Koch finds home with Kent State

Even Cody Koch himself can't explain his baseball odyssey to this point.

But one thing the 2009 Perkins graduate does know, however, is that he is enjoying the ride.

One year removed from not playing any baseball in college, Koch has found himself on the roster of the Kent State Golden Flashes, a Mid-American Conference power.

However, Koch isn't just on the roster. He's started 16 of the 24 games he has appeared in for the Flashes (18-10).

"I didn't expect this," Koch said. "I figured maybe I would get an at-bat here or there and work my way in just being mostly a supporter. Playing this much, it has definitely caught me by surprise."

Koch's journey to the college ranks began in the spring and summer of 2009. After leading the Pirates to 27 straight wins and earning several individual accolades, Koch had yet to make a college decision.

A strong showing in the summer for the state champion Sandusky American Legion Post 83 baseball team led Koch to the University of Cincinnati. While working towards a major of his liking, Koch was going to attempt to walk-on to the Bearcats' baseball team.

It didn't work out.

However, despite not making the team, Koch was content to come back to Sandusky for the summer and play out his final year of eligibility for Post 83 in search of a three-peat at the Ohio state tournament.

It was while playing for Post 83 at the Coshocton tournament that Koch caught the eye of Kent State head coach Scott Stricklin.

The rest was history, but now that Koch has been getting consistent at-bats for the Flashes, he must find a way to play through the biggest slump of his young career.

Koch is just 6 for 50 at the plate (.120) with a double and one RBI.

"At the plate I'm struggling, but that is to be expected with better competition," Koch said. "Defensively, I've fared pretty well and as a team we're winning and playing pretty well."

Stricklin talked about Koch's struggles as he finds his place in the Kent State lineup.

"Lately, he's been coming in as a defensive replacement," Stricklin said. "He's really good defensively. He's a young hitter, and all young hitters go through some struggles.

"He's been working hard, and we've changed his stance and his hands a little bit. He's going to get plenty of opportunities, and that's what this game is about."

One thing Koch is sure of, however, is the year off is not a factor in his slump.

"I don't think it really mattered," he said. "I got back in the swing of things over the summer pretty quickly, but I don't think it really affected me other than maybe giving me some rest.

"It's just mechanical, a few fundamental things with my swing are making my approach different. It's making my swing long and that's all stuff I'm trying to figure out right now."

The lone RBI on the season for Koch is a very fitting story, however.

As fellow Post 83 alums Michael Hamann and current teammate Andrew Chafin locked up in an epic pitching dual when Toledo visited Kent State on March 25, Koch stepped to the plate in the seventh inning with a runner at third base and one out.

Despite striking out in his previous at-bat off Hamann, Koch was able to do just enough for a shallow flyball out to right field that scored the game's only run in the Flashes' 1-0 win.

"I didn't do very well at all the first two at-bats, so I just went up there being aggressive knowing he was going to throw a fastball," Koch said of the sacrifice fly. "I just took a hack and luckily it went far enough for (Travis) Shaw to score.

"He was throwing a great game and he elevated a fastball just enough to get it in the air."

Koch said the entire day was special, especially after watching his teammate in Chafin strike out 15 batters in a complete-game, four-hit effort.

"Andrew had extra adrenaline facing our friend in Michael," Koch said. "He really wanted to win, and he wants to win every time out, but that was real special for him. Everyone was telling him about the article previewing the game, so he was fired up."

Meanwhile, Koch said the biggest adjustment has been the competition he sees each time he steps to the plate.

"Everyone is at the top of their game," he said. "There's not a soft spot in the lineup or a pitching staff you can just wait for them to come in.

"Everyone is about the same, and you have to be ready for anything."