dyersville Beckman Monday. Against Cedar Falls, he had an opposite field shot that cleared the right-field fence in the third inning.

“He’s facing some tough pitching along the way, too,” Miller said. “We have a pretty tough schedule.”

“There have been a few moments where we’re like, ‘Holy Cow.’ When he hit four home runs at Williamsburg, we were just there for the show.”