Lake Central junior Griffin Tobias’ evolution from closer to No. 1 starter is going just fine.
The latest, and most compelling, evidence?
The Indiana commit’s performance in a Duneland Athletic Conference game at Valparaiso on Tuesday.
“He got in a groove early,” Lake Central senior catcher Matt Santana said. “He was throwing all of his stuff. Even in the bullpen, he was throwing it really well. Then he got on the mound, and he was electric.”
Tobias tossed a no-hitter as the Indians downed the Vikings 11-0 in five innings. The right-hander issued a walk with two outs in the first, had seven strikeouts and realistically didn’t come close to surrendering a hit.
“It’s a pretty cool feeling,” he said. “But overall it really doesn’t mean anything now. The long look ahead is the postseason. That’s when I really want to be at my best.”
Lake Central (6-1, 3-0), ranked No. 2 in the Class 4A state coaches poll, made a statement against Valparaiso (2-2, 2-1), with Tobias making the loudest one, even if he wasn’t overly impressed.
“I don’t think I really had my best stuff,” he said. “I have some work to do. I have to work on my off-speed pitches. I have to be a little sharper. It wasn’t my best (Tuesday). But I gave my team a chance to win.”
Santana, who is slated to head to Tennessee after two seasons at Wabash Valley as he continues to recover from a dislocated right shoulder and torn labrum he suffered in summer 2020, had a different viewpoint on Tobias.
“He was pumping the zone,” Santana said. “He was working both sides of the plate. He really got the team going. He set the tone.”
Last season, Tobias went 2-1 with two saves and had a 1.52 ERA over 23 innings. He had 28 strikeouts and four walks. Also the team’s third baseman, he hit .368 with two homers and 28 RBIs.
Tobias spoke last week about the process of changing roles.
“I’m starting now, and it’s a new step for me because I’ve never been in that position,” he said. “But I’m learning. I’m more ramped up this year, throwing higher-pitch bullpens.”
Tobias actually lost his season debut on March 30 against Bloomington South, allowing just an unearned run on two hits in 3 ? innings with five strikeouts and no walks. He was all but untouchable against the Vikings.
In between, Tobias skipped what would have been his start last week against Merrillville. Instead, he threw live to teammates on April 6 and “was nice and rested and ready” for Valparaiso, according to Lake Central coach Mike Swartzentruber.
“If he throws like that, he’ll be hard to beat,” Swartzentruber said. “He was fantastic.
“He doesn’t walk guys. He’s competitive as heck. Him and Matt got in a really good groove (Tuesday night). It was just one of those nights.”
Expectations are high for Tobias to have similar games.
“It’s still early in the season, but if he’s not the best in the state right now, he’s one of the best,” Santana said. “He’s going to be a very good starter this year for us. With him on the mound, we’re going to be very hard to beat. Very hard to beat.”
Tobias topped out at 93 mph against Bloomington South. Santana said he was confident Tobias reached at least 94 against Valparaiso.
“He was coming in hot,” Santana said.
The 6-foot Tobias, who hit 87 mph with his fastball last season, attributed his increase in velocity to his weight gain. He said he jumped from 140 pounds last season to close to 170 this season — by consuming between 4,000 and 5,000 calories a day, “shoveling food down my throat,” and working out with a vengeance.
“I got in the weight room this offseason and started really getting after it,” he said.
Swartzentruber noted Tobias was throwing as hard in the fifth inning as he was in the first on Tuesday.
“Last year, I’d get the ball, and I’d get one, two innings, and I’d just let it eat,” Tobias said. “Now I had to build up to be able to hold my velocity more. The last inning, I just let it all out.”
Although a case of food poisoning hindered him for the first three weeks of his freshman season, Tobias started at third base, hitting .271 with 27 RBIs. When not pitching this season, he has shifted to second base, with Ball State recruit Josh Adamczewski flipping to third.
“Just to protect my arm,” Tobias said. “I want to be at my best, and I don’t want to wear out my arm.”
Tobias, who was hitting .235 with three RBIs going into a home game against Valparaiso on Wednesday, received plenty of support in the first game against the Vikings.
Santana went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Adamczewski scored three runs. Senior shortstop Hunter Snyder, a Columbia recruit, went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, senior outfielder Joey Carra went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and senior outfielder Garrett Weber went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs.
Tobias outpitched Valparaiso standout sophomore left-hander Caden Crowell, a Louisville commit who allowed six runs on five hits with six strikeouts and three walks in three innings.
“In my mind, those are the two best pitchers in this area, if not the northern half of the state in full,” Swartzentruber said of Tobias and Crowell. “He (Crowell) beat us last year as a freshman, and we know he’s good, very good.
“We played well (Tuesday). We have good players, no doubt about it. When we’re locked in and playing hard and aggressive on the bases, we’re very good, and Tobias sets the tone on the mound.”
