TicketsMarch 19, 2012
By Shawn Sell
To be a successful closer, whether it is in the collegiate or professional ranks, takes a certain set of tools--both mental and physical. Thanks to good genetics, hard work and growing up in a military family, UC junior Zach Isler has the tools to fit that role perfectly.
Standing 6'5" and weighing close to 240 pounds, Isler's physical stature alone is imposing to hitters when he takes the mound. Mix in a fastball that hits 95 mph, a nasty slider and a no fear attitude when it comes to performing under pressure and Isler has the make up of a star closer. While he may seem to have the total package now, success hasn't always followed Isler on his long and winding road to the closer role for the Bearcats.
Born in Arkansas, Isler is the son of retired United States Air Force lieutenant colonel Bill Isler and his wife Amy. His father flew C-17 cargo planes in the Air Force and so growing up, Isler needed an atlas to know where he and his family would move next. After Arkansas, the Isler's relocated to Missouri, then to South Carolina, then on to Kansas. From there, it Virginia, then back to South Carolina. During September 2001, the family was stationed in Virginia and Lt. Col. Isler worked at the Pentagon. On one of the most infamous days in U.S. history, 9/11, fate intervened on Lt. Col. Isler's behalf or Zach's story today may have a completely different chapter.
"During 9/11, we were in Virginia and he worked at the Pentagon," Zach, then a fifth grader, recalls. "(That day) I think had to go to the dentist. He left (the Pentagon) like 10-15 minutes before the plane hit."
After retiring from the service in 2005, just prior to Zach's freshman year of high school, Lt. Col. Isler settled his family in the area where he once called home, Northern Kentucky. There, Zach followed in his father's footsteps by attending Covington Catholic High School. During a stellar prep career that featured a career pitching record of 17-3, Isler drew the attention of UC head coach Brian Cleary and his staff.
"The hard throwing and his physique are what drew us to him," Cleary says. "We felt like he was a guy that was going to have a chance to throw 95 someday and sure enough that's how it happened. We saw a big, hard throwing guy that we thought could develop a slider. (Assistant coach) J.D. (Heilmann) has done a great job teaching him that pitch and how to pitch effectively. It has really worked out like we thought it would."
While Cleary can say things have worked out now, that didn't look like it would always be the case. In his first year, Isler's numbers were okay, but nothing like the success he had enjoyed in high school.
"Zach is a big, physical guy who came in as a lot of high school guys do as someone who got by on ability alone," Cleary says. "He was a hard throwing guy which in high school works, but that alone doesn't work at this level of play. He came in with some tools, but probably didn't have to pitch as much as just throw hard to have some success. He was a hard thrower but didn't really have a polished second pitch. He had a straight fastball and really not much else."
Isler feels the same, but puts its in much simpler words.
"Coming in here my freshman year, I had a really bad curveball and it wasn't going to get me anywhere," he says. "I was a one pitch guy, fastball only."
After that so-so freshman campaign, Isler headed out for summer action with the Cincinnati Steam of the Great Lakes Collegiate League. During that time, he was able to work on commanding his fastball and the development of his off-speed pitches. When he came back as a sophomore, he started the year as the team's closer, but it wouldn't last. As the ups and downs continued, according to Cleary, Isler hit a turning point and unfortunately it took a bad loss to Division III Otterbein to make the light bulb go off.
"He is a guy that lost to Otterbein last year," Cleary recounts. "He had a tough time getting those guys out. I think that was probably a little bit of a turning point for him. I think he realized that he can't just throw hard; he has to pitch and locate. From that point on, he really became a better pitcher in my opinion and started to work on knowing how to pitch."
After the rough outing, Isler came back with four hitless relief innings against West Virginia, and then went one step better, hurling a complete game in a much needed victory over Seton Hall. Finally, the results and the talent matched up. For Isler, it was just a matter of doing what was needed at the time for his team.
"I am going to do whatever the team needs," he says. "If they tell me tomorrow that I need to start, I am going to come out and give them what I can to start. I am here for the Bearcats; I am not here for me. So whatever I have to do to help this team win, I am going to do."
After another outstanding summer with the Steam in 2011, the calendar flipped to 2012 and Isler now finds himself in his element as UC's closer. While the pressure-packed position isn't for everyone, Isler relishes it.
"I love all the pressure on me and everybody's eyes looking right at me," he says. "It's the best feeling in the world. I don't notice anything around me and all the pressure is right on my shoulders. It's great; I wouldn't have it any other way."
A look at Isler's 2012 numbers shows that it really shouldn't be any other way. Less one shaky outing on his third straight day of work (2/3 of an inning, three runs, two hits) vs. Oakland in early March, Isler has allowed just two hits total in his other 8 1/3 innings on the mound, striking out 10 along the way.
"So far, he has been really, really good in that role," Cleary says of his ace reliever. "He has a lot of the attributes that you would want in a closer; he is very competitive, he isn't afraid of the situation, he throws strikes and wants the ball in close games. A lot of the intangible stuff he has and the physical stuff, the overpowering stuff and ability to miss a bat, he has that too."
Looking back on his career thus far, Isler points to developing his pitches and working hard in the weight room and conditioning as his keys to success. Looking forward, he hopes to keep playing baseball as long as he can.
"I would give anything to keep playing baseball," he says.
Then a pause.
"I am also thinking about the military," he admits. "I like the Marines."
Thanks to good genetics, hard work and growing up in a military family, it seems like Zach Isler could fill that role perfectly too.