More love for the glove

George Piccirilli didn't play as much as he would have liked in his freshman year at Virginia Military Institute, seeing action in just 18 of the team's 53 games this spring. Before the players departed for the offseason, Keydets coach Marlin Ikenberry told the Osbourn Park product how he could break into the lineup a little more often.

Ikenberry's words of advice were for Piccirilli to expand his defensive skills beyond just catching, a position he focused on in high school. Now, playing for the Carney Pirates of the Clark Griffith League, a summer wood-bat organization, Piccirilli is spending more time around the diamond.

"I'm playing a lot of positions. I'm playing some infield and outfield," Piccirilli said, "just [opening] my options for next year. Coach said, 'The more positions you can play, with the way you swing it, we'll find you a spot.'"

The Pirates are taking the same approach with the 5-foot-10 backstop, writing his name in the lineup every night and then deciding where to play him defensively. His bat thus far has dictated that he can't just be left out of a game.

"You have no choice but to put him in the lineup, he just makes things happen," said Carney pitching coach Brian Snyder. "He's played all over and I think that's his biggest strength. We can't afford not to have his bat in the lineup. He does exceptionally well everywhere on the field."

For the Keydets, Piccirilli batted .250 as a backup to Alex Haitsuka, driving in seven runs in 44 at-bats. But with the Pirates, Piccirilli is proving Snyder's assessment accurate.

Already named league Player of the Week June 15, Piccirilli is second in the CGL with a .359 batting average and has 14 RBI to go with a home run. Many of his 64 at-bats have come while occupying a defensive spot other than catcher while he improves his abilities at first base, third and the outfield. His .500 slugging percentage is fourth-best in the league. He also is the league leader in doubles with six and is tied for third in RBI.

"To be honest with you, he's so darn valuable everywhere and he's so versatile, that's the reason he hasn't caught," Snyder said. "It's not that he doesn't have the ability to catch for us."

Piccirilli did play some infield and also pitched while at OP, but his main home was behind the plate. His batting was his calling card even then, batting .459 his senior season and leading the Yellow Jackets in hits, doubles, home runs, RBI and total bases.

Going to a military school was a change, too, having to adjust to a structured lifestyle that can be quite demanding at times.

"It's a little tough at first because we had our freshman year, the rat year," Piccirilli said, "so it was physically demanding. But it teaches you a lot of stuff like tough discipline and time management which helps you in real life and it helps you on the baseball field. You have more discipline when it comes to getting your work done."

Piccirilli's applying those lessons to his time with Carney while learning the ins and outs of his new positions. That work has paid off as his defensive numbers are, like his offensive ones, among the best in the CGL. In 59 chances, Piccirilli hasn't committed an error this year, recording 57 putouts and two assists, including a double play.

"Now," Piccirilli said, "I'm getting ready to go back [to VMI] next year to earn a starting spot and get ready to go."

Staff writer Joe Conroy can be reached at 703-878-8047.