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Fort Recovery graduate Alex Dues has been reliable out of the bullpen for the Mariners this season.
File photo.
When Alex Dues takes to the mound for the Grand Lake Mariners, fans immediately take notice.
So do the hitters.
Using a submarine-style delivery that puts his hand near the turf and the ball rising rather than falling, the 2024 Fort Recovery graduate has been providing results as the Mariners are off to a 15-5 record to start the season.
Of those 15 wins, Dues has won four games and recorded saves in two others while appearing in 11 of the 20 contests heading into tonight's Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League contest at Xenia.
"It's definitely one of the best opportunities I've ever had truly to play with some of the guys that are on the scene," said Dues. "A lot of them are very talented guys. To have the most appearances out of everyone in the league is very encouraging."
Dues' pitching prowess is nothing new. As a senior, Dues was 8-3 with a 2.07 ERA and 71 strikeouts in helping the Indians reach the Division IV state final, losing to Berlin Hiland in the title game.
But the process of going from the traditional over-the-top style to the submarine style came in 2020 when he was home from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I got bored a lot over being at home during COVID, and I kind of learned how to do it a little bit," said Dues. "I wasn't anywhere as low as what I am today. It was more of a sidearm when I played at Fort Recovery, but I've really been focusing on it kind of testing to see how low I can really get while also being able to throw it for a strike and to still get like movement on it."
Dues headed to Marietta College, a program that has been one of the best in NCAA Division III. After pitching two innings as a freshman, Dues' 15 appearances ranked second on the Pioneers this past season. Coming out of the bullpen, Dues was 1-1 with one save and a 5.47 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 24 ⅔ innings.
"They just said they just didn't know if they could trust me because it was just a lot different and sometimes it can be a little more difficult to throw strikes," said Dues. "But I started having some sort of success and inter-squad scrimmages and in some of the JV games that I played in. So I traveled with the varsity team and eventually got like an opportunity. Then going on to my sophomore year they knew that they could trust me a little bit more and were pleased with how the fall went. I've definitely had more of an opportunity my sophomore year."
The opportunity to come home to Mercer County to get some summer work appeals to Dues.
"It's definitely a lot better than being four hours away," said Dues. "I can play in front of family, friends, whoever wants to come to watch me. It makes it a lot easier on all those guys and it's just really cool to kind of just play back at home again and play in Celina."
It did not take long for Dues to make his presence known. In the season opener at Hamilton on June 5, Dues pitched an inning of relief, allowing a run and striking out three as Grand Lake rallied to beat the Joes 5-3 and giving Dues the win.
The next evening at Montgomery Field in Celina, Dues entered to get the final out in the fifth, then pitched a scoreless sixth as the Mariners won 11-6 to earn his second win.
Three days later on June 9, Dues pitches two innings of relief as the Mariners broke a 2-2 tie in the seventh en route to an 8-2 win to get Dues his third win in three outings.
The fourth win of the season, with saves in between, came last Friday against Southern Ohio, pitching 2 ⅔ innings in the Mariners' 15-8 win.
Dues has been durable this season. In 11 appearances, Dues has pitched 16 innings and shares the GLSCL lead with wins with four and is in a tie for second, joining teammate Elias Alvarado, with two saves.
Dues has given up some runs, sporting a 4.50 ERA with a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) at 1.44, but has struck out 17 batters.
"Yeah, everyone just bought into what coach (Mike) Roberts is telling us," said Dues. "It's just really laid back and everyone's just playing free like they got nothing to lose and so I think that's what's really helps us with our success this summer. It all helps with just the guys that we got on our team. We have some very, very talented guys and a lot of them will go to their colleges next fall and probably play a huge role on all their teams."
As for Dues, his college plans are in a bit of a limbo, with a good summer giving him some opportunities.
"I'm currently in the transfer portal, looking for a little bigger opportunity," said Dues. "But if nothing comes up, I don't have an issue going back to Marietta."
