By PAUL GOTHAM
Dominic Kurmis wanted to see a pitch out of the strike zone. The Northstar Christian catcher received just that.
With a runner on third and clinging to a two-run lead in the fifth inning of the New York State Class D semifinal, Micah Schwaderer spiked a curveball in the dirt and induced a swing and miss. The play that ensued represented the growth of a six-year varsity career. One that culminated with a player-of-the-year honor.
“I was expecting to block it,” Kurmis said. “He threw a perfect pitch in the dirt. That’s exactly what I was expecting.”
Kurmis stood up out of his crouch and set to make the throw to first to complete the out. The Northstar catcher had other priorities in mind.
“Before that pitch, all I was really focused on was making sure the run didn’t score. In my head, I already knew if it was a dropped third strike, I was going to fake the throw to first and try to walk him back to third, just make sure he didn’t score.”
The fake to first occurred. The rest was what Northstar head coach Dave Valle characterized as “instincts” taking over.
Inning-ending double plays usually involve a middle infielder: a ground ball to the second baseman who flips to the shortstop covering the bag at second and on to first for a 4-6-3 GDP (as it reads in a scorebook). Or the two exchange roles with the shortstop making the stop on to the second baseman who turns the play to first. A ground ball to third initiates an around-the-horn (5-4-3 GDP). Again a middle infielder is involved.
Yes, there is the strike ’em-out, throw ’em-out version. More often than not, the runner caught is attempting to steal second with a middle infielder taking the toss from a catcher. A pitcher can escape a bases-loaded situation with a comebacker leading to a 1-2-3 (pitcher to catcher to first) double play and there are those made from the outfield when a runner looking to advance on a caught fly ball is thrown out.
The twin-killing that Kurmis initiated didn’t follow any of the usual scripts.
“I faked the throw to first and as he starts running at me, I realized we could get him out. In my head, I was thinking ‘make the tag, make the play.’ All of sudden, the kid leans his shoulder into me and tackles me. I held on to the ball. I wasn’t really thinking much in that moment, but after I showed the ump the ball, I saw the guy running to third.”
Teammate Matt Allen alertly stayed on the bag 90 feet away. Kurmis fired a strike to execute a 2-5-2-5 double play.
Threat ended.
“After that play, we went back to the dugout and we were like the game’s over. All the momentum is on our side. We knew the game was over after that play.”
Six outs later, Northstar had clinched its first trip to the state finals in more than a decade.
For Valle, who has coached Kurmis since seventh grade, the play represented more than a couple of outs in an elimination game.
“It’s a perfect way to put his career in a picture. In that moment, that fake to first to get the guy to bite that was just pure instincts on Dom’s part. That was an aggressive play and he went with his instincts.
“The fact that Dom held on to the ball while essentially getting driven into the ground and then had enough awareness to pop up and still throw the guy out at third? It was game-changing. What if he throws that ball away? Again a runner scores. It was very chaotic.”
For Kurmis, the play was a natural extension of how he has been trained.
“If you can take advantage of a play, take it,” Kurmis said echoing Valle’s coaching. “Since seventh grade hearing that every year, if there’s a play to make, go for it. If you think you can make it, go for it. Go out there with a must-win attitude. That’s rubbed off on me since seventh grade.
“His whole mentality has been to make the play. You always want to go for it, never laid back and let the other team take advantage of.”
One day later, Kurmis finished 3-for-4 at the plate in the state championship game. His one-out double in the bottom put the tying run in teammate Da’Vonn Stevens 90 feet away from home plate. Kurmis represented the winning run at second in a 3-2 loss.
“He was clutch all year for us,” Valle said of the 2023 Section V Class D2 Player of the Year. “He was as clutch as could be all year.”
Kurmis finished the year hitting .456 with 16 extra-base hits including nine doubles and six triples. He scored 39 runs while driving in 34. He set a Section V career record getting hit by a pitch on 39 occasions.
“He’s not afraid to do the dirty work,” said Valle, the son of former Rochester Red Wing John Valle. “He’s an incredibly gritty player.”
He did this while striking out just once in 99 plate appearances during the season.
“To have him in his senior year only strike out one time is incredible as far as really buying in to a two-strike approach, cutting it down. To only strike out one time is unbelievable.”
On the mound, Kurmis struck out 54 and walked eight in 40 innings. He posted a 6-1 record with a 0.68 ERA.
“He didn’t actually start pitching until last year,” Valle said. “He was always one of our catchers, and he never pitched until his junior year of high school. We ran out of pitching last year, and so we started putting him on the mound. He did a good job, but again he gutted through everything.”
He leaves behind a career record of 64 win, 31 losses and two sectional titles.
Northstar logged a 19-4 record this season.
“I don’t know if there are really words to describe how proud you can be,” Valle said. “When you see a kid from seventh grade, only small schools really get that opportunity to have a kid on varsity at such a young age. To have him have that moment and see him come off the field and look at you and be pumped out of his mind, it’s like watching your own kid have success.”
Teammates AJ Mitchell and Parker Seeley joined Kurmis on the 2023 Section V Class D2 team along with Jared Ainsworth (Jasper-Troupsburg), CJ Estep (Andover-Whitesville) and Connor Scott (Elba).
Mitchell hit .403 with seven doubles, 33 runs and 30 RBI. In 103 chances in the field, the Northstar first baseman committed one error. Seeley finished with a .464 batting average. He had four doubles. two triples, 20 RBI, 37 runs scored and an on-base percentage of .656.
Valle garnered Section V Class D2 Coach of the Year.
*Section V coaches decided the All-Class teams.
Lina Mitchell says
Can you tell me where you saw that my son AJ Mitchell was on the Section V D2 team? We can always find stuff on Class A. and we have searched the Section V site.