Kornacki: Jamett Persevered to Lead, Thrive in Fifth Year
4/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 30, 2016
By Steve Kornacki
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Dominic Jamett was a fifth-year senior with three at-bats and zero hits through the first 29 games of the season. While he was bringing leadership as a team captain, Jamett wasn't bringing his lumber to the plate very often.
That all changed two weeks ago, though. Injuries gave him a shot at starting at designated hitter and playing some at catcher. Jamett has been raking at the plate ever since, and on Friday night (April 29) he was pivotal in the 4-3 win in 11 innings over Michigan State, a victory that moved the No. 16 Wolverines (29-10, 9-3 Big Ten) into a first-place tie with Minnesota.
Jamett crushed two doubles, both of which led to runs, and is batting .474 with six extra-base hits and nine RBI in his last six games.
"His character explains the success that he's having," said Michigan head coach Erik Bakich. "He's a kid who came to Michigan as a walk-on five years ago. He was cut from the team, and he ended up being a three-time captain, the president of our Student-Athlete Advisory Council, and will leave here on scholarship. He earned that for this year.
"So, his story, his work ethic, the intangible skill set, the leadership ability he's brought to the team over the past three years is invaluable. He's a great example that the young guys feed off of. They all look to him for advice, and he's just one of those guys whose character is off the charts."
When asked about all he's had to persevere through to get to the stretch run of his college career before contributing big hits, Jamett -- leaning against the dugout railing and smiling -- said, "You know. I'm very lucky and fortunate to have been here five years with a great coaching staff, a great group of guys. And to be able to wear this Michigan uniform has only been a blessing.
"In terms of the things I've had to persevere, I mean, I just enjoy the game of baseball, I'm going to a great school, and any of that other stuff, the bumps in the road, it's been fun. I've been lucky."
He never got sour and instead savored everything.
That's quite a lesson for anybody to consider, not just baseball teammates. And so it seems only fitting that Jamett is finally being rewarded with extra-base hits and watching runners scamper home on his hits.
Jamett's line-shot double off the wall in left field -- the Brick Monster to Fenway Park's Green Monster -- put a runner on third base that resulted in the game's first run. It would've been a home run anywhere else.
"I had two strikes on me," said Jamett. "We had no outs, and Michael Brdar was on first base. So, I was just trying to 'touch it with two,' like Coach (Bakich) says. I was just trying to be short to the ball. He threw me a changeup that stayed up, and I was lucky enough to get in front and flip it off the wall."
Jamett's leadoff double in the seventh inning resulted in the go-ahead run for the Wolverines. The fleet Johnny Slater replaced him as a pinch runner and eventually scored on a head-first slide after a sacrifice fly by Jake Bivens.
"He threw a slider that stayed up," said Jamett, "and I put a good swing on it."
Jamett is 9-for-19 (.474) with five doubles and one home run good for nine RBI since April 12. He smiled again after hearing those statistics.
"I'm having fun," he explained. "I'm having a good time and enjoying it, and I didn't even know that I was going to come back for a fifth year. So, to be able to get this, I'm just soaking it all in, wearing the Michigan jersey and playing with my teammates has been great. I just take it one at-bat at a time."
For some hitters who get hot, they say the horsehide looks like a beach ball. Others credit a change in stance or approach. When asked what was working so well for him, Jamett said, "I'm not thinking. I'm so relaxed."
He credited the entire coaching staff for working with him on his stroke, noting that "learning the pitching side of the game as a catcher" by working with pitching coach Sean Kenny has helped tremendously.
"He knows the importance of the opportunities that come," said Bakich, "and it's his fifth year, his last year of playing baseball, and he's taking advantage of it. It's a credit to him and the person that he is, and it's fun to watch."
Bakich smiled, eyes twinkling, as he spoke about Jamett.
"He's the man," said his coach. "I'm proud of him."
Jamett attempted to walk on at Michigan before the 2012 seaso but was cut from the squad.
He tried again the next season, which was Bakich's first with the Wolverines, and made the squad as a reserve. However, over the last three seasons, Jamett, who can also play the outfield, batted only 72 times with one extra-base hit and six RBI.
Still, when you make a Big Ten team as a walk-on and get to be part of the dog pile after winning the conference tournament as a junior, those personal statistics aren't what you play for. You play to be part of the team and a leader in any way you can.
Jamett, who played at Grosse Pointe Woods University Liggett just east of Detroit, is the former president of Michigan's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
He was asked about the source of his leadership instincts.
"A lot of it comes from my parents, my mom (Elizabeth) and dad (Renato)," said Jamett. "They've been great role models for me, and they've taught me a lot of leadership lessons. When I got here, Coach Bakich picked up where they left off, and his leadership curriculum is second to none in the entire nation."
Jamett's leadership capabilities were evident to his coaches and teammates, but his playing abilities were another matter.
He had only three at-bats in those first 29 games.
Then, on April 12 at Michigan State, Jamett got a chance to catch and got a two-run single. He knocked in three runs the next day against Eastern Michigan and got on a roll.
Last weekend at Iowa, Jamett hit his first career homer, a two-run shot, and had another three-RBI game.
"We had a good scouting report on the pitcher," said Jamett. "I figured I was going to get a first-pitch fastball. I figured it couldn't hurt to put a big swing on it, and it was fun. I was lucky enough to get it over the fence."
He's worked hard to get the power.
Jamett was a National Strength and Conditioning Association All-American last year and is a lean, strong 6-3 and 220 pounds now.
"I ballooned up to 250 at one point," said Jamett. "Coach Bakich came in and said, 'You've got to cut some weight.' So, he put me on a meal plan and a work regimen, and I was able to slim down with him and Coach (Jason) Cole (strength and conditioning). It's about work ethic."
Jamett and the other baseball seniors couldn't attend Friday night's Student-Athlete Graduation Celebration at Crisler Center because they had a game to play.
"We were really lucky, though," said Jamett. "Our academic adviser, Ashley Korn, actually set something up where Mr. (Warde) Manuel (athletic director) came out and gave us our compasses as our student-athlete gifts with all of our friends and family here on the field by the pitching mound before the game."
What a day, huh?
What a way to go out.
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