RHP Will Polishuk PO ’28 of Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) baseball was named last week’s SCIAC Pitcher of the Week after his standout performance in the Sagehens’ 26-2 win against the Redland Bulldogs on March 7.
“It kind of caught me off guard a little bit,” Polishuk said. “I didn’t even realize that was a possibility, but I found out during practice on Tuesday, and obviously I was excited.”
Pitching 6.0 innings, Polishuk struck out seven batters and allowed only two hits and two runs. Paired with his undefeated 3-0 pitching record, he has shown marked improvement since his freshman season. After a season in which he made six appearances and had a 17.05 earned run average (ERA), Polishuk has rebounded with a 3.54 ERA and 30 strikeouts through five starts.
“I definitely struggled last year … I had opportunities to pitch, and didn’t really make the most out of them,” Polishuk said. “My command wasn’t very good, and I was walking a lot of guys. Thankfully, [this year] it hasn’t really been an issue at all, and I think that’s due to all the work I put in and all the specific time and energy working on that.”
According to fellow RHP Max Brunngraber PZ ’27 — a two-time pitcher of the week recipient this year himself — Polishuk’s work ethic has set an example for the rest of the squad and allowed him to match his talent with high-end production this season.
“He’s one of the leaders on the team who shows people how much output you can have by working hard and perfecting your craft,” Brunngraber said. “On the field, he’s starting game one on Saturdays, and he’s been a great pitcher for us this year. He doesn’t look like he plans on slowing down anytime soon.”
Pitching coach Jason Staub, with whom Polishuk works the closest, credited Polishuk’s inquisitive nature, on top of his relentless work ethic, for his steady growth.
“ He’s one of the first people in and the last people to leave [from] pretty much any lift or practice,” Staub said.
“He’s one of the first people in and the last people to leave [from] pretty much any lift or practice,” Staub said. “He’ll always come to the weight room and either do some mobility, some arm strengthening or extra work on his own. On the field, he’ll either ask me for things he needs to do to get better, or he’ll come in and have private meetings and ask how he can elevate his game to a higher level.”
Though Staub holds Polishuk’s growth-oriented mindset in high regard, he also noted that it can be a double-edged sword.
“I know there was a period last year where he was trying to figure out how to kind of simplify the game for himself, because I know he’s a guy who’s very analytical,” Staub said. “And that’s a huge plus in his personality, but sometimes when guys become too consumed by that, it overwhelms them.”
This season, Polishuk has successfully leveraged his methodical approach to make his game smoother and more consistent. He added meditation to his pre-game routine, finding a quiet spot after warm-ups to get into a competitive mindset.
“I sit there and for a few minutes, close my eyes, take some breaths and say some things to myself to positively encourage me and get me ready for the game,” Polishuk said. “That’s really helped me to not be antsy and jittery before the game and be calm, cool and collected to go out there and trust that everything I’ve done in the past will help me produce.”
Staub highlighted Polishuk’s shift in mechanics, which simplified his pitching motion to emphasize rhythm and minimize overthinking.
“He found a way to really simplify things by a ‘123 method,’ where he’ll lift his leg and count to one, bring his leg down and count to two and then he’ll throw the ball and count three out loud,” Staub said. “And by doing that, it pretty much shuts his brain off and allows him to just let his natural athleticism and strength take over.”
Off the field, Polishuk dedicates just as much energy toward cultivating a supportive environment among his teammates. Though Polishuk is still a sophomore, Brunngraber noted that he is already carving out a role as a team leader.
“He’s one of the hardest working players on our team, always helping other people out too,” Brunngraber said. “It’s a contagious thing, where not only is he always in the weight room, but he’s also encouraging other people to work just as hard as him and get better at what they do.”
Though his baseball journey has had its ups and downs, Polishuk maintained that he has never hesitated to put in the hard work for the sport he loves.
“It’s always been my first love and things I’ve always wanted to do with my life,” Polishuk said. “Especially now, because our team is such a close group of guys, I just want to go out there and produce for them so we can win as many games as possible, and have the most fun as possible.”
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