By Kyle LoJacono
Land O’ Lakes senior Brad Hencke started playing baseball at age 5 as a first baseman and outfielder, but he quickly moved to the pitching mound to be at the center of the action.
“I like being in on every play,” Brad said. “I don’t like standing around waiting for the ball to get hit to me.”
The move seems to have worked, as the 6-foot, left-handed starter inked his name to a letter of intent to play at the University of Tampa during the first day of early signing on Nov. 9.
“I liked the coaches, players and the campus,” said Brad, who plans to study sports management or business. “It’s a good university and close to home so my parents can come watch me play.”
Brad’s father, Karl Hencke, said he only played baseball for about a year while growing up.
“And I wasn’t very good at it,” Karl said with a laugh. “I don’t know where he gets it from, but he has a lot of natural talent.”
Brad uses a fastball, curveball, slider and changeup. The southpaw has an 11-2 record with a 2.77 ERA and 135 strikeouts during his first three years in high school.
Brad and the Gators reached the postseason last year for the first time since 2008 as a district runner-up, but he has grander goals for his senior campaign.
“Looking to win districts,” Brad said. “It’s been a little while since the team has and it would be a nice thing to do.”
–All stats as recorded to Maxpreps.com by coaches.
