FL Washington Wild Things

Local Product Making Debut with Wild Things

Published on June 2, 2004 under Frontier League (FL)
Washington Wild Things News Release


It's only fitting that the first pitch of Eric Holt's professional career is in the same town as the first pitch of his amateur career.

Trinity High School and Waynesburg College standout, Eric Holt is scheduled to make his first professional start for his hometown Washington Wild Things at Falconi Field on Friday, June 4, at 7:05 p.m.

Despite growing up just minutes away from the stadium, his roots with the team are much deeper. Washington's pitching coach Mark Mason was Holt's mentor at Waynesburg College for his junior and senior seasons. Based largely on Mason's recommendation, Holt was signed just a week before the season started, making him the first Washington County product ever signed by the Wild Things.

"Having been in the league for two years, I knew he threw the ball hard enough and had good enough command to get guys out," Mason said.

Aside from being a local guy with a ton of potential, Holt's accolades speak for themselves. In 2003, he was the President's Athletic Conference Player of the Year. As a senior, he earned first-team all conference while throwing 57 2/3 innings and posting a 1.72 ERA. Holt also went 7-1 as a junior.

Mason has made the transition to professional baseball easier for Holt.

"(Knowing Mason) has made things easier on me," Holt said. "He knows a lot about me. He knows my pitches and what situations I can handle."

There is still much to find out about Holt. He has never spent a full season working solely on pitching. He was also the centerfielder while he wasn't at Waynesburg during his career. However, with Mason by his side, and becoming a starter, Holt feels he can reach his reach his potential quickly.

Relatives and neighbors will be filling the stands for his first pro start Friday, and according to Holt, that hometown support is important.

"I will be nervous," said Holt. "Maybe because I will know a lot of people in the crowd, they will help me out. I know they will support me no matter what happens."

"I know he's excited," Mason said. "There are a lot of people in the stands who know him pretty well. There shouldn't be any added pressure, just excitement."

Holt knows, however, there will be plenty of kids watching him Friday, and realizing that one of Washington's own is pitching for the Wild Things.

"I hope I can give the kids something to shoot for."

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Frontier League Stories from June 2, 2004


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