Schlotman Grows Into Role As Clear Creek Amana’s Ace
Ryan Murken
Your Prep Sports
The scene is burned into Brent Henry’s memory and brings a smile every time the Clear Creek Amana head coach plays it back in his mind.
A reporter approached Henry in the moments after the Clippers 5-3 win over a top-10 Regina team bound for the state tournament back in 2014.
The first question was about the Clipper’s starting pitcher that day, freshman Kobey Schlotman and it wasn’t about his performance but about his stature.
“I remember being asked how big he was,” Henry said with a hearty laugh. “Or probably more how small he was.”
Schlotman had just tossed five shutout innings allowing just two hits in his first career start.
After using his off-speed pitches to confound Regina hitters Schlotman estimated he was 5-foot-3 and 105 pounds
His jersey looked three sizes too big, his smile even bigger.
That’s the image Henry still replays in his head, a tiny Schlotman armed with a fastball in the upper 60s and a youthful confidence shutting out a powerful Regina lineup.
“I can picture it in my head where it just looks like he is swimming in his jersey,” Henry said. “I don’t know if he weighed 100 pounds.”
Four years later Schlotman has filled out, grown up and turned into one of the top pitchers in a talent laden WAMAC conference.
Schlotman isn’t huge and he’s still not overpowering but the now 5-foot-10, 160-pound left-hander is doing the same thing he’s done since his first start, getting people out.
“He’s not huge but he’s filled out a little bit,” Henry said. “Just to see where he’s come from to where he is at now is amazing.”
Schlotman improved to 5-1 on the season with six shutout innings against Maquoketa on Wednesday.
He has already thrown a career-high 47 1/3 innings and has a 2.07 ERA for a Clear Creek Amana (11-17) squad that is riding a four-game winning streak.
“I still think I can get better but looking back to when I was a freshman looking at myself right now I think I’d be pretty happy with where I am at,” Schlotman said. “I’m happy with how far I’ve come.”
In his debut performance four years ago Schlotman showed even as an undersized, soft-tossing freshman he could get varsity hitters out.
He went 2-1 in 27 innings that season with a 2.59 ERA.
From that point on, Schlotman has been one of the most consistently reliable starters in the conference.
Over his sophomore and junior seasons, Schlotman posted a combined 8-6 record with a 2.20 ERA in 92.33 innings.
That early experience helped Schlotman grow as a pitcher.
“Obviously getting more innings just helps you,” Schlotman said. “The more experience you have it just relaxes you more each game you play. Playing early as a freshman like I did that helps a lot.”
The early exposure to varsity action and extending innings as an underclassman sped the growth for Schlotman.
However, the biggest element in his improvement was actually physically growing.
He’s grown more than half a foot since his freshman season and worked hard in the weight room to add weight.
“I’ve been lifting for football and basketball and I think that has helped a lot, just growing a little over the years I think has been the key,” Schlotman said. “Just getting a little bigger and stronger and that has helped me get some natural movement.”
Schlotman is still the same pitcher he was four years ago.
Same delivery, same pitches, same quiet confidence.
“Four-seam, two-seam, curve and change,” Schlotman said. “I’ve stuck with those pitches all four years.”
Schlotman has put together the best season of his career.
He has struck out a career-high 57 while walking just nine and has allowed three or fewer earned runs in six of his seven starts.
“Even from last year I feel a lot different,” Schlotman said. “I feel like I’m throwing harder. I’ve come a long way I guess.”
As Schlotman has matured he has added height and weight to his frame, velocity to his fastball and bite to his breaking ball.
More importantly, Schlotman has become a better leader, a better teammate and better role model for the freshman that are in the same spot he was in a few summers ago.
“In terms of the leadership in terms of his command both on the mound and just his presence with our guys he has grown just a ton,” Henry said. “I can’t say enough good things about where he is at now.”
The Clippers’ starting center fielder when he’s not on the mound, Schlotman is having a career year at the plate as well.
He ranks second on the team with a .349 batting average and has 16 runs and 14 RBI.
Schlotman had four extra-base hits in 126 career at bats before this season when he has eight in 83 at bats.
“He has grown a ton at the plate,” Henry said. “His defense has always been outstanding but his understanding of the strike zone and how to approach at bats has really grown.”
Schlotman wants to continue his baseball career in college and plans to play at Ellsworth Community College next year.
“You aren’t going to find a better kid,” Henry said. “He works his butt off and if he wants to play he’s going to have opportunities to play.”
Before he thinks about college, Schlotman wants to close out his high school career as strongly as he started it.
“We swing the bats pretty well but I think just the consistency needs to be there a little more and we will be fine,” Schlotman said. “I think we are getting better.”