Taking one for the team

A normal reaction to a player getting plunked by a pitch might sound something like, "Ouch" or "Ohh," but not when it happens to Kevin Massoth.

When it happens to Massoth, a senior on the Geneva boys baseball team, his fellow Vikings on the bench laugh.

They laugh not because it's funny, but because it happens to this leadoff batter more than most players and on the average of about once every other game.

"It's become a running joke, but it's fun for him," Geneva coach Matt Hahn said. "It sets the tone for everyone else. When he's on base, everything seems to click more."

"I think the difference between me and everyone else is that I kind of take it and I don't move out of the way," Massoth added. "It's kind of my job as a leadoff hitter. A lot of guys would jump out of the way, but I turn into it. I'm just trying to get on base. I'm willing to take it."

Massoth has turned this "art" of getting hit by a pitch into a school record. In a year-and-a-half, he has been hit by a pitch 16 times (through Wednesday's games). He got hit a record-tying 8 times last year, and has been hit 8 times (and counting) this year.

It's something Massoth said he never meant to set a school record for -- but did.

"I'll take it," Massoth said. "Usually, you don't get too much attention for (getting hit), but coming from that, I've scored a lot of runs, and that's the ultimate goal. It's just one of those ways I can get on base. It's kind of cool I can say I'm in the record books -- even if it's noticed or not."

When the record was broken, Hahn called up former player Carmine Cesario -- the former record-holder -- and he was mad. After all, who would expect that sort of record would be shattered?

"I don't know what it is," Hahn said. "It's sort of a dubious honor, but it's one that doesn't get a whole lot of recognition, but it's more time on base because it allows him to steal bases, allows things to happen and puts guys on base for Corey (Hofstetter), Ryan (Adams) and Ryan (Payne) and what not. He just doesn't care."

Apparently not -- at least for his body. Hahn called Massoth "tough," and there has been no pitch Massoth has been hit by that has harmed him too bad. The same thing goes when he's out on the field.

"If he was all beat up, he wouldn't tell anybody," Hahn said. "He can take it, and if you say anything to him, he'd shrug it off."

"He does get drilled a lot," teammate A.J. Sarantopolous said. "(On defense), he's one of those kids who will dive head-first into a fence, just to make the play."

When asked how bruised and banged up he was, Massoth revealed a scraped-up left arm. But at the moment, there were no visible marks on his body.

"Usually, they only last a little bit," Massoth said of the bruises. "It's not too bad. I'll have a bruise, but it only stings until I get to first base -- then it's all OK. It's not that bad."

Massoth also said he doesn't regret taking one -- or several, for that matter -- for the team.

"I've had a few stingers, but as long as I get on base, that's what I'm doing," Massoth said. "I mean, yeah, they hurt -- I've taken a couple off the elbow -- but no, that's my job. I just get on base. The other guys knock me in. Give credit to them too."

Massoth should give credit to himself as a hitter -- not just one getting hit. His numbers, when he's not getting plunked, have improved since last year. As a junior in the No. 9 spot in 36 games last year, he posted 7 doubles, 9 stolen bases, 25 runs scored, a .239 batting average and a .429 on-base percentage.

This year, he's on track to top those numbers by the end of the season. Through 16 games, Massoth has 4 doubles, 6 stolen bases, 23 runs scored, a .341 batting average and .594 on-base percentage.

"I think the main thing is I have more power," said Massoth, who worked with several college coaches and teams in the off-season. "I've been hitting the ball harder than last year and I changed my stance a little bit."

Massoth said he also loves being the leadoff man. Hahn said he put him there just to "see what happens." He was batting in the No. 2 spot over the summer and when he was a sophomore on the sophomore team, he was at the top of the lineup.

"When I told (Massoth) he was going to lead off, he was like, 'Yes,'" Hahn said. "He was all excited because that is what he really wanted to do. He's the kind of kid, though, who would never say anything."

Surprisingly, Massoth has yet to be discovered by a college team. That may change soon.

"I think it's in the back of his mind now," Hahn said. "As much as he loves this, I think he's thinking academics first. If baseball fits into that, that's great. If not, he's OK with that."

"I've been trying to sell myself a bit because I didn't have the big numbers as far as batting goes last year," Massoth said. "I've been in touch with a few schools, but I'm not sure. We'll see how the rest of the season goes, see who is interested and go from there."