Indy Star

 

By Ted Schultz

 

When Noblesville baseball coach Justin Keever received an e-mail from athletic director Steve Hurst last August saying a baseball player had moved in from Puerto Rico, Keever thought it was a joke.

After all, Keever was looking for a catcher following the departure of three-year starter Sam Swafford. It just so happened that Javier Aponte was a standout catcher in his homeland, and he had a sister living in Noblesville.

"We found out that Javier loves baseball and is a good player," Keever said. "He fits in well with our guys, he's a team guy and he just loves to be out here playing ball."

So much that he left his parents and brothers in Puerto Rico to live with his sister and pursue a college scholarship in the United States. He doesn't have any offers yet, but has talked to Indiana University-Southeast and Wabash College.

"I want to go to college," Aponte said. "That's like my dream -- to come to college here. If I get the chance to play, I'll go. I'm going to try my hardest."

Aponte has noticed a difference in the style of play between his home country and the United States.

"The game is a lot different than down in Puerto Rico," he said. "We play a lot of small-ball down there. Here, it's more like you swing to make runs. We just take our time and go one run per inning down there."

Aponte has been more than an adequate fill-in for the Millers, who have been ranked as high as No. 3 in the state's Class 4A poll and took a 13-6 record into Friday's game at Avon. The switch-hitter is fourth on the team with a .377 batting average and 13 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with five doubles.

"He's hit the ball well from both sides of the plate," Keever said. "He gives us good punch from the right side and the left side. That's a luxury."

"I had a slow start, but now I'm getting back on track," Aponte added. "I've been feeling really good now. My timing is back, so now, there's no excuse."

If Aponte had an excuse, it's that it took awhile for him to adjust to playing outside again after Noblesville worked out indoors all winter.

"It feels different being inside and then coming outside and playing," Aponte said. "We don't go inside and practice in the fall (in Puerto Rico). We're always playing outside. That was a big difference."

"He's starting to come around," Keever added. "He's not used to taking that time off and going inside during the winter and working out. I think that took awhile for him to adjust, but he's starting to play better and better every day."

Defensively, Aponte has committed only three errors in 19 games.

"He's meshed well with our pitchers," Keever said. "He calls the games and does a real good job. The pitchers trust him. He's played real well for us."

"My teammates are awesome," Aponte added. "I wouldn't change my teammates for anything."