"Even in Little League, everybody was kind of scared of me," said Sheppard, a Northwestern State sophomore pitcher.
He started clocking his fastballs at a young age even if he didn't get the most accurate readings. He often played with speed-sensor baseballs.
"Those balls were never accurate, but I got a couple 99s (mph) when I was like 7," Sheppard said laughing. "I doubt that was accurate, but I have always thrown hard for my age."
Sheppard has excelled in a hurry for the Demons, who enter the Southland Conference tournament as the No. 2 seed. In his almost two seasons at NSU, Sheppard (6-foot-4, 210) has smashed two school records. Sheppard (2-0) recorded a school-best 10 saves last season. He also holds the career saves record at 20 saves. He broke the previous mark of 16 saves — a record set by Skip Madden in 1990-91 — in a 4-2 win at then-No. 21-ranked Texas A&M on March 23.
"He's been our go-to guy out of the pen," NSU coach J.P. Davis said. "He's really handled the pressure situations great. Early in the year it was a one-inning save maybe. Here down the stretch we've looked to him for three to four innings at a time. He's had a two-year career here, but it's been very special."
Sheppard's fastball now hovers around 96 mph, up from the 88-92 mph range he threw his freshman year.
"He's made a lot of improvements since he got here," said NSU pitcher Dustin Northcott, who is also Sheppard's roommate. "Half of it would be mental and half of it would be physical. His mental game and confidence have definitely gotten better. He's a really humble guy."
His appearances on the mound don't happen without scouts in the stands now. Davis said Sheppard, a right-hander, could be anywhere from a third to sixth-round draft pick.
"His velocity has gone up, but more than anything it's his ability to throw the fastball down and away and throw the breaking ball for strikes and the put away," Davis said. "He's really listened, and all the hard work he's put in is paying off."
http://www.nsudemons.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=20000&ATCLID=1392941 -
2009 Season - Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American… AllPing! Freshman All-American… tied a single-season school record with 10 saves... posted a 4-1 record with a 2.34 ERA in a team-high 23 appearances… struck out 43 batters in 34.2 innings pitched… had an 11.2 k/9-inning ratio… held right-handed batters to a .173 batting average… had a 2.9 k/bb ratio… struck out a career-high seven batters in just 2.2 innings of work while allowing one hit and no runs against Houston Baptist on March 1 in earning his first collegiate win… in 23 appearances, did not give up an earned run in 17 games… went six straight games (March 24-April 10) without giving up a run… part of a combined 1-0 shutout against Central Arkansas on May 1… got his record setting 10th save on May 10 against Corpus Christi.
2008 Season - Redshirted.
High School - First team All-District as a sophomore, junior, and senior... struck out 97 batters in 65.1 innings pitched with a 1.61 ERA as a senior... junior season, compiled a 2.48 ERA with 64 Ks in 40 innings pitched... also hit .398 with seven home runs and 38 runs batted in... team won district championship as a junior with a 28-5 record... district runner-up senior season with a 26-8 record... also an All-District basketball player... lettered in baseball, basketball and football... member of the 4-H Club and Fellowship of Christian Students.
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