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Southside senior Austin Gerard watches pitcher Luke Bullock while holding a Pamlico County runner in check at first base during Wednesday’s Coastal Plains Conference game. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

Southside senior Austin Gerard watches pitcher Luke Bullock while holding a Pamlico County runner in check at first base during Wednesday’s Coastal Plains Conference game. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

Southside senior Austin Gerard has pitched in relief, like he did Wednesday against Pamlico County, and started games on the mound this season for the Seahawks. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

Southside senior Austin Gerard has pitched in relief, like he did Wednesday against Pamlico County, and started games on the mound this season for the Seahawks. (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

Southside senior Austin Gerard (Jason O. Boyd | Washington Daily News)

CHOCOWINITY, N.C. — Southside High School senior Austin Gerard said he’s been working on being a more vocal leader as the captain of the varsity baseball team.

He’s been pretty loud this season at the plate and on the mound. He’s batting .290 (9 hits, 31 at-bats) with seven RBIs, a double and four runs scored so far this season. He’s also made four appearances on the mound as a reliever, getting a win along the way.

We talked with him about being a leader in all areas and how the team has performed so far this season.

1. What do you like better? Is it easier to come in as a starter or easier to come in as a reliever? Because like tonight, you had a tight situation, you gotta work out of a jam and such, and sometimes people can do it, sometimes they can’t.

“I’d say I probably prefer relieving better than starting. I don’t know, I just kind of started pitching last year, so I think reliever is kind of what I am, so yeah.”

2. What have you learned the most from picking up pitching like that? You’ve played enough baseball to know the ins and outs of it and such, but pitching requires a certain technicality, a certain finesse. Is it just something that you felt like you wanted to do or you had to do?

“Well, yeah, I feel like I had to step up kind of for the team. We’re kind of light on pitching this year, and I’ve had some help from (pitcher) Luke (Bullock) and stuff like that, tips on pitching and stuff like that, so yeah, I’ve had some help, for sure.

3. I was gonna ask you about Luke, what specifically has he done? That pitcher-catcher mentality, I mean, some coaches have plays calling and stuff, and he calls his own plays and whatnot, so what has he done to kind of help you make that maturation?

“Just help me out like on pitch grips and stuff, maybe like a two-seamer, you know, if I don’t throw the hardest, so you gotta have some finesse and stuff like that, so yeah, just a little stuff here and there.”

4. What’s it like being a captain? Is that something that you enjoy? You have that special symbol next to your name on MaxPreps.com and such.

“Yeah, I take pride in it, I enjoy it, I’m not the most talkative on the team or anything, but yeah, I like leading my guys and trying to get a win.”

5. You guys have played some really tough games. You’ve played Northside close, you’ve played Pamlico County twice. Every win is very crucial. So tell me about what the season’s been like for you, how you feel like the team has been doing.

“Yeah, it’s been a little tough season, but mainly defensively, we’ve gotten a little bit better since the beginning of the season, and we’ve picked up the bats getting into the conference, so I’ve liked that we’ve improved on that, but yeah, it’s just tough conference.”

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