The grind has been good to Taven Hathaway.
The 6-foot-1, 225-pound junior from Saint Louis has kept working, throwing, hitting, fielding since day one of the first COVID-19 lockdown on Oahu. The right-hander got some action at the Hawaii Sandlot Classic in August. Last weekend, he played with Team Hawaii in the HeadFirst Academic Showcase and Junior Fall Classic.
In the Fall Classic, he was 4-for-5 at the plate with two walks and was hit by pitch once. He pitched four innings and struck out eight, allowing two hits. At the Showcase, Hathaway was 4-for-8.
His favorite moment was at the Fall Classic, where he tried out for the All-Academic game. He was chosen as a starting pitcher out of roughly 70 hurlers and struck out two batters in his one inning of action.
“I touched 89 mph and sat at 88,” said Hathaway, who has a 4.0 grade-point average. “It was such an honor to get that start inside of the Padres/Mariners training stadium.”
Felt honored and blessed to get the start tonight in the All Academic Game. Here are the first 2 batters I faced. Thank you @AZFallClassic for selecting me to play. @CoachEricNewman @ClassicHawaii @CAATim7 @2020_808 @CoachWazUO @dallascorrea @kzune24 @OCCondorbsbl pic.twitter.com/tYHNKQbI0F
— Taven Hathaway 51 (@HathawayTaven) October 2, 2020
This was my last pitch of the @AZFallClassic. This was my best slider. I went 3 innings today and struck out 6 and gave up 1 hit. Had a good time and gave it everything I had. @FiveToolHI @2020_808 @CAATim7 pic.twitter.com/IsgUBJH90h
— Taven Hathaway 51 (@HathawayTaven) October 4, 2020
This was my last pitch of the @AZFallClassic. This was my best slider. I went 3 innings today and struck out 6 and gave up 1 hit. Had a good time and gave it everything I had. @FiveToolHI @2020_808 @CAATim7 pic.twitter.com/IsgUBJH90h
— Taven Hathaway 51 (@HathawayTaven) October 4, 2020
Some of my pitching from today. @AZFallClassic @2020_808 @FiveToolHI @ClassicHawaii @CAATim7 @OCCondorbsbl @dallascorrea @FiveTool @kzune24 @CoachWazUO @CoachEricNewman @CoachMack0921 @Suppdujour @PupulePaul pic.twitter.com/sxuIK6Qxrm
— Taven Hathaway 51 (@HathawayTaven) October 4, 2020
Some of my pitching from today. @AZFallClassic @2020_808 @FiveToolHI @ClassicHawaii @CAATim7 @OCCondorbsbl @dallascorrea @FiveTool @kzune24 @CoachWazUO @CoachEricNewman @CoachMack0921 @Suppdujour @PupulePaul pic.twitter.com/sxuIK6Qxrm
— Taven Hathaway 51 (@HathawayTaven) October 4, 2020
This is why I was always taught to hustle everything out. Just because I am big doesn’t mean I can’t run a little bit. @AZFallClassic @CAATim7 @2020_808 @The_CAAdvantage @ClassicHawaii pic.twitter.com/OhhOMMAFIO
— Taven Hathaway 51 (@HathawayTaven) October 5, 2020
Had a pretty good day at the Headfirst Academic Showcase. Went 4-8 at the plate. Here are a few hits I had. @FiveToolHI @CAATim7 @FiveTool @2020_808 @ClassicHawaii pic.twitter.com/pTSUDde7vZ
— Taven Hathaway 51 (@HathawayTaven) October 6, 2020
Since then, Hathaway and his father, Roosevelt basketball coach Steve Hathaway, drove to Arizona.
“My dad and I are going to drive to Tombstone to do some sight-seeing before we head home. We both like the movie, so we want to check it out,” he said.
Next on the schedule is a Preseason All-American game hosted by Baseball Factory and Under Armor in January.
“It depends on when our baseball season starts,” Hathaway said. “Saint Louis comes first.”
Meanwhile, the work continues.
“I don’t have any offers yet, but I did have some good Division II schools come talk to me, and I’ve had some email me. Some D-I schools from the Ivy League started following me after the Academic game. Just contact through emails, but nothing offered,” Hathaway said.
In the midst of a pandemic, the getaway will always be remembered for son and father.
“I had a blast up here. Thank you to Coach Duane (Eldredge) for choosing me to be on Team Hawaii. I think I had a great week up here and, hopefully, I am on the radar of some schools. I’m looking forward to a great year with Saint Louis.”
Lockdown staples
Top 3 movies/shows
1 Transformers. “All of them.”
2. Star Wars (original trilogy).
3. The Waterboy.
Top 3 food/snack/drink
1. Ribs. “My dad smokes ribs all the time.”
2. Shrimp burrito, Tio’s Tamales.
3. Country fried steak. “This is usually when we are traveling. Had it twice since we’ve been here. I had it last night at Cracker Barrel. There is a place here in Arizona called TEXAZ Grill that has the best. Love that place. It is huge.”
Top 3 music artists
1. Eminem.
2. Blake Shelton.
3. Tony Keith.
Shout outs
Hathaway: “My dad for pushing me in baseball and other sports. My mom (Tara) for pushing me in the classroom. My little brother (Trystan) wants to be a pro wrestler one day, so he loves trying finishers on me and letting me do them to him. Thanks to Billy Duhay, who has been my pitching coach since I was 9. Thanks to guys who have helped me with my swing like Keoni DeRenne and Kewby Meyer. Grandma and grandpa (Eva and Robbie Robinson), who are at all my games when they can make it. I wish my dad’s parents (Steve Hathaway Sr. and Lorna Beckwith) were still here to see me play. I know they loved hearing about me. Also, my speed and quickness coach Kenny Patton. He has helped me tremendously to get in better shape. I usually do workouts with him two to three times a week. And shout out to Coach Tim Arakawa (of College Athlete Advantage). He is helping me connect with college coaches.”
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