Piscataway's Sumedh Shingala voted Baseball Player of the Week

Piscataway junior Sumedh Shingala knows he doesn’t throw with blazing, fireball speed on the mound. He does, however, have what his coach calls “an arsenal of pitches.”

Combine that with his increasing confidence and trusting his approach, well, things are going just fine for the lefthander this spring.

Fans voted Shingala as the MyCentralJersey Readers Choice Player of the Week in an online poll. He threw his second five-inning, no-hitter of the season with 12 strikeouts and four walks in a win over Highland Park. His first came on opening day with an 11-strikeout, two-walk effort against New Brunswick.

Piscataway baseball player Sumedh Shingala

On Thursday, May 14, he delivered with four shutout innings allowing a hit and no walks with 10 strikeouts in the Ray Cipperly Greater Middlesex Conference Invitational quarterfinal. The Chiefs rallied to win 11-5 fueled by Dominick Summonte’s grand slam in a seven-run sixth-inning.

Shingala, who has formed a potent starting duo with Brady Gallogly, had a strong sophomore season with 48 strikeouts in 39 innings. He kept going all offseason playing with the Baseball Warehouse, adjusted his diet to eating healthier and increased his fastball speed from the low 70s to the low 80s.

Shingala, a first baseman when he’s not pitching, said a key has been just having more confidence as he’s matured.

“I don’t have that velocity where I can just blow it by most people and just having that second pitch, that third pitch where you can trust it to go in for a strike is what matters more,” he said.

Exhibit A: He now has 66 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings with a 3.86 ERA. Piscataway coach Rob Stoddard said he’s been working with Shingala on pitch sequencing, command and first-pitch strikes, which has been vital. Stoddard also credited catcher Jason Mann for his work behind the plate.

Shingala can use a changeup, curveball and even a knuckle ball he mixes in. Stoddard noted the biggest difference in him this year is his confidence and, “He’s got an arsenal and he’s a very smart kid.”

“He’s battle-tested,” Stoddard said. “He matured a lot and it’s how he carries himself. … It’s been fun sequencing with him this year knowing that he’s going to throw a first-pitch strike and that all his off-speed is just ready to be around the plate. A testament to his work but he’s fun to work with, for sure.”