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Tyler Manley is always getting injured, but somehow he gets put back together again, and manages to keep playing.
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Arcadia shortstop Tyler Manly touches second base and throws to first for a double play after fielding a ground ball during the Raiders' 12-1 win over Alma on Tuesday in Alma, Wis. (Photo by Andrew Link/Winona Daily News) |
Manley is one of six seniors on the Arcadia High School baseball team fighting for a third-consecutive and final trip to the WIAA summer state tournament.
None of them, however, are more important than Manley.
He’s a four-year starter at shortstop, and bats leadoff this season for the Raiders.
“He’s the anchor,” senior teammate Brandon Zastrow said. “He’s a brick wall at shortstop. He’ll make some amazing plays there, and when he’s up to bat, you can count on him being on almost every time.”
Zastrow does have a little grudge against Manley. Zastrow has played every position on the field. Every position, except shortstop, that is.
Manley isn’t giving that up. Zastrow is more than fine with that. Manley makes up for it on offense.
“It’s nice batting behind him,” Zastrow said. “There’s always someone in scoring position. Even if he just gets a single, he’s going to steal second, he’s so quick. He’ll find a way to get into scoring position.”
In four years, Manley said he’s never been thrown out by the catcher.
“I think I’m like 70-for-70 since freshman year,” he said. “That’s a rough guess, and, now, probably next game, I’ll get gunned down.”
Manley and the Raiders aren’t taking a trip back to state for granted. In fact, they know they have a lot of work to do to get there.
“I think this year may be as tough as any,” Arcadia coach Paul Anderson said. “West Salem is playing very good — undefeated in conference. I’d like to put ourselves in the mix to get back, but Melrose-Mindoro, Gale-Ettrick-Trempealeau and Whitehall are all capable.”
When Manley was a freshman, the Raiders seemed to be a lock to get to the state tournament.
“It’s a crazy game,” Manley said. “I learned freshman year, it’s not guaranteed. The last two years we’ve been creamed by West Salem during the season, and then knocked them off to get to state.
“My freshman year, we 10-runned everyone it seemed, until we got knocked off in the playoffs.”
That year, in the game to get to state, Arcadia gave up three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to Whitehall in losing 11-10, ending their season with a 25-3 record.
Manley was on the mound as Whitehall capped off the upset.
“I learned to take nothing for granted,” Manley said. “You see all those seniors you played with and they’re done, while you have three years left, and you feel horrible because they’re done.”
In his sophomore year, Manley helped the Raiders get over the hump and get back to state, but it was a tough road for him.
He blew out his ACL during football, but, somehow, made it back in three and a half months.
“The doctor said that was the quickest he ever had someone come back,” Manley recalled. “It was supposed to be a six-to-nine month recovery.”
Junior year, Manley dislocated his right shoulder, and Arcadia lost one of its pitchers. He still managed to play, and helped the Raiders win its first-ever state tournament game in 10 tries.
This year, Manley has a sprained wrist, but it’s not keeping him from playing.
“He’s been through so much,” senior teammate Max Ferguson said. “He’s been plagued by injuries, but wants to win so bad. He plays through them. He competes at such a high level.”
This year, there is work to do. Arcadia has some problems, but nothing it can’t fix by playoff time.
“I think we have the arms,” Anderson said. “We just have to solidify the defense behind them. We don’t have a kid that can throw 85 miles per hour like we did last year. He ate up a lot of outs on the mound.
“No, we’re going to have to play solid defense and cut down on the walks.”
If Arcadia can shore up its defense, it should be right in the hunt to get back to state.
“We just need to eliminate errors,” Zastrow said. “No free bases. If someone gets on base, we have to make them feel that there’s no chance they can score.”
