The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1456098
MARCH/APRIL 2022 ■ 43 Highfill, then a second-year fresh- man, was just better. He surrendered only two hits over 7 1 ⁄3 scoreless innings before handing the baseball to ace closer Evan Justice, who did not allow a hit to close out a 1-0 victory. "He pitched a hell of a game — fast- ball, two different breaking balls, change-up, drop down," Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin noted after- ward. "When we did get to base, he made it difficult. He had a good move over to first base. "I hate using the words 'tip your cap' to anyone, but that kid did a nice job. He really did. He pitched so well." Four days later, NC State was play- ing Vanderbilt again, but a COVID-19 outbreak that would eventually lead to an infamous decision from the NCAA to eject the Pack from Omaha, had re- duced the Pack's roster to 13 players for a rematch with Vandy. To field a team, Highfill filled in at first base and had to bat against the Commodores other top MLB prospect, righty Kumar Rocker. At the end of the day, Highfill went 3 for 4 at the plate. Suddenly, the Apex native was the talk of town. The water tower in his home- town was lit red in Highfill's honor on June 22, and on Aug. 3 he was presented with the ceremonial "key to the city." "It was new," Highfill said, looking back at the fanfare. "It was really dif- ferent for me. It's not something that I have really ever had happened, and it's not something that I really loved, I guess. I kind of just like flying under the radar, what I've done for most of my life." That's going to be harder for Highfill to do moving forward. His 2021 season put him on the col- lege baseball map. He went 9-2 in 16 games started with a 3.66 earned run average, allowing just 77 hits in 93 1 ⁄3 in- nings and striking out 84 batters. Highfill was selected to the preseason watch list for USA Baseball's Golden Spikes Award, the honor that is the equivalent to college football's Heis- man Trophy. He has also been selected a preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, Collegiate Baseball, Perfect Game and D1 Baseball. His success at the plate in Omaha was not a complete stunner. Highfill was ac- tually recruited to NC State to play both in the field and pitch, but after his first season in Raleigh he made the decision to become a full-time pitcher. "Since he's been here, he's just a baseball player," NC State head coach Elliott Avent said. "If he played foot- ball, I'd say Sam's a football player. Sam just has a high IQ for the sport that he's playing. "He competes at a high level without getting flustered. Nerves are a part of any game that you play. Whether you're on the first tee at Augusta or you're pre- paring for a Final Four run in basketball, nerves are a part of everything. Sam tempers that as well as anybody we've had here. … He's an amazing person and a very good baseball player." Highfill also has a craftiness about his approach at the mound, throwing batters off balance with a mix of arm angles. It's a trait that was first sug- gested in the backyard by his father, Ty- ler, while playing catch. "He brought up the point that you'd be good if you pitch from different arm angles," Highfill recalled. "That's how that started … at 8 or 9 years old." "It's very effective," Avent added. "A lot of people don't do it. I'm surprised more people don't do it. You got to have a certain amount of athleticism to do it. It's not easy. To repeat your delivery is not an easy thing. Now you're hav- ing two deliveries, so it's kind of like a switch hitter. You don't see as many switch hitters today as you used to. "You got to have two different swings. You got to have two different deliveries." Highfill, the son of two NC State al- ums, has been going to Wolfpack base- ball games since he was a child. His dream of playing at NC State has come true, and everyone is seeing it play out. Continued success on the mound is anticipated this spring, but how about the heroics at the plate? "No, I don't think so," Highfill said. "Hopefully, it doesn't come down to a situation like that again. I haven't taken any swings [in the preseason]. Hope- fully, it's just on the mound." And perhaps with a little less public- ity, if Highfill had his way. ■ Hometown Hero Sophomore Pitcher And Apex Native Sam Highfill Emerges As The Wolfpack's Ace BY MATT CARTER ive days in late June changed a lot for Sam Highfill. Until June 21, only a few outside of those who follow NC State baseball recognized his name. That was until a primetime showdown on ESPN at the College World Series in Omaha against Vanderbilt ace Jack Leiter. Leiter was considered the best pro pitching prospect in col- lege baseball, and he lived up to the billing, throwing eight innings and striking out 15 Wolfpack batters while allowing one run, a solo homer by Terrell Tatum. F