By STEVE KRAH
Noah Scott graduated from Chesterton (Ind.) High School in 2021 with academic honors.
As a baseball player and left-handed pitcher, Scott appreciates the thinking side.
As a Trojan, Scott played for Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer Jack Campbell.
“He would sit behind me in bullpens and talk to me about the mental side of pitching,” says Scott of conversations with Campbell about approach and facing hitters. “He’s an old school baseball coach.
“I personally liked it because I like the way he ran practices. They were very team-oriented. I liked the way he made guys approach (batting practice).”
Scott has pitched three seasons at NAIA and Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference member Saint Xavier University in Chicago (2022-24). The Finance major has one remaining year of eligibility.
He has made 52 mound appearances (46 in relief) and is 12-2 with two saves, a 3.12 earned run average, 55 strikeouts and 42 walks in 86 2/3 innings. The SXU Cougars are 98-66-1 during Scott’s time with the team.
Addison Rouse is Saint Xavier’s head coach and Michael Panozzo the pitching coach.
“He’s a fiery guy but in a good way,” says Scott of Rouse. He wants you to do well. He’s passionate. He’s big about dugout energy.
“(Panozzo) is more about how to approach hitters and mentality-oriented than fine-tuning the mechanics.”
Scott has learned to help in short relief stints where he empties the tank or longer outings. And can pitch multiple times a week.
“I’m pretty good at bouncing back,” says Scott. “I was available most days (at SXU).”
Scott did not play in the summer of 2023. This year, he is with the Coastal Plain League’s Macon (Ga.) Bacon as a reliever.
Throwing a high three-quarter arm slot, the 6-foot-2, 185-pounder mixes a two-seam fastball, four-seam fastball, slider, curveball and change-up.
The fastballs both travel around 85 mph with slightly-different movement.
“I pitch to contact,” says Scott.
The slider is more horizontal than vertical.
The curve tends to go from 11-to-5 on the clock face.
“Ideally I’d have 12-to-6,” says Scott.
His “split” change-up sinks. It is a pitch taught to him by Joe Plesac.
Scott, 21, has been going to Plesac for pitching instruction since 13. Some of the lessons were at Andrean High School where Plesac is the 59ers pitching coach and some were at On Deck Academy — both in Merrillville, Ind.
Los Angeles Angels right-hander and former Crown Point (Ind.) High School and Ball State University moundsman Zach Plesac is Joe’s nephew and the son of Ron Plesac. Another of Ron’s sons is Bethel University hurler Frank Plesac.
IHSBCA Hall of Famer, former big league hurler and MLB Network commentator Dan Plesac is another of the older Plesac brothers.
“Joe is big on mechanics,” says Scott. “He cleaned up everything in my motion.”
What about being a southpaw?
“It’s definitely an advantage,” says Scott. “Every lefty that I’ve ever played catch with has run on their ball. I don’t know why.
“I’m sure it has something to do with biomechanics.”
Scott was born in Valparaiso, Ind., and grew up in Chesterton.
As a youngster, he played at State Park Little League in Chesterton then has travel ball stints including those with the Duneland Flyers, Dave Griffin Baseball’s Indiana Playmakers and Hoosier Baseball plus an American Legion season in 2022 with South Haven Post 502 Blaze.
Noah is youngest of Ken and Kim Scott’s seven children. His sisters are McKenzie, Abby, Ashley, Corrie, Andrea and Michelle. The first three went Chesterton. All are graduated from college.
Noah Scott is rooter for the Chicago White Sox.
His three favorite MLB pitchers from his youth were all left-handers — Clayton Kershaw, Chris Sale and Mark Buehrle.
Scott’s SXU jersey number is 72.
“When I was a freshman we had the last pick of numbers,” says Scott. “It was the best remaining number, I pitched well in it so I just kept it.”
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