(The Beacon)
By Bruce Garlinghouse, Staff Writer -- garlingh13@up.edu
Pressure. Some athletes crumble in the face of it, others thrive on it. To be a closer in baseball, you have to be among the latter.
It is a scenario baseball players imagined countless times: pitching to an imaginary batter with 3-2 count and two outs at the bottom of the ninth.
Senior Chris Dennis has made it a reality.
Last season Dennis simultaneously became the all-time saves leader and set the record for most saves in a season in UP history. He recorded 14 saves, solidifying himself as the best closer in Pilots baseball history.
His secret: focus.
"I like the pressure. I like being in the spotlight and having the responsibility. It makes it fun and exciting," Dennis said.
Dennis goes through the same warm-up routine before each outing. He sits on the top of the dugout, then runs some sprints.
Teammate Colin Feldtman said Dennis, or ‘Diesel', is a "no-nonsense guy during the games."
"He removes himself from the side conversations, and we know to let him be during the games," Feldtman said. "He is able to block everyone and everything out and that's what makes him so effective."
Dennis began his baseball career at the age of four when his dad signed him up for T-ball.
"He was always watching it, and we've had season tickets to Mariners games my whole life," Dennis said.
When asked what his favorite moment watching the Mariners was, there was no hesitation. With a big grin on his face he immediately responded, "Edgar's double in the 1995," also known as "The Double."
Dennis also played football and golf in high school, but baseball has remained his favorite.
"It was the first sport I ever played and the one my parents really pushed me to play. I love the competition and being able to play every day," Dennis said.
What makes Dennis' record- setting 2010 season so significant is the fact that last season was his first at Portland. Before making his way to The Bluff, Dennis played at Edmonds Community College in Washington.
"He's a great player and teammate," Pitching Coach Larry Casian said. " He works hard, does everything you ask."
Dennis, who wasn't recruited out of high school, helped his team win the NWAAC Championship in 2009 and posted a 1.58 ERA earning him a spot on the Second Team All-NWACC North Division Team.
"I first noticed his breaking ball. I said to Chris, ‘I don't know where you're going to pitch here, but you're going to pitch,'" Casian Said.
Dennis said winning the NWAAC championship was the highlight of his career but added that a WCC championship would mean more.
"Winning a championship here would top that for sure," Dennis said.
For Dennis, his team's success has always been more important to him than his own.
"Saves are a team stat. So if I'm getting more saves it means I'm helping the team," Dennis said.
Dennis was named a Preseason All-American as well and many consider him to be a top candidate for Stopper of the Year. Dennis was also one of five candidates for the award last year, but Dennis said he doesn't put a lot of thought into the honors.
"It's definitely an honor but it just means more pressure," Dennis said.
When Dennis isn't on the mound, he's probably playing Call of Duty with teammate and housemate sophomore Matt McCallister. According to McCallister, Dennis' pitching skills don't exactly translate to the sticks.
"Well, he's better at baseball; I'll just say that," McCallister said.
But baseball isn't the only field Dennis looks to master. While being drafted is something he said he hopes for, it is not something he is counting on.
"It would be great to be drafted but its not something you can count on. I'm big in finance and am applying to graduate school," Dennis said.
So if you don't find Dennis closing games in the Majors, it is probably a safe bet he'll be closing deals on Wall Street.
