Bayshore pitching ace Miriam Schmoll credits her puppy 'Juice' for her comeback season
BRADENTON -- When Miriam Schmoll was feeling down while sitting out her sophomore season with a knee injury she found that man's best friend could perform wonders that were beyond her imagination.
"Juice," an American Bull Dog, came into her life shortly after her surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, and her life took a turn for the better.
"It put me in a different situation and took myself out of my situation," the Bayshore pitching standout said. "I was getting frustrated with my situation and then applied myself to him. He is my therapy dog, and got me through the tough times. He is so crazy and a great person dog.'
Judging by the type of season Schmoll is having "Juice" might be a candidate for some type of award.
Schmoll is the reason Bayshore will face Glen St. Mary Baker County in the Class 5A state softball semifinals at Historic Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Friday at 8:30 a.m.
Baker County (22-6) is defending 5A state champs and returns most of its team, including ace Macy Jackson, who won the title game with a 1-0 victory against then defending state champion American Heritage. The junior right-hander is 14-3 with a 1.39 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 111 innings.
Schmoll is the equalizer and the reason no one is counting out the Bruins (17-3). She was the Bradenton Herald player of the year as a freshman two years ago when she took Bayshore to
the state semifinals.
Schmoll is better now and credits the time she missed last season after her left knee injury and subsequent surgery. It made her more of a student of the game instead of a just a flame thrower.
The right-hander brings a 15-1 record to Dodgertown with a 0.13 ERA over 106 innings that includes 186 strikeouts and 19 walks. As a freshman she compiled a 1.21 ERA with 211 strikeouts in 132.2 innings.
"Before the injury I relied more on my physical skills. Now I concentrate more on where my pitches should be located," Schmoll said. "When I was out I watched a lot of college games and saw how the mental part of the game is most important and I was able to master that. If I give up a hit I forget about it. I used to get angry. My puppy helped me with my anger."
Schmoll, committed to the University of South Florida in 8th grade and said that will not change. She credits her father Shawn, Bayshore pitching coach, and her mother, Stacey, for helping her get through the rehab.
"I am very thankful to have him as a coach. When we are off the field he can talk to me as a dad and I am getting all the aspects of a coach and father in person, which is very valuable," Schmoll said.
Trying to separate that role wasn't so easy for her dad because it generated a wide range of emotions.
"As a parent your heart is breaking, but on the flip side the coach in you admires her for her strengths. It is a big tug of war," Shawn Schmoll says. "She would wake up in the middle of the night and say she was just pitching (in her dreams). She had a lot of ups and downs and when you test that knee (after surgery) it's like the birth of a baby."
The best thing her father sees now is that Miriam is a better pitcher, which Bayshore head coach Frank Luther confirms.
"Her stats are good, but it doesn't reflect how good she is pitching. Her pitching is dead on," Shawn Schmoll said. "We had to go back to the basics of driving off her legs and making sure her hips were in the right spot. She did all of that and it has brought her game to a new level."
Bayshore will rely on its defense and a core of four other players who went to state two years ago as starters.
The group is led by senior LaShara James, a two time Bradenton Herald all-area first-team selection, who can play multiple positions but will likely catch. James, who has signed with USF, leads the Bruins in multiple categories, including batting average (.652), homers (7) and stolen bases (33). Her strength is probably in the outfield.
The others in the core group are Jo Jo Muldoon, who is hitting .458 with 18 RBIs and four homers, third baseman Madyson Ramirez (.373 BA) and shortstop Suzy Blue (.271).
"We go into every game trying to get three to five runs and haven't played anybody yet who from top to bottom has hit Miriam well," Luther said. "She is a better pitcher now, she is wiser and not just trying to overpower people. This team is more focused on what we have to do than the one that went to states two years ago."
Alan Dell, Herald sports columnist/writer, can be reached at 941-745-7056. Follow him on Twitter @ADellSports
This story was originally published May 4, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bayshore pitching ace Miriam Schmoll credits her puppy 'Juice' for her comeback season ."