Stevenson relies on 2 hurlers // Eamon, Versino both workhorses on mound

When the baseball is given to Stevenson's Rex Eaman or KevinVersino, it seldom gets into a reliever's hands.

The seniors registered 16 of the Patriots' 25 victories lastyear and recorded six of their first seven this season, working 68 ofthe team's 98 innings.

"I prefer pitching a lot," Versino said. "If I had it my wayI'd pitch every game. My arm never gets sore. It's luck andconditioning. As soon as the first semester ends we start liftingweights and doing specialized exercises to build up the rotatorcuff."

Eaman and Versino have pitched on the same team since littleleague and help each other with advice on hitters and pitchingmechanics.

Eaman (3-1) is more powerful. He struck out 34 batters andwalked eight in his first 35 innings with a 2.60 earned-run average. He has more than doubled his strikeout-to-walk ratio in one year andhas added a knuckle curve.

"Kevin taught me that pitch," Eaman said. "It has the sameeffect as a forkball; right before it gets to the plate it drops.

"I've been working on it about a year and a half and feel I canget it over the plate consistently.

"We have pitched together since about fifth grade. It'sexcellent having him on the staff. Todd Krennrich has been catchingus as long as we've both been pitching. If Kevin and Todd weren'ton the team, I definitely wouldn't have the start I do."

Eaman reduced his body fat content from 15 to eight percent andadded 15 pounds with a conditioning program during the offseason.

"I did it last year but didn't work at it as hard," Eaman said."I sprained my ankle playing basketball and during rehab my legs gotstronger than they've ever been."

Versino (3-3, 2.75 ERA) is a more versatile athlete. He ledthe football team in receptions with 18 and returned punts. But heprefers baseball and wants to pitch in college.

"I'm always trying new pitches and vary the speed on my fastballand never use the same grip twice," said Versino, who throws fivetypes of pitches.

"I'm going to play baseball in college but most colleges look athow hard you throw, not at how good a pitcher you are, so I will havea little more trouble getting a scholarship than Rex."

Both had 8-2 junior campaigns. Eaman had a 1.76 ERA, Versino2.38.

"I was surprised last year that they threw the majority of theinnings," Stevenson coach Bob Mackey said. "They have very resilientarms that bounce back quickly. Both have been used as starters andin relief.

"Kevin pitched a big game for us Saturday when we really neededit (a 4-1 win against Lake Forest). I think they can both throw onthe college level."