Wilde Lake pitcher eyes the big leagues

Q & A Josh Futter, Wilde Lake, Baseball

Do you have any role models?

As far as guys that have pitched in the major leagues, I like Josh Beckett, Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax. I like their bulldog mentality -- how they go right after the guy.

What's the best advice you've received?

To throw inside. If you're scared to throw inside, you'll never make it. ... It's helped me a lot.

If you weren't playing baseball, what would you be doing?

I honestly couldn't tell you. Since I entered high school -- even seventh and eighth grade -- I've always thought about playing baseball in college. I've never really thought about doing anything but that. I guess if I don't end up playing in the pros, I would still like to do something with baseball.

If you could meet any person, who would it be?

I'd probably have to say Sandy Koufax. There are a lot of things I would ask him. He had a career that kind of ended so young. You think about what he could have done if he kept pitching.

How important is the mental aspect of pitching?

There have been some times where I'll go out there and I've beaten myself before I even pitch. It hasn't happened in a long time, but there were times when I used to do that. If you think you're going to lose, if there's any doubt in your mind, you're going to lose. You have to go out there knowing you're going to win.