Spartan southpaw beats, 'Berns' opposing batters
Senior leads SJSU's pitching staff with 50 strikeouts in 2009
Ralph Warner
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: Sports
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This season, Berner has pitched in seven games and has a record of 5-1 with three complete games and one shutout.
"Dave has been an outstanding performer for us," said head coach Sam Piraro. "He is an outstanding competitor and he likes competition. Because of that, it permeates throughout our ball club when he pitches. Guys follow and try to match that intensity."
Last season, his first as a Spartan, Berner was 3-8 in 13 starts after transferring from West Valley College.
Berner, a justice studies major, credits the vast difference in competition at the community college level and Division-I level as something he had to adjust to.
"There's a lot more hitters you have to worry about," Berner said. "At the JC level, there's about four hitters (in the line up) you have to worry about and when you come up to the D-1 level, one through nine are just as good as the four hitters I had to worry about at the JC level."
Catcher Anthony Aguilera, who has been catching for Berner since last season, said that exposure to competition is what has helped Berner improve his pitching this season. Aguilera also said that Berner throws the same types of pitches as last season, but gained experience and changed the way he approaches pitching with runners in scoring position.
"He's just made a tremendous effort to improve in those situations from one year ago to now," Aguilera said.
Piraro said he has also noticed the confidence Berner has gained after one year of Division-I play and said Berner's mental toughness on the mound has been the key to his success.
"I believe his ability to control his emotions, control his adrenaline and not get rattled or upset when things don't go his way have played a huge part," he said. "That's the maturity and the ability to understand the mental game. Those have both been big additions to his game."
Berner said he gives the credit of his advancement as a player to the motivation he gains through the work ethic of his teammates.
"They've made all the difference. They made me step up to the D-1 level," he said. "These players are working hard, if not harder than everyone else. That is what is making me focus on every pitch and in every practice."
Berner isn't the only one feeding off of his teammate's intensity, said junior infielder Kyle Bellows - Berner's intensity on the mound is something everyone feeds off of, too.
"That's why he's our Friday guy," Bellows said. "Every time he goes out there, he gives us a chance to win. Everybody feels like we can win any game when he's on the mound."
Berner, who leads the Spartans' staff with 50 strikeouts on the season, said he tries to stick to a simple but direct goal every time he takes the mound.
"I just have to focus on every hitter, focus on every pitch, and give my team a chance to win," Berner said.
The Spartans begin their next series against Louisiana Tech on Thursday at 2 p.m. at Blethen Field.
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