Mesquite Poteet's Arrieta
Nice article as well from the East side.
Over the years, Anthony Arrieta spent countless hours in front of the mirror.
But not for vanity's sake. The Mesquite Poteet pitcher was practicing his pickoff move, which has evolved into one of the area's best.
"My idol is Andy Pettitte, and he has a great pickoff move," said Arrieta, a left-hander like the Astros pitcher. "I would practice his move over and over again every night."
It has paid off. In four games this season, the 5-10, 180-pound senior has picked off nine runners, including two March 11 against Plano East in the final of Duncanville's tournament. Arrieta was the winning pitcher in the title game, allowing three runs in seven innings.
Arrieta's fastball has been clocked at 89 mph. It's only one reason he drew the interest of New Mexico State, where he will play next season on scholarship. A cleanup hitter, Arrieta made all-district last season as an outfielder. He said New Mexico State coach Rocky Ward told him he might have a future at first base.
"As long as I'm between the lines somewhere, it doesn't matter at all," Arrieta said.
Arrieta's pitches include a curve, slider and change-up. As a hitter, he sprays the ball. Though he has yet to homer, Arrieta is batting .335 with 15 RBIs.
He's also one of the team's fastest runners.
"He's just a good ballplayer all the way around," first-year Poteet coach Bobby Doe said. "He's got pretty good pop in his bat for his size, and he can hit to all sides of the field. He runs so well that he'll slap the ball and can get on base.
"You need a sacrifice fly, you're going to get it. He just does the job."
On the mound, Arrieta relies on finesse. He uses his off-speed pitches to set up his fastball. Doe said Arrieta is the best at the pickoff of any left-hander he has coached in his 19 years.
Lefty Anthony Arrieta confounds opponents with his off-speed pitches and pickoff move.
"I don't have one pickoff move," Arrieta said. "That's what's most difficult for them. I mix it up, and they don't know which one I'll do. Sometimes I give him a look at first, then I'll look home, then I'll throw to first. Sometimes I'll look the whole time and throw it over there.
"Sometimes I don't look at all, and I'll throw it over."
Arrieta's all-around talents have made him a favorite among his teammates. Doe named him captain.
"Captain is important," Arrieta said. "If something needs to be brought up, I'm likely to do that. But I don't go into a game saying, 'Hey, I'm captain.' I approach it like ... I want to liven things up and help fire the guys up.
"It's not like I'm trying to teach anybody anything."
Original Post
