V845 baseball player of the year: Masterful Curry perfect starter
Times Herald-Record
All he did was win.
Aside from a single one-inning tune-up start against Monticello – in which he struck out the side – Middletown senior lefty Kashaun Curry was unstoppable this year when it was his turn to pitch. Curry went 7-0 in his other seven starts, all of which were complete games.
His best stretch came in early May, when he pitched three consecutive 3-hitters against Valley Central, Kingston and Minisink Valley.
For his mound mastery, and his all-around talents on the diamond, Curry is Varsity 845’s Player of the Year.
“It was hard but hard work in the offseason prepares you for the success you have later on,” Curry said. “I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. You can’t strike everybody out. Guys put the bat on the ball, the defense played well and I threw strikes. That’s all you can ask for.”
(SUBHEAD) Smart pitcher
Unlike some high school aces, who survive solely on a fastball that’s just too quick for their peers, Curry was more pitcher than thrower. He threw strikes and changed locations, keeping opponents off-balance and staying one pitch ahead in the mental game.
“He’s not blowing anybody away,” said Middletown head coach Justin Sturge. “He’s throwing the fastball 80-83 (mph), maybe hitting a little higher than that every once in a while. He throws three pitches for strikes and he can throw them at any point in the count.”
“I’ve learned a lot from coach Sturge,” Curry said. “He’s always talking to me about analyzing swings and thinking about what hitters did in previous at-bats. That helps you to think about where you want to throw the ball and how you want to throw the ball.”
Minisink Valley catcher Tyler Mayo knows Curry from a few perspectives. He’s hit against him during the high school season and he’s also caught Curry during the summer months as a teammate on the Middletown Cobras American Legion team.
“He knows how to control the ball,” Mayo said. “He knows where to put his curveball and when to slow his fastball down and when to speed it up. He doesn't get flustered when someone gets a hit. He has a great move to first (base) to pick someone off. He’s just a good player.”
(SUBHEAD) Preparation led to success
Curry credits Sturge’s offseason throwing program for building up his arm strength, which kept him durable throughout the season.
Between his sophomore and junior years, Curry suffered a broken leg, which also instilled in him a tough work ethic as he rehabbed to return as Middletown’s No. 1 starter in 2014.
That also influenced what he plans to study in college, as Curry has his sights set on exercise science and athletic training. Curry will pitch for SUNY Cortland, which won the NCAA Division III title in May, finishing the season with a 45-4 record.
For now, Curry is just letting an historic season sink in. Middletown fell to Minisink Valley in the Section 9 Class AA semifinals, but Curry helped the Middies get there as he pitched his team to a 4-3 win over Monroe-Woodbury in the quarterfinal round.
He was 4-0 in his regular-season division starts, leading Middletown to an OCIAA Division I title for the first time since 2002.
For Middletown, it was a season full of sharp defense, timely hitting and terrific pitching, especially from Curry.
All he did was win.
“This senior class was special,” Sturge said. “But without this guy we’re probably a six- or seven-win team. That’s the reality of it. When you look at the season, we went 14-8. For us, it was our best season in over a decade. This kid was special.”
wmontgomery@th-record.com
Twitter: @THR_Montgomery
KASHAUN CURRY FILE
Age: 17
School: Middletown
Class: Senior
Family: Mother, Jennifer Llanos; sister, Leah Llanos
Positions: Left-handed pitcher, first base, outfield
College: Will play baseball at SUNY Cortland, where he plans to major in exercise science and possibly minor in athletic training
Career highlights: Curry went 7-1 with a 1.04 ERA this season, pitching seven complete games … in 53 2/3 innings, he struck out 58, allowed 42 hits and walked just seven batters … allowed one earned run in a relief appearance in extra innings of a non-league game against Red Hook, his only loss of the year … also played first base and outfield and served as Middletown’s leadoff hitter … had a .280 batting average and led the team in on-base percentage (.434), as well as stolen bases (15) and walks (15) … went 5-4 with a 1.62 ERA as a junior, making nine starts … was used in relief eight times as a sophomore, winning one decision and holding opponents to two earned runs over 16 2/3 innings … over his three-year varsity career, was a .281 hitter with 30 RBI and 27 stolen bases.
Players of the Year
2015: Kashaun Curry, Middletown
2014: James Karinchak, Valley Central
2013: Bobby Maxwell, Minisink Valley
2012: Sam Einhorn, Kingston
2011: Jared Jensen, Kingston
2010: Brendyn Karinchak, Valley Central
2009: Matt Petro, Kingston
2008: David Boisture, Cornwall
2007: Kyle Putnam, Newburgh
2006: Jesse Johnson, Delaware Valley (Pa.)
2005: Eric Cortland, Cornwall
2004: Matt Schlanger, Kingston
2003: Jason Monti, Marlboro
2002: Jason Monti, Marlboro
2001: Marty Hand, Valley Central
2000: Lex Redding, Rondout Valley
1999: Lex Redding, Rondout Valley
1998: John McCombs, Warwick
1997: Steve Checksfield, Kingston
1996: Dermal Brown, Marlboro
1995: Rob Bell, Marlboro
1994: Ryan Balfe, Cornwall
1993: Craig Zimmerli, Warwick
1992: Dave Post, Kingston
1991: Denis McLaughlin, Warwick
1990: Tom Tegeler, Rondout Valley
1989: Tony Rivera, Warwick
1988: Craig Campbell, Warwick
1987: Bill Danchak, Jeffersonville-Youngsville
1986: Joe Sottolano, Minisink Valley
1985: Steve Freer, Saugerties
1984: Ed Short, Saugerties
1983: Paul Cromie, John S. Burke Catholic
1982: John Kelly, Port Jervis
1981: Todd McCormick, Valley Central
1980: Jeff Marks, Pine Bush
1979: Larry Leeds, Middletown
1978: Cliff Bell, Valley Central
1977: Gary Morgiewicz, Warwick
1976: Tom Krupp, Livingston Manor
1975: Steve McMurray, Warwick
1974: Kevin Lahey, Newburgh Free Academy
1973: John Kidd, Valley Central