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By Jed Blackwell

 

If you look closely, every baseball team seems to have a guy who’s there for whatever you need.

Best hitter? No, he’s not. Most athletic? Hardly. Most intimidating? Not even kinda. But the guy you want when the chips are down, the guy you put your trust in, the guy who seems to have a knack for getting it done some way, somehow, when you’ve got to have it? 

He’s your guy. And he’s a guy like Alex Perry.

Quiet, unassuming Alex Perry, who just shows up and plays wherever he’s needed. That included a 4-3 record and a 3.82 ERA as a starting pitcher last season, when he played second base when he wasn’t on the bump. This year, it’s included a bunch of different things, including increased production at the plate as well as solid play in the field.

Is he the ultimate lunch-pail guy? Ask Polk County head coach Billy Alm.

“I wish I had 11 more of him,” Alm said.

Both coach and player said the secret to Perry’s on-field utility is his knowledge – and acceptance – of his role and skill set.

“He knows his limitations, and he knows what he’s good at,” Alm said. “He just goes out there every single day and gives it his all. We never have a problem out of him. He never makes mistakes. He’s probably one of the smartest kids in his class. We know that he’s going to come out here and we don’t ever have to worry about him, because he’s going to do his job a hundred percent of the time.”

Perry said it just boils down to what he’s good at, and to trusting his teammates.

“I know I’m not a power hitter,” he said. “I know my role. I just try to square up the ball and hit singles and get on base. I’ve got people behind me who can drive me in.”

Likewise, he knows he’s good at leading by example, rather than being an outspoken player.

“I just like kind of sticking to myself in what I do,” he said.

“He just comes out, and if he sees one of us coaches just working on doing something, he comes over and helps,” Alm said. “You don’t have to ask. And guys see that.”

The willingness to do anything any time stems from Perry’s lifelong love of the game.

“I’ve been playing a long time, since T-ball,” he said. “And I’ve been playing travel ball a long time, so it’s all year round. I just love it.”

The game also appeals to Perry’s mind. He enjoys the analytical aspect of baseball, and takes a cerebral approach to the game.

“I try to,” he said. “With baseball, it can be a little different at times, but I like to try to look at situations and see what I need to do.”

In keeping with that, the junior has already analyzed his own prospects regarding his future in the game.

“I’ve always wanted to play college ball, don’t know if that’s the reality of it,” he said. “I want to go into engineering, and I just don’t know if I’m going to be able to do that and play.”

For now, Perry says he just wants to see the Wolverines come together and play their best. His coach knows that Perry will do his part.

“I know what I’m going to get out of him,” Alm said. “He’s going to play his heart out. Every day.”