By Jeff Preval

The comparison between the New York Mets Mike Piazza and the Pride’s Michael Walsh is ever present: both play catcher well, field grounders at first base and can swinging a hot bat this is far enough.

Mike Walsh is a talented player with a “fire-in-belly” type of hunger in life. Walsh, the recipient of last year’s CAA Commissioner’s Academic Award, batted .262 in 28 games. He started 15 games in 2003 and red-shirted his freshman year due to a shoulder injury. By hitting 7-for-16 (.436) with three RBIs in the first four games he’s started, head coach Chris Dotolo thinks Walsh has been very consistent this year.

The second half of the battery is local product Steve Oliveri (St. Anthony’s, Huntington Station) who started 30 games last year. Oliveri batted .276 and threw out 11 of 36 base runners trying to steal.

While starting the 2004 season well, Oliveri has had more catching responsibilities. By going 5-for-10 with one double and three RBIs in the first four CAA games the Pride played, Oliveri solidified his position as the Pride’s catcher and is intrical to the team’s success.

With Walsh already with the Pride, Oliveri felt there potentially could be conflicts between the catchers competing.

However, since coming to the Pride, both players have struggled. Walsh, who Dotolo thinks has “turned out to be [the Pride’s] best first baseman” probably has more struggles because of a right shoulder injury he suffered the spring of his senior year at King Philip Regional (Norfolk, MA). As a player that “prides himself in being a good defensive catcher,” Walsh understands that it is important to be as healthy as possible during the season.

In February of his senior year at King Philip, Walsh injured his right shoulder while playing and had arthroscopic surgery on his rotator cuff. While rehabbing the following summer, Walsh needed a second arthroscopic surgery done in January of his freshman year after stretching improperly. Walsh was in a sling for several months, but was given the opportunity to warm up bullpen catchers at summer colleges to regain his range of motion and recovered.

Apart from their individuality, Oliveri and Walsh have created a friendship and the conflicts of playing the same position have washed away.

The great thing about Oliveri and Walsh is how they complement each other’s game.

With both understanding what it takes to be a catcher, the difference les in their hitting. With Oliveri being a player to put the ball in play, hit and run, sacrifice, or as Walsh said “wear pitchers out and relies more on his power and drives the ball into gaps.”

The Pride has a double-threat at catcher. With Oliveri more of a role as a catcher, Walsh had to adopt the tougher mindset of “keeping his bat in the lineup,” whereas,

Oliveri doesn’t have to go far from behind the plate, to the dugout and to the batter’s box.

Walsh and Oliveri also try to mimic and incorporate each other’s game. Walsh believes Oliveri is great at not getting emotional behind the plate or at it.

Although sometimes weak with low balls, Walsh thinks Oliveri is best at having mental control, which helps him perform on the field.

Walsh is trying to improve his glove ability, something Oliveri does well. On the other hand, Oliveri notices how hard Walsh plays and has learned how to have the same intensity at the plate and hopes Walsh and the team “continues to improve.”