Burlington Central’s Scott a model of consistency

Burlington Central slugger Tanner Scott has jumped to sixth place on the IHSA’s career home run list, and his assault on the record book shows no signs of slowing down.

A four-year varsity starter as of yet uncommitted to a college baseball program, he has already smacked 10 home runs in his senior season, lifting his career total to 38 in 403 at-bats.

Scott is a model of power-hitting consistency, homering once every 10.6 at-bats over four seasons. He hit 10 bombs as a freshman, 9 as a sophomore and 9 more as a junior. His final home run of the 2011 season made him Burlington Central’s all-time home run leader, passing Bradley University catcher and 2010 graduate Austin Jarvis.

Entering Thursday’s game against Harvard, Scott trailed only five players on the state’s career home run list, according to records reported to the IHSA. Though it’s unlikely he’ll catch the top two — Oak Forest’s Tim Barry (2008-11) had 53 homers and Odin’s Curtis Parrish (2000-03) hit 49 — he could finish third in state history if he hits 4 more home runs in Central’s 10 remaining regular season games and the state playoffs.

Scott needs 1 home run to tie Bloomington’s Ryan Enata (2001-04) for fifth place, and he needs 3 more to match the 41 career home runs posted by Oak Forest alumni Brian Wheeler (1975-78) and Scott Pickands (1984-86), tied for third.

“I knew I had to be getting up there, but I didn’t know how far up the list I was at this point,” Scott said before practice Wednesday.

What comes easily to Scott does not come as easily to most high school hitters. That’s because his swing creates more torque than most, according to his coach.

“The rotational power he’s able to generate is just incredible,” Central coach Kyle Nelson said. “If you watch his swing, he’s one of the few kids who truly understands that power comes from your lower half. He swings with his lower half first and uses his upper half like a whip. That’s how he’s able to generate that much power.

“Some guys aren’t physically strong enough to do that. He is. A lot of it is just natural ability.”

Scott opted to maximize his natural ability by working in the weight room with a renewed vigor during the off-season. He did so, in part, to offset an expected drop in offensive production from the switch to the new BBCOR bats being used for the first time this season in IHSA competition.

“I hit every off-season, but this year it was about getting into the weight room and building up my strength because I didn’t know how the new bats were going to respond,” Scott said. “I didn’t think I’d have this production. I didn’t start using the new bats until right before the season started, but it’s basically the same if you hit it on the sweet spot. Nothing’s really different.

“I think a lot of it is just being on varsity for four years. You can sort of expect which pitches are going to come. But for me it’s pretty much see ball, hit ball. I try to keep it as simple as possible.”

New bats, same dependable slugger. This season, Scott is hitting .487 (37-for-76) for the first place Rockets (18-6, 6-0 Big Northern East). In addition to 10 home runs, Central’s catcher has a triple, 9 doubles and 36 RBI. In 24 games, he has drawn 18 walks and struck out only 5 times for an on-base percentage of .583.

Scott’s slugging percentage (1.026) and on-base-plus slugging (1.610) speak volumes.

“The (BBCOR) bats have affected him a little, but guys who can hit are still going to hit,” Nelson said. “If you hit it on the screws, it still goes. His numbers would probably be quite a bit higher with the old bats, but he still squares the ball up enough and has enough rotational power that he’s able to drive the ball with these bats, too.”

Scott already dominates the Central record book. In addition to being the school’s career home run king, he is the program’s all-time leader in hits (189), doubles (45), home runs (38), RBI (164) and runs (147). He also has 67 career walks and will likely finish as the school record holder in that category as well.

His career batting average of .469 (189-for-403) is third best in Central history.

An academic qualifier, Scott has received multiple junior college offers but said he is still open to further recruitment. Meanwhile, he’s enjoying the final games of a productive four-year career on Rocket Hill.

“I’m playing this season with all the teammates I grew up playing with in Little League,” Scott said “It’s awesome.”