Published: May 18, 2008 11:52 pm            

Raceland’s Martin leads by following the example

RACELAND — Peyton Martin patterned his baseball game after older teammate Thomas Tolliver at Raceland High School.

Without question, Martin has done Tolliver proud.

Like Tolliver, who broke Kentucky’s career stolen-base record and before going on to Transylvania University, Martin has excelled as a leadoff hitter, middle infielder and base-stealer.

Martin is batting .465 this season with 31 runs scored for the Rams, who are scheduled to host defending 16th Region champion Greenup County tonight at 8 in the opening round of the 63rd District Tournament.

Martin, now a senior, came through school two grades behind Tolliver and they formed a snappy double-play combination up through Martin’s sophomore year.

“I always tried to look up to Thomas and do everything he did,’’ said Martin, who moved from second base to shortstop after Tolliver’s graduation. “I loved playing on the same team with him. We still talk a lot.’’

Martin, who has 95 career stolen bases, is playing exceptionally well down the stretch of his final high school season.

Raceland coach Randy Vanderhoof estimates that his leadoff man is hitting .600 since the team’s Florida trip in March. And that’s not all.

"Defensively, the last few weeks Peyton has played as well as any shortstop we’ve had at Raceland,’’ Vanderhoof said. “There have been several good ones.’’

It’s safe to say Rams’ fans are spoiled after having Tolliver and Martin atop the lineup in recent years.

“They are pretty much the same type of player,’’ Vanderhoof said. “Both have a great understanding of the game and have that ability to put pressure on a defense. Once Peyton gets on, there’s a good chance he’s going to be standing on second base and also a good chance he will be standing on third.’’

Martin swiped 42 bases as a junior, when he batted .508 and struck out only three times. He started for the East squad in Kentucky’s East-West junior All-Star Game.

This season, Martin has 25 steals but the Rams have played only 23 games compared to 33 a year ago.

“Peyton is having the same type year as last season,’’ Vanderhoof said. “We just have not played as many games.’’

The left-handed swinging Martin got off to a slow start at the plate this spring, when teams had success pitching him outside. But lately he’s hitting the ball to all fields and bunting more.

“I went back to the basics, trying to do everything the right way,’’ Martin said. “I worked on staying back at the plate and hitting the ball the other way. That has helped a lot and made me more of a complete player.’’

In a 7-0 win over Rose Hill Christian last week, Martin hit a long fly to left that went just foul.

“I thought it was gone,’’ Vanderhoof said. “In the same at bat, he ripped a triple down the right-field line.’’

The 6-foot, 160-pounder has plenty of athletic ability. Martin scored 26 points in the district basketball finals against Greenup County and earned All-District and All-Eastern Kentucky Conference honors. In golf, he shot a hole-in-one at the EKC Tournament as a junior.

Vanderhoof describes Martin’s hand-eye coordination an incredible gift.

“A lot of fielders, the ball will bounce in the glove a little bit, but with Peyton it sticks,’’ said the Raceland coach.

Martin has received some small-college baseball interest, but he remains “wide open’’ as far as the future.

“Hopefully, Peyton has a bunch more high school games to play and then 50 or 60 this summer,’’ said Vanderhoof, who sees considerable upside for Martin at the college level as he gets started with a weight-training program. “It’s hard telling how good he can be.’’

Last summer, Martin started at shortstop for the American Legion state-champion Ashland Post 76 junior team. He also played for coach Paul Lewis’ Post 76 senior squad.

Several college coaches have called Lewis to ask for the 2008 Post 76 schedule and he thinks Martin is one of the main reasons.

“I think Peyton will have several options,’’ Lewis said. “I’ve seen a lot of signings take place in July.’’

Lewis said Martin has talent to go along with what the Post 76 coach calls his five `Ds’ of success: a dream, desire, determination, dedication and discipline.

“He does so many things well,’’ Lewis said. “Defensively, it almost feels like Peyton is going for the ball before it comes off the bat.’’

Vanderhoof said he’s going to miss penciling in Martin’s name at the top of Raceland’s lineup.

“He’s been a great leadoff guy, and that’s what every team needs and wants,’’ Vanderhoof said. “Our other guys feed off that.’’

ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.

        

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