Bulls’ Busch is Player of the Year

Published Jun 17th, 2008

By Mario Sarmento
SPORTS EDITOR

The 2008 high school baseball season was a typical one for West Boca Raton High senior pitcher Brian Busch: an 8-2 record, a miniscule ERA of 0.54 and an outlandish 83 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings.

Busch was so overpowering he set a school mark with 47 consecutive shutout innings to start the season, a period that stretched over his first eight starts.

For all of that dominance, he is the Boca Raton News Baseball Player of the Year for the second straight season.

“He was as valuable as any player I’ve ever had,” Bulls coach Brian Joros said. “One of our best two or three hitters, our ace. Without him we were quite ordinary.”

West Boca’s record reflects Joros’ words, as the Bulls were a pedestrian 10-8 when Busch did not take the mound in 2008.

With Busch, Bulls players felt invincible, and they advanced to the regional quarterfinals for the second straight year.

“Our whole team felt that way,” Joros said. “We felt we were the best team in the state.”

Even after he earned the win in the Bulls’ previous game, a 3-2 12-inning win over Sebastian River in the regional round, Joros still felt a sore-armed Busch was better than no Busch in the quarters against district rival South Fork.

Busch took the loss against the Bulldogs, but he said he felt well enough to perform in the game.

“I still felt like I could pitch and I just missed my spot on one pitch that ended the game basically,” he said.

It was a disappointing loss to a team the Bulls had been undefeated against going into this season, but it did nothing to diminish Busch’s accomplishments on the field.

Florida State coaches took notice, and the Seminoles offered Busch a scholarship after the season ended.

“They came to the Coral Glades game (in districts) and after that we just started talking,” Busch said. “I went up to visit and I loved it, so I decided on them.”

Busch will continue to develop as a pitcher, but he said he’d also like to have some opportunities as a hitter. The senior grew comfortable in the batter’s box this year on days when he pitched, leading the team with a .420 average and three home runs, to go with 15 RBI.

Joros and Busch said his virtuoso performance against Sebastian River was his best of the season. Busch went 5-for-5 as a hitter, and came out of the bullpen to pitch 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball. After surrendering a leadoff triple in one inning, he retired the next three batters to preserve West Boca’s lead.

Busch’s target now is the major leagues, which he has aspired to since he was a child.

And Joros thinks he has the stuff to make it to the big show.

“I see a great career,” the Bulls coach said.

For Busch though, West Boca will always be a special place for him.