TJ Brockway: Natural Leader
By: Adam Chasen
Catcher is one of the most unique positions in all of sports, and it takes a certain type of individual to choose the position and to excel at it. The catcher is always the designated leader of any baseball squad, and TJ Brockway as a junior, took the responsibility seriously. He was the glue for Good Counsel this past season, a bond that was strong enough to win the prestigious WCAC playoff Championship.
TJ began playing baseball at age three, following in the footsteps of his Grandfather, Uncles, and Father. His father Tim was the coach of his brother's t-ball team, and TJ made his interest in playing known even at age three. TJ enjoys a very close relationship with his Grandfather to this day, and their shared love of the game of baseball was a big inspiration in TJ's athletic path.
When TJ reached high school he chose to attend Good Counsel and had to decide between playing his favorite team sport in baseball or his individual passion, swimming. "When I came into high school I had to choose between swimming and baseball. I had been swimming since age three also." More and more student athletes do not have the time to excel at multiple sports, due to lack of time. Good Counsel has strong programs in both swimming and baseball, and while both sports are different seasons, training is year round outside of the school sanctioned teams.
TJ's road to baseball success at Good Counsel took time. He was used as a varsity player freshman year and took his role as bullpen catcher seriously. When sophomore year rolled around, TJ needed to garner more in game experience and he was moved back down to the junior varsity. If needed on varsity he was available, but getting a chance to play every game was best for him at that point in his development.
Entering this past season as a junior, expectations for the Falcons were very high. "Our goal was to finish in the top three spots to get us where we needed to get to," said TJ. "We worked together, we battled back, and we worked our butts off in practice. We played our hearts out until we got that WCAC championship."
TJ was a huge part of the championship team starting every game at catcher but two, due to doubleheaders. His responsibilities included working with a pitching staff as deep as any in the area. Many of the pitchers he worked with had much different styles and experience levels, which could have been a challenge for most first year varsity starting catchers, but TJ handled the staff like a pro. "There are a lot of kids that pitched this year, but I've caught a lot of them in the past on J.V. or in the bullpen freshman year. I talk to all of them, get a feel for them, working together and trusting each other are key," commented TJ.
Not to be forgotten is TJ's hitting prowess. He was a big part of the middle of a very potent Good Counsel lineup that fought back time and time again. TJ took a very mature approach at the plate for a player on a team known for power. "Some guys can hit for power, but I go with the pitch. To be a good hitter you've got to spread the ball when you hit. You do what you got to do to get on base," explained TJ.
The Falcons will return a strong team into next season and leaders such as TJ are not taking this past spring's success for granted. This summer TJ is playing with a team, The Headfirst Gamers, a baseball team program that features players from all over the area, to better prepare himself for his senior season. "I started playing Headfirst at age 10. I got to know the owners and they helped make me the person I am today."
TJ's team this summer is coached by Jason Larocque, the head coach of the St. Alban's baseball team and a former catcher himself. Having Coach Larocque to work with regularly is an experience TJ does not take for granted. "Coach Larocque always will work with you. He was a bullpen catcher for the Boston Red Sox and he teaches me a lot about the position. We are really good friends, and I can always count on him," TJ explained.
Coach Jason Larocque believes in the HeadFirst program and he believes in TJ as well. "The HeadFirst philosophy is development and sportsmanship, winning is a result of the process. Taking players that have passion and developing them," said Larocque. "I coached him (TJ) when he was real young, he has developed a lot the last couple of years. He works very hard, and cares a lot. He is very solid defensively, and he has impressed offensively. He has very good feet and arm strength, two good foundations to build upon."
One area where TJ is looking to improve is in his hand quickness behind the plate. Both Coach Larocque and Coach Dilima, assistant coach from Good Counsel, have told TJ that if he wants to be able to throw out elite base stealers he will need to work on that aspect of his game. "This spring Coach Dilima worked with me and both coaches (Larocque and Dilima) agree my hands are holding me back. Some different drills in the long run will benefit me greatly. It is a mechanical thing that I am working on," said TJ.
While TJ is hard at work this summer improving his own game, he rarely lets an opportunity go by without mentioning his teammates either at Good Counsel or on his Headfirst team. "It is really fun to play with kids from other schools. You get to see them down the road and get to know each other a lot better. It is also great to see how different programs do things," TJ commented on his summer team.
When asked about Good Counsel's team next year TJ spoke with confidence. "Our hitting this year always showed up, we could always rely on hitting. Next year we will be a good hitting team, but we won't have a Jake Taylor, (Good Counsel team MVP) to hit a home run. To win again next year our pitching and our defense are going to be our key to success. Next year Danny Martinson will have a huge impact pitching or catching. One of the kids I respect the most is James Fangmeyer. He is always doing what coaches want him to do. I want him to be a captain next year, he is the man, and he deserves it. If you are wearing a Good Counsel baseball shirt, everyone knows about you now. You want to act with class so everyone understands what G.C. baseball is all about. We won a championship but it's over."
Very few young men at TJ's age show such humility and pride in his teammates, especially when it has been matched with such athletic accomplishment. His true leadership abilities pour out nearly every conversation, which bodes very well for the Falcon's in 2011. For the time being TJ is honing his craft with an eye towards his college plans. He currently has a list of about 15 schools, a good mix of DI, DII, and DIII - - schools in MD, PA, WVA, and NC. He is in the process of sending out his "profile" and "video" to coaches and will attend several camps and showcases this summer. One thing is clear the 2011 Good Counsel Falcon's and whichever college program TJ ends up playing for will certainly have a great leader with tremendous baseball talent.
