Brown County’s Dieterle strikes out every batter he faces in return from Tommy John surgery to finish shutout

MOUNT STERLING, Ill. — Brown County sophomore Collin Dieterle could hardly concentrate at school on Wednesday, not because of a big test that was coming up or a grade that made him nervous.

Dieterle could not focus because Hornets baseball coach Jared Hoots told him in the morning that if the right situation arose, he would get to pitch later that afternoon for the first time since having Tommy John surgery on July 3, 2024.

“I was just thinking about it all day, honestly,” Dieterle said.

When that opportunity presented itself with the Hornets leading Augusta Southeastern 8-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Dieterle took the mound for his first live pitching appearance since junior high.

Five Hornets runs combined in the sixth and seventh innings made Hoots feel comfortable enough to give Dieterle the green light.

“I was hoping that we would score a couple more, score a couple more because I told him I wasn’t going to put him in a high-pressure situation the first time out there,” Hoots said. “Luckily we pushed some runs across.”

In storybook fashion, Dieterle struck out Jaren Henry, the first batter he faced, on three pitches.

“I was locked in the whole day, but (striking out) that first batter was clutch,” Dieterle said. “After that first batter, it gave me some confidence to attack the next two.”

Attack he did. Dieterle then struck out Clarence Billingsley and Von Grimsley to finish off an 8-0 Hornets victory.

“Striking out the side was better than I expected,” Dieterle said. “It feels great.”

Hoots knows it was not a coincidence.

“It’s good to see him back out there and smiling,” Hoots said. “He’s worked extremely hard to get back as quickly as he did. Luckily it wasn’t the extensive damage that sometimes it is. It’s great that he can come back and do his part. It’s tough when you’ve played at a high level and had a lot of success, and all of a sudden you’re working your way back. He’s done a really good job of handling that.”

Dieterle first felt a pop in his elbow in December 2023. He went to physical therapy for three months prior to his freshman season at Brown County and didn’t pitch that spring. He played first base that season before undergoing surgery to repair his right UCL, and he continued to play first while his elbow fully healed.

“It’s been a long process,” Dieterle said. “It hasn’t been easy, but I feel like I’ve put in the work to get back.”

Dieterle had setbacks with his shoulder along the way, but after a handful of bullpen sessions, he hit all the necessary milestones.

“Of course in the bullpens, you get the little radar out,” Hoots said. “You just check him to make sure he’s not losing velocity. You don’t tell him the numbers, but you can see the gradual strength coming back.”

Dieterle feels as strong as he did before his elbow injury cropped up. He believes improving another part of his game will help him even more.

“More importantly, my mechanics have gotten more fluid, which has helped my velocity out,” Dieterle said.

Dieterle helped himself by going 2 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. He had been 2 for 13 in his previous four games.

“Hopefully today gives me some confidence going forward,” Dieterle said.

Dieterle helped ignite the Hornets’ offense with a double on the first pitch of the game. He scored on Tyce Fullerton’s triple, then Maverick Henry’s sacrifice fly gave starting pitcher Eli Staton a 2-0 lead before he took the mound. Staton retired eight of the first nine and 11 of the first 13 batters he faced.

“My outside curveball worked really well,” Staton said. “They couldn’t hit it that well, and they were also pretty late on my fastball.”

Staton tossed six innings, gave up four hits, struck out six and walked one before giving way to Dieterle.

“I felt like we had some good swings, a good approach,” Suns coach Cyle Rigg said. “(Staton) had some nice movement, nice sink on his ball, a little bit of run. It took us a few innings to pick up what he was throwing. Once our guys did, they had some nice barrels.”

Staton thoroughly enjoyed seeing Dieterle make his return and close out the game in style.

“It’s amazing that he’s able to come back and hopefully pitch the rest of the year,” Staton said. “He’s one of the best pitchers in the (Western Illinois Valley Conference), in my opinion.”

Fullerton could not help but smile when asked about Dieterle.

“He’s a great pitcher,” he said. “It’s been hard on him being out so long. I was really happy for him.”

It remains to be seen how far Dieterle can go in terms of innings this season. However, one thing is for certain.

“We’re back, baby,” Dieterle said.