David Sangster is not your typical number-nine hitter in the lineup.
The Aberdeen baseball player bats ninth for the Aberdeen Smittys 15-16 JV Legion squad this season. Hitters in the nine spot do not usually have high batting averages, but Sangster has been hitting more than .400 at the plate this season.
"He's our nine-hole hitter and he's having a great season," said Smittys JV coach Mike Dahl. "You don't expect a high average out of your nine hitter, but he gets on base a lot."
Last weekend, Sangster went 7-for-12 at the plate with three runs batted in as the Smittys JV went 3-1 and won the championship game at a tournament in Watertown. For his efforts, Sangster has been named the Aberdeen American News Athlete of the Week.
The 15-16 Teeners beat West Fargo 11-1 and Willmar (Minn.) 12-5, before losing to Watertown 7-6. The Aberdeen team bounced back to beat Watertown 13-4 in the championship game.
"We played well last weekend," said Sangster. "We lost one game, but we were playing right with them the whole way through. We played them the next game and got them right back."
While Sangster might not get to bat until the second or third inning, he is not wasting that time on the bench.
"It's hard to wait, but I use it to my advantage," said Sangster, 16. "I can look at the pitcher and see what he's throwing and look at the ump and see what he calls and what his strike zone is. I enjoy hitting. Last year, I struggled with it, so in the offseason I really worked on it and it's paying off."
Instead of playing basketball last winter, Sangster dedicated his time to working out for baseball - his main sport.
"I would go to the Y and work out or occasionally go to a friend's house and use his batting cage. Baseball is my favorite sport. It's the only thing I watch on TV," he said.
The Sangster family moved from Rapid City to Aberdeen before David's kindergarten year in school. He began playing in teeball leagues at age four and advanced to baseball. The Aberdeen Central athlete played all through the Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry leagues and now VFW Teeners and American Legion.
Defensively, Sangster has played shortstop since he started with the sport.
"He made a ton of plays (in Watertown)," said Dahl. "As with all teams, shortstop is one of the captains of the infield, and David is definitely the guy everyone looks to in the infield. He makes a lot of plays I haven't seen shortstops at this level make. He does a great job of going in the hole and going to his back hand."
Sangster enjoys the action at shortstop. "You get quite a few balls there and there's a lot of action," he said. "I've played there my whole career."
The JV Legion team, which sports a 12-6 record, is trying to earn a spot in the state tournament in Sioux Falls in July. The JV Smittys compete in a region that includes Brookings, Watertown, Huron and Renner.
"We're not guaranteed to go to state, so we need to try to make it there first, and try to win a state title after that," Sangster said about the team's goals.
He's changing people's perceptions about the number-nine hitter.
"I've been playing baseball for a long time," Sangster said. "I like to be outside during the summer. It's an all-around fun sport for me. Always make sure you're working hard and good things will happen."
Good things, like batting .400.
Personal
Family: Parents Dave and Laura Sangster, and brother Matthew Sangster, 14.
Favorite team: Minnesota Twins baseball.
Hobbies: Fishing and hanging out at the lake.
Best field on the road:"Pierre and Brookings have nice fields."
Future plans: He would like to continue playing baseball in college.
Best athletic memory: Being named the most valuable player in the B League All-Star game in Aberdeen Parks, Recreation and Forestry summer baseball.