O’Neal Shoulders Load For Bucs Ball Has Been A Part Of Whitworth Senior’s Life Since Before He Was Born

Just three days before he was born, Whitworth senior slugger Don O’Neal Jr. was bouncing around in his mother’s womb as she prepared to pitch in an opening-round game of a Spokane softball tournament.

“My mother (Becki) played softball for 32 years and my father (Don Sr.) coached the game for a long time, too,” O’Neal Jr. said. “I understood baseball way before a lot of kids my age did.”

And, by the way, there is no truth to the rumor O’Neal was born with a silver bat in his mouth.

But his rich background in the game has certainly shown itself this season.

O’Neal was named the Northwest Conference Player of the Week two weeks ago. Much of that was due to the fact he hit grand slam home runs in both games of a doubleheader against Linfield on April 22.

And although he batted 3-for-8 that day, O’Neal said of his performance: “I really didn’t swing the bat that well. I just wasn’t concentrating like I should have been.”

Hmmm … a perfectionist.

Against Whitman on April 29, O’Neal, a designated-hitter and right fielder, hit back-toback home runs in an 11-6 win in the first game against the Missionaries.

The second home run was an impressive display of power.

With the wind blowing in at Whitworth’s Paul Merkel Field, O’Neal, who is right-handed, hit an opposite-field blast into the wind that cleared the right-field fence by at least 15 feet.

Still, he wasn’t satisfied with his performance.

However, Whitworth coach Rod Taylor has been more than pleased with O’Neal’s play this season. He is batting .410 and has 11 home runs.

Saturday, O’Neal hit a three-run homer as the Pirates defeated Lewis & Clark in the second game to earn a doubleheader split.

“Last year was his first real year at everyday experience against college pitching,” Taylor said. “But with his mechanics and his size (6-foot-2, 210 pounds), it was just a matter of him learning how to hit college pitching.”

O’Neal graduated from University High, were he lettered in three sports (football, baseball, basketball) with football and baseball being the loves of his athletic life.

He wanted to play both sports, but the opportunity to do so wasn’t available at some of the other colleges like it was at Whitworth.

After two years of playing football and baseball, O’Neal gave up football to concentrate on baseball.

Last year, O’Neal batted .270, but he hit close to .400 in the second half of the season. He has been more consistent this year.

“This year, I just opened up my stance, got the bat away from the body and exercised more patience,” he said.

What has also helped O’Neal this season is the fact that at least once or twice a week, he takes batting practice with his brother-in-law, Daniel Dwyer, who once pitched at the University of Iowa.

Dwyer, 30, still has a fastball that can reach 88 mph.

“He’s the best pitcher I’ve faced all year,” O’Neal said.

O’Neal will earn his undergraduate degree in physical education in the fall. Until then, though, he will continue to exercise his batting muscles as the Pirates attempt to close in on one of two postseason playoff berths awarded to the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges.

Whitworth (8-6 NCIC, 17-15-1 overall) wraps up its regular season at Pacific Lutheran University in a three-game series this weekend with first place at stake.

The top two teams in the conference at the end of the season will get a bid to the NAIA Far West playoffs in Lewiston May 17-20.

In addition to O’Neal, Whitworth is getting solid play from fellow Spokanite starters Chris Fukai (Ferris, jr.), catcher; Lance Rickman (Rogers, sr.), pitcher; Sean Peterson (East Valley, jr.), first base; and Alex Shuerman (Mead, so.), catcher.

“Our offense is starting to kick into gear,” Taylor said. “Early on, Donny and the pitching were carrying us. Defensively, we’re still fairly inconsistent. If we can put together complete-game performances this weekend, I think we’re in good shape.”