Alex Shaw is a sophomore from Madison, Conn. and is AU’s club baseball’s starting pitcher. The Eagles’ club baseball team won 12-0 against Howard University on Oct. 19, largely in part to a no-hitter by Shaw. The team is 3-0 overall and will play a three-game competition against Maryland on Saturday and Sunday at Blair Montgomery High School.
Shaw spent some time talking with The Eagle’s Alex Romero this week about club baseball. The club student-athlete of the week is a key component to the AU club baseball team and a dedicated history major.
Alex Romero: Tell me about the game Saturday against Howard. What did your team do to win the game by such a large margin?
Alex Shaw: On Saturday we were coming off of a walk-off win Friday night where we came from behind on a few runs in the seventh inning. We were all pretty hyped up after that game so we came in with a lot of enthusiasm. I started the first game when we had a double header. Chris and I worked together pitcher-catcher and the defense played well. Everything went well, bats were more alive than they were the night before and we ended up winning that game and winning the next game sweeping the series.
AR: Tell me about your performance in the game against Howard, and what it meant to you to throw a no-hitter in the season opener.
AS: It was cool, I don’t think I’ve ever thrown a no-hitter before. The infielders were top notch. Luke Blair made two ridiculous plays playing second, he helped me out a lot. Chris Grassano is our catcher who’s also our coach, he doesn’t consider himself a catcher, but he does things that not a lot of guys would be able to do by the plate so when you have a great catcher it’s a tremendous virtue. All credit to those guys.
AR: How do you feel the team is progressing so far into the season?
AS: Good so far, undefeated with three wins. It’s really early and it’s a strange situation when we have our season broken up into two halves. Obviously we’ve got the fall season where we have a few games and then we split off into the spring season. But so far we’re looking good. Anytime you sweep a series that’s a good thing but the small things are important; solid defense, throwing strikes, just things that keep the game moving.
AR: Unrelated to baseball, what do you like most about AU?
AS: I love the location, being in D.C is awesome. But I also enjoy the college feel that AU brings. We live in a pretty popular city but at the same time we still get that college feeling of a closed campus.
AR: Other than baseball what do you do for fun?
AS: Back at home, being on my family’s’ boat is awesome. My family is fortunate enough to own a boat so being on it and hanging out with my parents and my brother is always a good time. Whenever I can I try to golf with my older brother Ryan. Also, just like everyone else I enjoy reading, watching television, relaxation types of things, nothing too special.
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