All-star selection caps memorable career for McCutcheon's Brody Zimmer
LAFAYETTE − Brody Zimmer would see the list of names outside McCutcheon's baseball field on a daily basis.
History and tradition is immersed in Maverick baseball and the senior wanted to make his mark on the program, which he did by helping lead McCutcheon to a North Central Conference championship in May, and by adding his own name and graduation year to the list of all-time Maverick greats on that board outside the entrance gate to the field.
Zimmer officially capped his high school baseball career on Sunday at Loeb Stadium, wearing a McCutcheon uniform for the final time in the annual North-South All-Star series.
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"It's a great reward for Brody," McCutcheon coach Tristan McIntyre said. "How he approached game time, being able to produce on a consistent basis. That is the challenge for young players.
"They’ll have the ability. They’ll have moments of success. But can they be consistent throughout the course of a game or a week or a season? That is what Brody gave us this year was that consistency throughout the year."
Zimmer hit .351 and drove in 29 runs, while leading the team with nine doubles and three home runs as a senior despite being hampered with a hamstring injury that cost him a week of the season.
But his biggest impact came may not be felt until coming years after Zimmer and fellow senior Eli Swank helped usher in a young team that included two freshmen starters.
"I think we did well teaching them and showing them how McCutcheon plays," Zimmer said.
Now Zimmer follows his own baseball dreams to the next level.
He'll attend Indiana Tech and play college baseball. That, and the all-star selection, helped mend the loss of a freshman season when high school spring sports were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the newest addition to the list of names outside McCutcheon's ballpark, reserved for all-star selections, Major League Baseball draft picks, no-hitters and school record holders, looks back on his high school career with fond memories.
"It's been super special," Zimmer said. "We were on pace for a sectional championship. Of course, it didn't happen like that, but we always kept our heads up about it.
"There were so many kids in our grade that just dropped out of baseball. Me and Eli, we stuck with it and it paid off and we have some really good memories."
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: All-star selection caps memorable career for McCutcheon's Brody Zimmer
