Sunday, Jul. 05, 2009

Greatting did it all for Columbia during memorable four-year career

As a sophomore starter on Columbia's state championship baseball team, Joel Greatting's burning desire to play baseball overrode the sick feeling in his stomach.

The Eagles were in the middle of a comeback from a 7-2 deficit against Hillsboro in the Carlinville Class 2A Sectional championship game and Greatting was up in a key spot.

Not wanting to miss out on a chance to put his team on top even while playing with stomach flu, Greatting hurriedly threw up in the on-deck circle, then stepped to the plate. His hard shot to left erased a 7-6 deficit and the Eagles went on to win not only that game, but the state title.

"You weren't going to get the bat out of his hands," said Columbia coach Keith Jany, an assistant coach at that time. "You know he's always going to come through for you. With him, it's knowing when he steps in the batter's box that he's going to do the job."

More times than not over the last four years, Greatting got the job done. Area coaches recognized that ability by voting him the News-Democrat's 2009 Small-School (Class 1A-2A) Player of the Year.

The four-year starter left a giant footprint on Columbia athletics.

He played on a state champion and a team that finished fourth, turning in a .442 average this spring with nine doubles, five triples, four homers and 37 RBIs this season along with 42 runs scored.

The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville recruit also was 7-0 on the mound with a 3.38 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 49 2/3 innings.

Like several teammates, he had the rare distinction of playing in a state title game in baseball and football. He also reached the semifinals in football.

"It was awesome, not only in baseball but football," Greatting said. "That was amazing, too. Winning state in baseball, that's probably the best memory that I have in high school."

Greatting was at shortstop in the state title victory and the final sequence is permanently etched in his memory.

"I can still see the last pitch, and then right after that Josh (Mueller) throws his glove straight up in the air," Greatting said. "(Ben) Thoma was catching and they came together and jumped on each other, then Jarren Gall jumps into the pile. There were fireworks going off everywhere."

As a sophomore on a state title team with a lot of talent returning, Greatting figured he would make it back at least once more.

It didn't happen, but the Eagles were 105-33 during Greatting's tenure as a starter and reached state twice.

"That was our goal," he said. "Everyone who had been there wanted to get up there again."

Greatting, the nephew of former St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect and current Columbia assistant Larry Pierson, was 25-3 in his career with a 2.42 ERA. He struck out 160 in 159 2/3 innings.

He supplied impact numbers at the plate throughout his career as well.

Greatting's career batting average was .425, with a .536 on-base percentage and .709 slugging average. Greatting dented opposing pitchers for 49 doubles, 14 triples, 14 home runs and 119 RBIs.

"It tells you what kind of time he's put in and how good of an athlete that he is," Jany said, factoring in all of Greatting's baseball accomplishments and what he did on the football field as a receiver and defensive back. "It was his determination, just doing whatever it takes to get the job done."

Greatting suffered an elbow injury early on in Columbia's 15-14 Class 2A regional championship loss to Wesclin. He threw one more pitch, recording a strikeout on his last delivery in high school.

But he couldn't finish the game and was unable to hit as well, leaving him in an unenviable position.

"As soon as I felt the pop, I knew it wasn't good at all," he said. "Then I go straight to thinking about the worst thing possible. I was just praying that it wasn't a ligament or something very serious."

Doctors found that the growth plate near Greatting's elbow on his pitching arm had never closed properly, eventually leading to the injury.

He underwent surgery after the season to repair the growth plate and is expected to make a full recovery.

"It was definitely the best-case scenario," Greatting said. "I guess my growth plate didn't exactly close when I was younger and there were some fibrous tissues in there. The doctor was extremely happy with the work he did and said there would be a full recovery."

Greatting has been wearing a brace, but thinks he will return to his full range of motion in three weeks.

In the game before he was hurt, it was Greatting's three-run homer on a 3-0 pitch that lifted Columbia to a 7-5 regional semifinal win over Freeburg.

A friend took a picture at the moment of impact. Greatting has the photo on the wall of his room at home.

"That was probably one of my favorite moments of the entire year," he said. "I still remember right before the pitch that Coach Jany gives me the take sign, then at the last second he goes back through the signs and wipes it off."

Good thing he did.

Greatting was beyond versatile. He played all nine positions at one time or another in high school, along with designated hitter when he was limited in the field by a bad ankle.

"When I was younger, I thought it was so cool one game I could play infield, then the next game play the outfield," Greatting said. "I've really enjoyed playing the infield and I always liked pitching, too."

Jason Smith, whose Marissa squad finished second in the Class 1A state tournament for the second year in a row, edged Metro-East Lutheran coach Scott Downing for Coach of the Year honors.

Metro-East Lutheran took second in the Class 2A state tournament, the highest finish in school history.