Catching on

• Michael Steve

Press Photo by Chris Aarhus Dickinson catcher Michael Steve was once an infielder. However, DHS coach Pete Dobitz thought he’d be a good catcher. Steve hasn’t looked back.

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When Dickinson High baseball coach Pete Dobitz offered Michael Steve an opportunity to play every day, he took it.

An infielder coming up through Dickinson’s system, Steve was in a platoon situation early on in high school, often filling in when an infielder pitched.

Then, Dobitz approached him with an idea.

“He basically told me that he thought I would be a good fit for catcher,” Steve said. “He said if I caught, it would be easier to start. It was a change, but Dobitz was a catcher himself and he really helped me along.”

Dobitz saw many catcher characteristics in Steve.

“There were three main keys that made me think he could be a catcher,” Dobitz said. “He’s got a strong arm with a quick release. He’s a bigger-bodied kid that gives you an advantage of having the ability to block balls, and he’s smart.”

In Legion, Steve has grown even more, handling a full staff of pitchers.

“He does a good job of calling pitches,” Dickinson Legion coach Andy Emard said.

“He’s been on the same page, for the most part, with our pitchers. He’s done a great job of handling the staff.”

It wasn’t the smoothest transition. However, Steve said the learning came with games played.

“There’s a lot of things that just experience will help you out with,” Steve said. “Just being able to catch pitchers like (Stephen) Laylock, (Eric) Seiler and (Tyler) Steffan helps you out.”

Laylock, the team’s ace, has been throwing to Steve for two years and could be his biggest fan.

“I have confidence in him and I can tell that he’s got confidence in me,” Laylock said. “His composure and his leadership back there … calling pitches … knowing situations … he’s really great back there.”

Of all of the positives that Steve has brought to his teams, Dobitz said there’s one thing about him that many people may not realize.

“He’s a very smart kid,” Dobitz said. “He remembers what batters have done from other games. You don’t see a lot of pitchers shaking him off. They trust him. He’s a good leader back there.”

Along with behind the plate, Steve has grown at the plate as well. Though he’s often underestimated, he’s had some big games. He had a game-high four hits in the Dickinson Roughriders’ first Legion state championship a year ago. Against Mandan on Friday, he went 2-for-3. He hit a single that bounced off the wall to start the sixth inning and he capped that same inning with a three-run homer.

“Those last few games, I’ve really been hitting the ball hard,” Steve said. “Hopefully, I’ll continue that into regionals.”

Tags: legion baseball, sports, dickinson, roughriders