May 19, 1999

Power Ball: Moyer and Breyman hit a combined 43 home runs

By Dave Feltner
Sports Editor

Maybe it's because he is a senior and this is his last shot. Or maybe Kyle Moyer is just cocky enough to think he can break this thing.

When you ask the Mohawk slugger what the state record is for home runs in a season, it's not hard to see that he already has his bases covered.

"We called and they don't keep state records," he shoots back quickly. "But the national record is 29 ... by a kid in West Virginia."

He didn't know what year, but that matters little to Moyer.

What matters is that he has bashed 22 homers this year, apparently leaving him just seven behind the national record.

Ironically, though, Moyer is not even a lock to win the home run title in his own league.

The other tall, husky-looking fellow pictured next to Moyer is Seneca East junior Mike Breyman, who has been every bit as impressive as his Midland Athletic League counterpart.

With his two home runs against Milan Edison in the Division III District Semifinals, Breyman now has 19 for the season.

Like getting up, drinking a cup of coffee and going to work is for the average Joe, home runs have been a part of life for Breyman and Moyer for quite some time now.

"The first one I hit was in my first year of (Seneca County) B (League), and I hit it over in Clinton," Breyman said. "This year I've worked out a lot, lifted a lot of weights. That's the way to get better. You have to lift weights. It helps you all the way around, your legs, your arms, your upper body. I've doubled (my home run output) from last year. Now, I just try to hit the ball hard and see where it goes."

Power hitting has always been a work in progress for Moyer, too. The results are just starting to bloom.

"I've been around hitting for about 10 years; it finally all started coming together last summer," Moyer said. "And my mechanics have gotten so good that I'm hitting the ball for power now."

A little help from the outside has gone a long way, as well. Former American League Rookie of the Year Joe Charboneau has been assisting Moyer with his swing.

"It's been a lot of personal work," Moyer said. "I've gone to hitting camps and now I have a personal hitting coach, Joe Charboneau. I go with him about twice a week in Green Springs. This guy named Bob Harris has his own (place to hit), and Joe comes down and I hit with him."

Talk of setting a national record may sound funny. After all, Moyer still needs seven just to tie, but don't write it off as out of the question just yet.

One thing helping Moyer and Breyman is the fact that there is plenty of talent surrounding both of them.

Seneca East (20-1) and Mohawk (18-7) are still alive in tournament play. A run to the state finals by either team would mean at least five more games for both teams.

And even though that would take homers in bunches for both players, they've shown it can be done.

Five times this year Moyer has gone deep twice in a game, while Breyman has turned the trick four times, including a three-homer effort against Monroeville on April 12.

"There's times when you think about (hitting home runs) and times when you don't," Breyman said. "You always try to hit the ball hard, but if you're up by a lot you might as well try."

The theory is reflected on Moyer.

"I try to hit the ball hard every time," he said. "I try to take the ball to left-center field just like Mo Vaughn does. But my bat speed is so quick that I usually end up pulling the ball anyway. Hopefully it goes out."

But even if it doesn't, Moyer and Breyman have still found plenty of success.

The myth about power hitters is that they strikeout a lot and they don't hit for average. Moyer and Breyman dispel that emphatically.

This year Breyman is hitting an amazing .652 (43-for-66) and has more extra-base hits (25) than times he's been retired (23). His 53 RBI have him tied with Manny Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians. Ramirez has played in 17 more games, though.

Moyer is hitting at a .550 clip (44-for-80) and has driven in 49.

And what's more, they can pitch, too.

On the mound Breyman, is 6-1 with a 1.52 ERA, while Moyer is 4-0 with a 1.11 ERA. Moyer also possesses a pick-off move to first that you have to see to believe.

But it's hitting that has baseball scouts keeping an eye on Moyer. The colleges that have inquired about his services are too plentiful to even begin listing.

Scouts from the Indians, Mariners, Cubs and Diamondbacks have frequented Warrior games.

"He's been a nice surprise this year," Mohawk coach Junior Coffman said. "He's a good hitter, and I knew he could hit the ball. He's gone to hitting clinics and played a lot in the summer, but to have a kid hit 22 home runs in a season is just tremendous in my book. I remember when I was in high school and I don't remember anyone hitting even eight or nine. We've got 22 from him and we have (57) as a team. That's just amazing."

"After about five games I noticed we were hitting home runs, and different people were hitting them," he said. "And in practice, myself and coach (Craig) Turek were throwing batting practice pretty hard and balls were just flying out."

So it's not hard to see that these guys make their teammates better. Mohawk has 57 homers this year and Seneca East has blasted 50 balls out of the park.

"Mike is probably any coach's dream," Seneca East coach Frank Lamoreaux said. "But he's well-surrounded by other kids who love the game and like to play with him. And he, I think, makes the rest of our team better because he pushes the rest of our kids. I knew coming into this season he was going to have an outstanding year."

It's just like when he or Moyer step to the plate. The potential is there. You just never know when they might unload.