Vorhof closes wins, career

Mick Vorhof's youth baseball career often was defined at Bannerwood Sports Park, a Bellevue, Wash., stadium where he played dozens of his most important games for high school and club teams.

But it was a day five years ago at Bannerwood that mattered most in his baseball life.

Vorhof, who grew up across Lake Sammamish, came to a GCU-Seattle game at Bannerwood and met Lopes head coach Andy Stankiewicz for the first time. His baseball plans changed from junior college options to a budding Division I program. Vorhof returns to Bannerwood this week with more appearances than any baseball pitcher in GCU history.

Appropriately, the Lopes closer will close out his fourth Western Athletic Conference regular season at Seattle, where he was raised and his GCU future was sealed. During the Thursday through Saturday series, he could be part of GCU's third regular-season WAC title in four years.

"It's flown right by," Vorhof said after 90 appearances for GCU. "It's been a pleasure. I love this place. I didn't ever think I'd end up in Arizona but here I am and I love it."

Ever since he pitched out of jam in a win against Tennessee as a freshman, Vorhof has been a steady strike-thrower with an exemplary career. It has turned even better in his final GCU season, when Vorhof has posted a team-low 2.55 earned run average with a 3-2 record and five saves. He has struck out 43 batters in 35 1/3 innings and held opponents to a .246 batting average.

"We couldn't be more happy or proud of the job he's done in four years," Stankiewicz said. "Calm, cool. He doesn't seem to get rattled. Mick's not an emotional guy. That's kind of typically what works well in the closer role – a guy who can stay even keel and not get flustered if the umpire calls a ball that he saw as a strike. In college baseball, late in the game, it's nice to know that we've got a guy who can throw strikes and get off the mound and field his position well if they try to bunt and put pressure on."

Vorhof began to feel the emotions of his career winding down when he pitched the ninth inning of Sunday's Lopes win, his final home game. But it was tempered by how much still lies ahead for GCU. This week's series at Seattle will decide the regular-season WAC title, which can be clinched with two wins. After it, the Lopes will head to the WAC Tournament in Mesa to vie for a NCAA Regional spot.

His fastball command established him as GCU's closer but his development of a curveball has made him an untraditional closer. The Lopes staff experimented with Vorhof in various roles, but relief suited him best and pitching coach Rich Dorman gave him the confidence to trust his strengths.

"I love the bullpen now," Vorhof said. "I don't see it any other way, really. I started my whole life but, being in the bullpen now, I found my place. I like to work quick. It allows me to be at my best with the stuff I have. I like the pressure. It makes it fun."

Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.

Grand Canyon University Athletics

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Mick Vorhof

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