Chase Senecal is the latest south Florida product to perform well here in the Collegiate League of the Palm Beaches. The 2020 Jupiter High grad attends Vernon College in Vernon, Texas, which is about halfway between Amarillo and Dallas.
In 33 innings through the first month of play for the Juno Beach Loggerheads, Senecal boasts a low 1.63 ERA. Dominic Stearn talked to Senecal in our latest player spotlight.
Q: How was the first month treated you in the CLPB?
A: It’s been pretty nice. [The Loggerheads] have started to turn things around towards the end of the month and are starting this month off hot.
Q: You’ve been excellent so far this year in the CLPB. Has there been something that’s changed for you after your sophomore year at Vernon?
A: There’s not really anything that changed from the time I came from Vernon to coming back here. It’s more just building that mentality and that competitive attitude I have on the mound at Vernon that kind of built what you see today.
Q: What helped you build that competitive mentality?
A: Not getting a solid opportunity as soon as I got there. I then immediately afterward had to figure out things to turn it around because I’ve never faced a level of competition up there. I had to figure out ways to help elevate my game instead of falling out.
Q: So are you saying that you had to really earn all of your opportunities at Vernon?
A: Yes. I was going in as an emergency relief guy. I came out as the number two starter.
Q: How rewarding has that been? Going in and having to earn it, and then now, you are one of the guys.
A: It just doesn’t seem real. I don’t believe it yet. It’s just kind of like all this hype and stuff that I’m starting to see about myself. It’s just kind of like, ‘whoa, I’m not used to this.’ It’s kind of like a first little taste, but I mean, I’m not caught off guard. It’s been pretty cool.
Q: Now you’re in your third season here in the CLPB. You’ve played with head coach Jay Judson for three years. What’s that relationship between the two of you like?
A: I think it is a very understanding mutual relationship. He understands the way I am on the mound and he understands if I mess up, or balk or whatever, he understands that I’m fully in control. He knows that I’m not just gonna fall apart, and I love that he has that trust within me to have that confidence every single time that we have built with each other for the last three years.
Q: Being here in the CLPB, you get different teammates every summer. How have you developed your relationship with your teammates this year?
A: This year is different. This year is so special. Last year, I hung around maybe two or three of the guys other than outside of the whole team. This year just seems like a whole kind of squad. It seems like an actual team though we’ve known each other for a month and seems like we’ve been practicing forever. It’s just a fun group of guys to be around and their type of energy I guess has an effect on the way you play.
Q: Riley Carter said the same thing, and you guys are one of the more lively teams in the dugout. Do you feed off the energy that you guys bring from the dugout when you’re out on the mound, and do you feel like your teammates feed off it when you’re not pitching and you’re the one supplying energy in the dugout?
A: I honestly always try to make people laugh, especially when they just struck out or when they’re out in the field. I’ll just tell a joke to get him laughing. When I’m on the mound, I actually try to bring the energy. You could ask any single one of the infielders as soon as they look at me when I’m on the mound. No one’s touching me, and I’ve always been that way.
Q: Have you always been super locked in or is that something you’ve had to really work on over time?
A: I’ve kind of always had that. There’s kind of a gauge feeling where it’s like as soon as you look into the catcher’s mitt, everything else goes away. I didn’t really know it growing up, but I’ve always kind of had that because I didn’t notice that while I got older and I’m maturing as a pitcher. Every time I focus in and look at the plate, I don’t hear anything. I’ve had teammates whistle behind me. I’ve had teammates yell my name. I’ve had people that I’ve had coaches in the dugout yell my name or whatever, but I have no clue. I don’t know who’s in the stands. I’m just focused.
Q: You’re a local guy. Do you feel more comfortable here than you do in Texas because you’re able to live in your home and sleep in your bed, or is that something that you kind of just don’t really care about?
A: In terms of comfortability, it’s always nice to have home cooking and it’s always nice to be home. In terms of baseball, I always figured if your dream is to travel and play baseball and play professionally, you’re gonna have to travel. You may as well get used to it. You may as well have fun getting to know the different fields and getting into different areas. It’s a lot of fun.
Q: What’s your go-to home cooked meal? Is it tacos?
A: If I’m cooking, it’s definitely tacos or burgers. If my mom’s cooking, it’s tough, but probably pulled pork.
Q: How supportive has your family been with you going to Texas and also playing here locally in the summer?
A: Incredibly. We basically had to move out there in a week, so it was kind of a whirlwind getting out there. They helped me get out there and move my stuff. They’ve always been supportive throughout my entire youth till now.
Q: Do you know what the future holds for you in baseball? Are you gonna go back to Vernon, or are you still trying to figure that out?
A: I think I might go back to Vernon. If I keep throwing the way I am, I will because the league I’m in will have plenty of eyes on me. Honestly, I’m thinking about following one of my teammates and possibly transferring to where he’s going because it seems like another great opportunity. I’m just kind of looking for the best opportunity to confine myself.
Q: What’s your end goal in baseball?
A: My end goal in baseball is to just get as good as I can be and see how far this game can take me. I want to retire knowing that I did everything I could to make it as far as I could have.
Dominic: That’s what it’s all about. I hope you don’t have plans on July 15, Chase. I’d like to think you’ll be pitching in the CLPB all-star game.