Dawson Netz (l) and Devyn Netz (r). Photo credit: Dan Netz By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor It’s not being the least bit hyperbolic to say that Dawson Netz and his younger sister Devyn make up Southern California’s most dominant brother-sister duo when it comes to pitchers at the high school level. As incredible as their […]
Dawson Netz (l) and Devyn Netz (r). Photo credit: Dan Netz
By BRIAN REED-BAIOTTO, Sports Editor
It’s not being the least bit hyperbolic to say that Dawson Netz and his younger sister Devyn make up Southern California’s most dominant brother-sister duo when it comes to pitchers at the high school level.
As incredible as their skills and statistics would bear out, Dawson and Devyn are much more than just pitchers on the Maranatha High School baseball and softball teams, respectively.
Their focus and priorities in life, which include attempts to stay as close to perfect academically as possible, doing what’s best for their bodies and representing their parents and family in the brightest light possible are as much who they are as the gaudy numbers they’ve compiled.
Dawson, Devyn and their 19-year old brother Daniel (a baseball player at PCC)were home schooled early on by their mother Lisa, who challenged them daily to be the best they could be at anything and everything they attempt to do in life.
Dan Netz, their father, is an engineer and someone who’s provided the support needed and in a number of ways to allow their three children to chase their dreams.
If any of the three Netz children have a game, you will more than likely see Dan taking pictures or Lisa in the stands rooting on the Maranatha and PCC teams.
Devyn and Dawson admire their parents greatly and couldn’t be more appreciative for all the guidance, support, love and the example they’ve set.
Mr. Netz credits his wife for the diligence she displayed in their early education and their collective drive to seek excellence to this day, and Lisa said her husband’s analytical nature has been key in all three of their children being able to use their brain while making important decisions as well as being prepared for whatever life might throw their way.
Dawson Netz Pitching
Dawson Netz, a 17-year old junior, leads the entire area in wins, low ERA and strikeouts, just to name a few.
The 6-foot-1 right hander is 6-0 on the mound with a 0.19 ERA and he’s already struck out 56 batters in 37 innings pitched.
It is believed that the current 36-inning scoreless streak he’s on right now is a school record, and over that stretch, he’s tossed a no-hitter at Whittier Christian and a number of shutouts.
Over the past two years, Netz is a combined 11-3 with an approximate 0.50 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 84 2/3 innings on the hill for Matt Shupper’s program.
But it was late in the 2017 season, especially the postseason when Netz really got rolling, and he’s turned it up dramatically throughout this, his junior year.
Netz has gone from a high-80’s (miles per hour) fastball to the low 90’s and the ‘spin’ on his curveball is said to rival those of MLB pitchers.
He can use any of his pitches at any point in the count, and he has the stones and confidence to throw anything from his heat to his splitter or change up in any scenario a game could present him with.
What’s been key for both Dawson and Devyn is their ability to mix speeds, locations and hitting spots.
Maranatha (11-4 overall, 5-0 in league) has arguably the area’s deepest staff and bench and they are not only favored to win an Olympic League championship, those within the program feel confident they will be positioned well enough to at least make a run at a CIF-SS Division 3 title.
As of Monday, the Minutemen are ranked No. 5 behind Arcadia, Temecula Valley, San Dimas and Chino Hills in that order.
Dawson’s mind set is literally to never give up a run and when and if this scoreless streak ends, which it eventually will, he said in a phone interview Tuesday night that he’ll be really (angry).
That competitive nature for both Dawson and Devyn started at a very young age when they spent hours playing wiffle ball out on the lawn with their older brother Daniel.
Daniel Netz is an outfielder at Pasadena City College for Pat McGee’s program and someone his younger brother and sister admire for the way he carries himself as an athlete and as a person.
They also say Daniel has an intellectual approach to athletics that many do not and they’ve learned from their big brother.
Back to Dawson, though.
His exploits on the mound aren’t all he does for the Minutemen.
He’s fourth in (batting) average (.312) among MHS players with at least 30 at-bats, as well as fourth in hits (10). His eight RBIs are fifth best.
Max Blessinger (.490 average, 25 hits), Marco Martinez (.412, 14 hits) and Brock Vradenburg (.333, 13 hits) have paced the MHS offense through the first 15 games.
“Dawson is our ace and has pitched like it every single time that he’s on the mound,” Maranatha coach Matt Shupper said. “It’s not just the games that make him an ace, it’s the preparation in practice, pregame, bullpens, the whole package that makes him the guy.He pummels the strikezone with multiple pitches. He has five walks the entire year. He knows how to pitch instead of just being a thrower.”
It’s his work ethic and skills, along with a high GPA that has Netz committed to the University of Arizona, but many believe in June of 2019, Netz might be lured if drafted high enough to begin his professional career at age 18.
It takes the kind of mentality Dawson has to seek such high ground in everything he does.
“I am obsessed with not letting people score,” he said. “If I raise my standards, it gives me an upper hand, because most players settle for less and I can’t do that. I want to be the most complete athlete I can be and it also helps me to contribute to my team as much as I can and to the best of my capabilities.”
Speaking of his high standards?
Dawson said that at least for him, and with the talent they have, that it’s pretty much a CIF championship or bust, and as difficult as that might be for any program, the Minutemen have a staff and lineup that has the potential to battle with anyone twice a week.
Devyn Netz Pitching
Devyn Netz is so impressive, that her overall numbers (pitching, hitting, strikeouts) rival even her brother.
The 16-year old sophomore is 8-4 in the circle with a 1.85 ERA.
She just came off a 2-0 Olympic League victory Tuesday over Heritage Christian in which she didn’t walk a batter, struck out 11, and her two doubles at the plate drove in both MHS runs in the victory.
Netz would be the first to tell you that she is far from a one-girl team and that every member of their roster is just as valued as she is.
In fact, when asking her personal stats, she not only doesn’t know, she doesn’t care.
Devyn is all about doing anything and everything she can to be most helpful and productive player that she’s capable of being, but what really matters to her is doing anything she can to support her teammates and the program.
Devyn has walked 10 batters all season and struck out 100 through Tuesday’s game.
It has been said that a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio is considered above average for pitchers.
Devyn’s 10-to-1 ratio is even higher than Dawson’s 9 or 9.5 strikeouts for every walk he issues.
She is also outstanding in the classroom and with her success at the plate, the MHS sophomore, who is also the reigning 2017 Pasadena Sports Now Softball Player of the Year, is getting attention from far and wide, including some Pacific-12 Conference powers.
Devyn is hitting .424 with 14 hits, 15 RBIs.
She has three doubles and a home run so far for coach Sammy Skinner’s program.
Skinner, who also serves as Maranatha’s athletic director, has the Lady Minutemen 9-5 overall and 2-0 in the Olympic League.
Netz is second to Gracie Rose (.515 average, 17 hits) in both average and hits and her 15 RBIs lead the program.
“Devyn is a dominant pitcher with a passion and drive for softball that makes our team’s level of play increase for all of those who compete with her,” Skinner said. “She’s learning more and more that movement, location and off-speed pitches are just as important as the overall power that she possesses. She is very confident in her teammates ability to defensively back her efforts on the mound. When she pitches well, our defense becomes more solid at every position.”
In the last two years alone, in the circle, Devyn has issued…..get ready for it….27 walks and 305 strikeouts, an almost 12-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
“In the classroom and on the field, I want to be on top,” Devyn Netz said. “Having two older brothers has pushed me to be just as good as them. We have our fights like everyone else, but we want the best for each other. I have followed how Daniel and Dawson carry themselves in baseball and life.”
Last season, Maranatha fell shy of making a CIF-SS playoffs, but with a first-place standing as of Wednesday in the Olympic League, and a new mentality behind Skinner, Netz likes their chances of making the postseason.
Along with Gracie Rose and her team-best .543 average and 19 hits, Miranda Lopez is hitting .405 with 15 hits, 12 runs scored and 10 RBIs.
Priscilla McAllister is doing her part as well, batting .355 with 11 hits, seven runs scored and five RBIs.
“I appreciate every player on my team, because they all contribute and work hard to be successful,” Devyn said. “If we go out there day in and day out and play our best softball, I like our chances.”
For their big brother, Daniel, who is currently battling with his PCC to make a second consecutive trip to the playoffs, he is proud of his siblings.
“I hope they learned from my mistakes,” Daniel Netz said. “Dawson has a maturity I didn’t have at his age and I wish I had taken it as seriously as he does when I was his age. He doesn’t let things get to him. Devyn is a substance over style type of girl and there are not a lot of girls who take what they do as seriously or with the amount of aggression that she does. The sky is the limit for both of them.”
Quotable:
Maranatha baseball coach Matt Shupper: “As great as Dawson has been, he still has a lot to work on, including his mechanics and the effectiveness of each pitch, and he would be the first to tell you that. He works as hard as anyone I’ve coached but that desire to be the best is what pushes him. He has a good bat and is constantly improving the bat as well. He grew up as the top hitter in the area. He is now being recognized on the mound, and that is great, but I know he still wants to be the one at the plate to get the job done there too. Dawson and Devyn are better people and kids than they are athletes. They’ve babysat my kids, they are trustworthy, honest, ethical, and use pretty good judgment for being teenagers. They are great kids and I love them.”
Maranatha softball coach/athletic director Sammy Skinner: “Being that Devyn is just a sophomore, the sky is the limit. I foresee her being able to pick where she wants to continue her softball career at the Division 1 level. She has the ‘it’ factor and with two more years of hard work, both on and off the field, she will be able to choose many offers that will come her way.
She is second on the team in hitting and that is saying a lot because we have some great bats in our lineup. She is probably not satisfied with where she is and that probably makes her what she is. There is a desire to be No. 1 in everything she does, but what makes her special is that she is very happy for her teammates when they are successful as well. She’s a fun lady to be around and she knows she needs her teammates to make us successful. Devyn isn’t just a great softball player, she is also an outstanding student.”
Maranatha junior Max Blessinger: ” I can’t really speak for Devyn’s competitiveness because I’ve only seen a couple games, but both of them are genuinely good people and I enjoy knowing I’m around people who share some of the religious values that are important to me, but that I can still have fun with. Dawson has a kind of competitiveness that you can’t teach and you can’t train for. He was born with a fiery competitive spirit an I love watching it come out when we share the field.”
Olympic Baseball League Standings Through April 15:
Maranatha (11-4 overall, 5-0 in league)
Village Christian (13-4, 4-2)
Heritage Christian (11-7, 2-3)
Whittier Christian (9-13-1, 1-4)
Valley Christian (8-9, 0-3)
Maranatha Baseball Schedule This Week:
April 19: Maranatha at Bosco Tech at 3:30
April 21: Maranatha vs Salesian Doubleheader at (10 a.m., 1 p.m.)
Olympic League Softball Standings Through April 15:
Village Christian (10-9 overall, 2-0 in league)
Maranatha (8-5, 1-0)
Whittier Christian (10-10, 1-1)
Valley Christian (7-6, 0-1)
Heritage Christian (5-7-1, 0-2)
Maranatha Softball Schedule This Week:
April 19: Maranatha vs Village Christian at 3:30
