Pryor answers the question: Can he hit?

In the latter stages of the 2010 baseball season, the Minnehaha Academy coaching staff began to notice a skinny freshman lefthander whose success on the mound was growing.

"By the end of the spring, he had worked himself into a position of being in the top two or three on the pitching staff," co-coach Josh Thurow said. "The question was whether or not he was going to be able to hit at the varsity level."

So far, John Pryor has rendered those worries moot. Over his past five games, Pryor has practically lived on the base paths, going 14-for-22 with two home runs and 14 RBI, raising his batting average to .593.

Pryor talked about his rapid development and how it has mirrored much of his baseball life.

Q So far, so good. You've had a pretty nice start.

A Yes, it's been going really well. I started off in the back of the pitching order, but I've been pitching some big games.

Q What's the reason?

Q Give me an example of where your confidence paid off.

A I was pitching against DeLaSalle. My changeup is my best pitch, but the first few times I threw it, it went was over the batter's head. But I knew I could throw it for strikes, so I kept at it and ended up using it to get two crucial strikeouts. I knew I could do it and didn't have to worry about a few mistakes.

Q First baseball memory?

A I remember in Tee Ball, I'd get a hit and try to run from first base to second base. But I always had to go back because you just go one base at a time.

Q Were you always one of the better players?

Q You're lefthanded. How much has that helped in baseball, knowing how valued that commodity is?

A It didn't matter at first, but then one year in traveling baseball, I had a breakout season. Everything just clicked. I realized that being lefthanded was my bread and butter.

Q You also play basketball for Minnehaha. Which sport do you prefer?

A Definitely baseball. It's an individual game within a team. If you fail, there's nobody to blame but you. You have to hold yourself accountable. It makes you strive to get better.

Q What is more tense, a tie basketball game in the final seconds or a two-out at-bat with the tying run at third base?

Q The Tri-Metro Conference is a good baseball league. How much does it help to play in a league where you are always facing good competition?

A Overall, it really helps. When you play against lesser teams, you can easily lose your focus. When you are always playing other good teams, it makes you that much better.