Athlete of the Week: Jordan Hutchins

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

Dover High School baseball player Jordan Hutchins.

JORDAN HUTCHINS, senior, Dover baseball

THE WEEK: Went 3 for 4 with a triple in the Senators’ 10-0 victory over Cape Henlopen last Tuesday. Then went 2 for 3, scored three runs and struck out eight in six shutout innings as Dover blanked A.I. du Pont 10-0 on Saturday.

THE COACH SAYS: “This year he has pitched a lot more for us and really stepped up on the mound,” Dover coach Dave Gordon said. “Moving forward, we expect a lot of big things from him.”

THE HESITATION: Hutchins, a four-year starter, has spent most of his time at shortstop and wasn’t sure he wanted to pitch this year. “In the beginning of the season, I told [Gordon] I wasn’t looking forward to having to step on the mound this year,” Hutchins said. “But I knew I would have to, and once I started it got kind of fun. I’ve started to like it now.”

THE SPEED: Hutchins usually bats first or second for the Senators. “I’m a speed guy. That’s why I’m at the top of the lineup,” he said. “I get on base and I let the other guys drive me in.”

THE IMPROVEMENT: “This year, he’s driving the ball in the gaps and his average is going up,” Gordon said. “He’s getting on base, and he can run the bases well, steals bags. He kind of gets on the pitcher’s nerves a little bit.”

THE DEFENSE: “I think the best part of my game is my defense,” Hutchins said. “Pitchers can always count on me when the ball is hit to me to make a play.”

THE LEADERSHIP: “I want to work on being more of a teammate,” Hutchins said. “I want to work on my leadership. I want to be able to be that guy when someone is struggling, they come to me and ask for help.”

THE CLASSROOM: Hutchins enjoys his AP Calculus class, taught by Nancy Vaughan. “It’s a lot of numbers, a lot of equations, a lot of functions,” he said. “You’ve just got to know everything. It’s hard, but when you get it, it’s the best feeling.”

THE FUTURE: Hutchins will continue his baseball career at the University of Delaware. He was sold by former Dover teammate Nick Spadafino, now a pitcher at UD. “He spoke highly of the coaches and the program, and when they told me they wanted me to play for them, I thought it was an easy choice,” he said.

Contact Brad Myers at bmyers@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter: @BradMyersTNJ