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| Ping!Baseball Spotlight Interview
Bryan Rembisz &
Kyle Henry
University of Vermont |
The Vermont Catamounts have a unique right side of the infield
as first baseman Kyle Henry and second baseman Bryan Rembisz
are also members of the team’s starting rotation. Both
are off to good starts in 2007 at the plate and on the mound
ranking among the best in the America East in several hitting
and pitching categories.
Bryan Rembisz was named Louisville Slugger National Player
of the Week by Collegiate Baseball newspaper and shared America
East Baseball Pitcher of the Week honors for the period ending
April 1. Rembisz (2-0) was dominating on the mound in defeating
Sacred Heart, 6-1, Sunday. He allowed only three hits and
one walk over eight innings while striking out a career-high
15 hitters. The one run he gave up was unearned and came without
a hit in the eighth inning. In his last two starts, both victories,
Rembisz has struck out 28 while walking just two in 16 innings.
The senior righthander also is Vermont’s second baseman
and leadoff hitter and he ranks among the conference leaders
in several hitting and pitching categories. Rembisz leads
the America East in strikeouts (36), strikeouts per nine innings
(11.85), is third in ERA (1.98) and is fourth in opponent
batting average (.248). In 27.1 innings to start the season,
he has struck out 36 and walked just four, a sparkling 9.0
strikeout-to- walk ratio. At the plate he is hitting .313,
16th best in America East, is tied for third with two triples
and is tied for fourth in runs batted in with a team-high
14 RBI.
 Henry
is in his first full season as a two-way player. He is batting
at a .352 clip and has a 2.33 ERA. He has 9 doubles, 1 HR
and 11 RBI to go along with his pitching numbers of 19 strikeouts
and just seven walks in 27.0 innings. In his first career
start on the mound on March 11, he topped Valparaiso going
seven innings giving up four hits, one walk and one run. He
also went 4-for-5 against the Crusaders in the 7-6 Vermont
win.
Ping!: As a two-way player
who pitches as well as plays a regular offensive position
in the lineup, what are your feelings on the designated hitter?
Rembisz: I think the game would be more interesting
if the pitchers had to hit for themselves.
Henry: I do not have a preference
either way but I think the DH makes the game more exciting.
It adds another better hitter to the lineup.
Ping!: It’s the bottom
of the ninth with two outs and a man in scoring position.
Would you rather be staring down a hitter on the mound or
digging in at the batter’s box?
Henry: Tough question but I would rather
be at the plate.
Rembisz: I would rather be hitting. There
is nothing better than leaving the other team on the field
with a walk-off.
Ping!: The Catamounts went
2-24 to start the season last year, but turned around and
went 16-8 to win the America East regular season championship.
What do you account for UVM’s disappointing out of conference
results?
Henry: We had a tough non-conference schedule coupled with some
injuries leading to a disasterous beginning to the season.
Ultimately it helped improve our team with others having to
step in for those out of the lineup.
Rembisz: We had a lot of injuries early on and a lot of guys moved
to other positions so it took some time to adjust. We were
fortunate that we had a clean slate to redeem ourselves when
the conference schedule began.
 Ping!:
College baseball teams have to spend a great deal
of time on buses, vans and planes getting to games. What’s
your favorite way to kill time with the team?
Henry: We miss a lot of class so some of the time is for studying.
We have some good card games, mostly playing ‘Pitch’.
Rembisz: Other than catching up with school work, we have a lot
of fun playing cards, watching movies and joking around. It’s
a lot of fun late in the season after classes and exams end.
Ping!: Teams in the South get
to start playing home games in February and March while squads
in the North are still shoveling snow and scraping windows.
Are there any advantages to playing college hardball somewhere
like Vermont?
Henry: It’s fine if you like to travel. We play away from
home all of March and into April. The colder weather can be
an advantage at home if we play teams that are not used to
it.
Rembisz: For pitchers it can be better. Because you are not throwing
in as many live situations, your arm is more fresh.
Ping!: When you are pulled
from the mound and go back to your other position, how hard
is it to redirect your focus?
Henry: It can be difficult especially if you have a tough day
on the mound. If that happens, you have to focus quickly on
getting the job done elsewhere to help out the team. At least
I know I still have that chance.
Rembisz: Since you are already in the game, it’s not that
hard. I think it can be harder to focus when you have been
on the bench or in the bullpen and come into the game late.
Ping!: What are the chances
of talking you guys into pulling the ol' hidden ball trick
and getting someone out at first or second?
Henry: I’d be surprised if we do it. Since I play first
and Rem plays second, he might have a better answer.
Rembisz: Pretty slim. We don’t really work on it and if we
did, I’m not telling.
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