Pickoff move sets Telian apart
Top defensive award caps Tufts career for Stoughton grad
Adam Telian focused on developing his pickoff move while pitching at Stoughton High.
Telian followed fellow lefty Matt Cremins through his drills, learning how to tilt his head or perfect the angle of his foot. Cremins, who later played at Eastern Connecticut State, could deceive runners with an accuracy that others envied.
Armed with a few tips from Cremins, along with endless hours of practicing his move to first base, Telian developed into a craftsman. His pickoff success continued at Tufts University, where Telian recently completed his collegiate career as one of nine Division 3 players in the country to receive the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings Gold Glove award.
The best defensive players at their respective positions in all three divisions were honored. It is an extension of the gold glove awards presented in Major League Baseball.
Telian set himself apart with a deceptive pickoff move that made him one of the most effective in the country at challenging base runners. He had 11 this season and 12 last year. In his four years, he caught 34 base runners.
The award has been given at the college level for about five years, and Telian is the first Tufts player to receive it.
"He really worked hard on that," said Tufts coach John Casey, who guided the Jumbos to a 19-15 mark.
Casey said a pitcher's ability to hold runners can be overlooked. For Telian, he made it an important part of his game.
"He varied it a lot," Casey said. "He didn't have just one move. It was actually the best I've ever seen personally."
When Telian was called upon to field his position, he was nearly flawless. He didn't make an error in 31 chances and made one error in his career in 93 chances.
"I've always strived to be the best fielder I could be," Telian said. "I always prided myself on how I could react to things on the mound. It was kind of like a way for me to recognize the fact that I did work on this and put a little effort and made something out of it."
Telian was the Jumbos number one starter and was tied for the team lead in victories with a 6-4 record. In 11 appearances, including nine starts, he fanned 46 hitters and walked 21. In the first round of the New England Small College Athletic Conference Tournament (NESCAC), he shut out Williams in a 1-0 win.
"They had us the second-to-last team in the league in preseason rankings, so to go out and get third place was a great accomplishment for the team," Telian said.
All aspects of being a pitcher were important to Telian, but once he found a knack for catching runners he became more and more interested in making it perfect.
Former Stoughton baseball coach Bob Ashley said Cremins and Telian worked together in high school on drills that would hide their intentions from base runners.
Once in college, Telian carried that practice a step further. When the team practiced indoors he would work in front of a mirror. He tried not to break his hands at the same time and altered the position of his head.
"I knew it could be an effective tool, so whenever I would practice inside, I would practice in the mirror and try to make it as fluid as possible," Telian said.
Telian's move became so good that at times he surprised the first baseman.
Casey said runners would gather a lead and be frozen and unable to move when Telian would catch him off the bag.
Even though Telian garnered a reputation for the pickoff, he had to avoid being predictable.
"It becomes distinctly harder and he tried to stay one step ahead of them," Casey said.
So what's next for Telian? Probably not the most likely of choices for a person with a degree in American studies, about which even Telian quipped: "I'm not sure what that means."
There is a little time before Telian has to make any major decisions. He and a friend are heading out Hawaii, where they will stay for a couple of months working odd jobs and learning how to surf.
When he returns, he expects to pick up with the Braintree White Sox of the Cranberry League.
"He's a unique kid who really worked hard at the game and became a much better player," Casey said.
Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com. 