Ryan Thoreson keeps it simple, effective at the plate for Coe baseball

CEDAR RAPIDS – Coe’s Ryan Thoreson relies on a cerebral approach as a catcher.

He breaks down the game to help determine the best approach for his pitchers and the fielders behind them for the various situations throughout nine innings.

In the batter’s box, he’s found an alternative method for success. The key is keeping his approach at the plate simple.

“I struggled a lot with trying to overthink things and trying to outthink the pitcher,” Thoreson said. “Now, it is more just see the ball, hit the ball and just let everything happen. I can't control what the result is going to be. Just put a good swing on it every single time.”

Thoreson has picked up where he left off at the end of last season, serving as one of the Kohawks’ leaders. He had three hits, two RBIs and scored twice and Jake Brosius belted a walk-off home run in Coe’s 9-8 victory in 10 innings over Luther in the opener of an American Rivers Conference doubleheader Saturday at Quinby Field of Daniels Park.

The Norse earned a split with an 11-6 win in seven innings to claim the nightcap.

Thoreson finished four hits in two games, giving him a team-high 26 hits and 35 total bases. He owns a 356 batting average and .455 on-base percentage.

“This hasn't been our best start, offensively, but out of all of our guys, he's been the most consistent out of the gate from Game 1 to 21,” Coe Coach Steve Cook said. “He's really done a great job here these last six to 10 games with his two-strike approach. He's really battling hard and grown as a hitter.

“I thought he had a good year last year, but where he's really grown this year is in his two-strike approach. He’s really doing a good job there.”

Two-strike success has teetered on making contact to move runners and pressure the defense. Thoreson has done that by choking up about three to four inches to the top of the grip, getting better control and using every part of the bat.

“It doesn't really matter where it is,” Thoreson said. “It's just put it in play. Striking out it's not really an option, so just give myself the best chance to have success.”

The approach paid dividends in Coe’s victory. He had a hand in each of the Kohawks’ first three runs and four of the first five. Thoreson delivered a two-run single in the first and singled and scored on Anthony Ranallo’s two-run single for a 4-3 lead in the fifth. He also singled and scored on a wild pitch in Coe’s four-run seventh.

“I know it got a little bit different there with their comeback, but every run matters, right? When you only win by one, especially,” Cook said. “So, the work that he (Thoreson) did in the first half of the game really proved to matter. Ultimately for him and the rest of the lineup, we just got to attack the baseball, and doing our thing, like we're comfortable doing.”

Thoreson embraces those stressful situations. He enjoys being able to come up in clutch situations to help the team.

“They’re always fun,” Thoreson said with a laugh. “Gets me on social media a little bit.”

As big of an impact he is making at the plate, his biggest influence is behind the dish. Cook praised Thoreson for his work with the staff. He said defense was Thoreson’s bread and butter from his arrival on campus.

“He does a great job,” Cook said. “He talks the game on the bench with the guys. He talks to the pitchers and with me, who is the guy who handles the pitchers. He's definitely matured quite a bit here in these two and a half years into a great leader.”

Thoreson is a selfless player and wants to help the team in any possible way. Defense is still a special part of the game but there is pride in his progress as a hitter.

I’ve always been a defensive guy,” Thoreson said. “I think hitting has kind of come as I've grown. It's nice that I can contribute in both facets now.”

Luther battled back with a run in the eighth and four in the ninth. Mark Prince had a two-run home run and Noah Dutler followed with a solo shot for the Norse in the ninth. Pinch hitter Zach Gwost smacked a single to score Tyrus Werner to tie the game and force extra innings.

The Norse loaded the bases with one out but Coe turned a rare pitcher to catcher to third baseman double play to thwart the threat. Brosius provided the winning hit in the bottom of the 10 th.

“No matter how you get them they're always tough to get in the A-R-C,” Cook said. “This is great, right? They come back on us, a little adversity, we get out of the jam there in the top of that half-inning, and then our guy steps up and gets a first swing. It's always a battle in the A-R-C.”

Luther tallied 11 hits in Game 2. All but one Luther batter scored at least one run. The Norse broke the game open with a five-run fifth. Josh Matanich, Ike Swanson and Will Heithoff each had two hits and two RBIs for Luther (6-17, 2-8 A-R-C).

Coe is 17-5 overall and 7-2 in the conference. The Kohawks host Simpson (9-13, 3-5) Tuesday.

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