Nic’S Hoorelbeke Just Wants To Throw

Casey Hoorelbeke is an imposing figure on the mound. Last spring when batters faced the North Idaho College hurler, not only was it hard enough not to be intimidated by his 6-foot 7-inch frame, but add a 93 mile per hour fastball and it can be just plain scary.

According to NIC coach Paul Manzardo, the batter had a better chance of hitting the 1998 Coeur d’Alene High School graduate in March than in May.

“He just improved as the year went on,” said Manzardo. “He matured. He learned how to pitch instead of just throwing. I tell you, with him, the sky is going to be the limit.”

Hoorelbeke went 5-2 this season with a 3.44 earned run average, 37 strike-outs in 30 innings of work. More impressive was that last year he didn’t throw at all.

“I went to play basketball for the College of Southern Idaho,” said Hoorelbeke. “But when I got there I knew instantly I wasn’t a good fit. I didn’t like the style of play.”

Hoorelbeke came from a team environment and was hesitant to describe the structure at CSI.

“Well,” he said. “Let’s just say most of the players were in it for themselves. I couldn’t stand it.”

Hoorelbeke gave up a full-ride scholarship and returned to Coeur d’Alene and enrolled at NIC. He contacted Manzardo about playing and red-shirted the first year.

“He’s a great kid,” said Manzardo. “I really like him. He’s a pleasure to be around and a great worker. He also showed a lot of guts doing what he did when he came here.”

Hoorelbeke worked out with NIC for most of the spring his first year and spent the summer playing semi-pro in Santa Maria, Calif., where he said his love for the game truly sparked.

“I played for this coach named Bobby Matia,” said Hoorelbeke. “I only could play half the season but he showed me a lot about pitching. It really kick-started my game.”

Hoorelbeke returned firing and confident in his pitching, something he wasn’t doing when he played for the Vikings.

“I was a first baseman and concentrated on the infield,” he said. “I was going through a growth spurt so I lost a lot of coordination.”

From his freshman year until graduation, Hoorelbeke went from 5-foot-10 to 6-foot-7.

“My fastball was only up to 84 by then,” he said. “When I started developing more later, I could feel my velocity getting faster.”

His confidence also grew at NIC. He spent a lot of time fine-tuning his craft and was put in high-pressure situations.

“I didn’t care where I threw,” said Hoorelbeke. “It didn’t matter if I started, was middle relief or closed. I just wanted to throw.”

Hoorelbeke was called to relieve during NIC’s game against Salt Lake in the fifth inning with the Cardinals up 3-2. Salt Lake had loaded the bases with one out and Hoorelbeke was given the ball to stop the rally. He struck out the first batter he faced and then got a routine grounder to end the threat.

“Then he just shut the door on them,” said Manzardo. “It was a tough situation, and the weather was hard, and he did the job. That was typical of him all year. He has become a great pitcher.”

The Cardinals took fourth in the Scenic West Athletic Conference to qualify for regional play. Hoorelbeke was a big part of that success, and Manzardo would love to see his big pitcher return, although a part of him hopes Hoorelbeke doesn’t.

On June 5, the Hoorelbeke family will be glued to their computer screens surfing the Web watching the Major League Baseball draft. There is a high interest in Hoorlebeke’s skills to move to the professional ranks, just where, when and for how much, is all that needs to be answered.

“I would love to be drafted,” said Hoorelbeke. “But I haven’t been seen too much so I don’t know where I will go.

“I want to be ready for it. I mean they have great coaching and I want to be at least 90 percent at my game before I go. But it’s also going to have be an offer I can’t refuse for me not to finish my education.”

“It’s every ballplayer’s dream to get drafted,” said Manzardo. “He has the talent that I am almost willing to say he’ll go.”

Hoorelbeke is returning to Santa Maria for another year of semi-pro ball and to earn some money for school. He’s looking forward to playing where its always warm and to pick Matia’s brain on pitching.

“I’m excited. He knows quite a bit about pitching and I am eager to learn,” said Hoorelbeke.“Plus, it’s a sweet deal. They provide you with a job and an apartment, and you play ball with some great collegiate players.

“I’m not sure where I am going to play next year yet, but one thing for certain is, I am up for anything and I want to throw.”