June 30, 2009
By Alyssa Guttendorf, Penn State Athletic Communications Student Assistant
In the words of head coach Robbie Wine, over the course of his baseball career at Penn State, Scott Kelley has "basically done everything."
"He's a good athlete," said Wine. "He's got a good arm, he has some power hitting; he can hit. We just felt like his future is on the mound."
Kelley, a senior on the 2009 team, showed great versatility throughout his years at Penn State. After coming onto the team as a relief pitcher and then switching to outfield his sophomore and junior seasons, Kelley found his calling as a starting pitcher in his senior year.
"Sophomore year I switched completely to outfield because I did well in the outfield in the fall of my sophomore year," Kelley said. "And junior year I started in the outfield again but as the season went on I started taking some bullpens and got back into relief pitching little bit, especially towards the end of the season. And this year I started the season as just a pitcher."
Although self-described as "just a pitcher," Wine says that Kelley's versatility and willingness to do whatever the team needs sets him apart as a real team leader.
"He has a great attitude, he'll do whatever. You sit him down and you ask him about moving him to the bullpen and he says `whatever's best for the team.' He's a team player. That's what he is."
Kelley, who over the course of this year's season alternated between starting and closing pitcher, said he doesn't mind the switching back and forth.
"It's pretty much just the same thing just for a short amount of time," Kelley said. "I mean I like doing both of them. I'm used to it, just being a position player for a couple years. You just get used to playing everyday, or not knowing when you're going to be in or just getting ready last minute."
And although he takes on both roles successfully, Kelley has found positive aspects to each pitching position.
"I like starting just because I feel like you have a lot more of the game under your control. You're in there for most of it. I just feel like you're more in control, but I also like coming in a closing, just finishing up the game, just kind of putting an exclamation point on everything."
Kelley's pitching flexibility was a great asset for the team for the 2009 season. And regardless of his position, Kelley consistently strived to achieve his goals for the team.
"Every time I go out there I just try to throw strikes, last as long as I can, not let up any runs, just keeping my team in it, whatever the score is. I don't want to let anything get out of hand; if we have a lead I don't want to blow it. Just keep my team in the game, give them a chance to win."
And with that kind of attitude, it's clear that Kelley's title of "a team player" is truly well deserved.