Greg Schuknecht wasn't certain when his opportunity would arise. But the Post 122 Senior Legion standout remained patient, anxious to spend some time on the mound. Coach Rob Duren recalls Schuknecht's persistence during a win over St. Charles. He had been warming up to offer relief for Dalton Koch, who exited to rest a fatigued shoulder. But when Schuknecht's number wasn't called, he questioned Duren. "I told Matt (Duren) to warm up, and Greg gave me this look," said Duren. "Greg is kind of a quiet kid, so when he did that, I knew he was telling me, 'Hey, I want the ball.'" What Duren saw during the final inning enticed him to give Schuknecht another chance at pitching. "Anytime I get the chance to pitch in Legion, I always enjoy it," said Schuknecht. "I don't really have that strong of an arm, so if we're playing a doubleheader, I always like to start instead of coming in relief." And his ultimate reward came during the Metro East Tournament of Champions in Granite City, Ill. With Koch absent and usual starter Alan Burbach also having pitched earlier in the day, Duren needed an answer on the mound. "I was worried," admitted the first-year head coach. "I wasn't sure that I had enough pitchers to make it through the tournament. It hadn't been a problem when I first signed us up for it." Having watched Schuknecht close a couple games in solid form, Duren decided to award him a start. Still, he was apprehensive, never having seen Schuknecht toss more than a few consecutive innings. "He had pitched well in relief, but I wasn't sure how deep into the game he would be able to go," said Duren. But in his first start against Granite City on July 2, Schuknecht tossed six innings, casting aside Duren's concerns. He allowed two runs and three hits, while striking out seven. Duren realized that Schuknecht's arsenal had spread beyond a fast ball. "He's got a good change up and a real good curve ball," said Duren. "Working with Mike (Govednik), he can locate him really well." Schuknecht says making a few adjustments led to his improved consistency. "I used to throw just fast ball, curve ball and change," said Schuknecht. "I found out my curve ball was too slow, so I dropped it down to throwing 3/4 arm and I'm throwing a slider now. I'm throwing it a lot harder and it breaks a lot more. That's probably been my strike out pitch. Usually when I struggle is when I can't locate that pitch, because my fast ball is not overpowering." Schuknecht followed up his debut with a full seven innings of work in a 6-2 setback to O'Fallon last Wednesday. Currently, he carries a 4.54 ERA - the best among Post 122 pitchers. But his work has not been limited to the mound. Schuknecht is presently third on the team with a .346 hitting average, typically batting the lead-off role. He has 18 hits to his credit, including two doubles and an RBI. "Last year I finished the season at .250," said Schuknecht. "So, with this year being my last I wanted to at least go out strong and have a good batting average." Schuknecht has served in both the infield and outfield for Warrenton, primarily playing shortstop and third base. "I've used him in the infield half the time and the outfield too because of his speed," said Duren. "I've always liked playing shortstop but I feel a lot more comfortable at centerfield," said Schuknecht. Playing on the Post 122 Legion teams has offered Schuknecht something to look forward to each spring. Being homeschooled, he didn't see his teammates on a regular basis outside of the season. And as he presently attends St. Charles Community College, that hasn't necessarily changed. "A couple of the guys like Mike (Govednik), Patrick (McGuire, and Jeremy (Berrey), I've been playing with since I first started playing baseball at age 12. The other guys I've gotten to know since freshman year." He also appreciates the added challenge. "Our home school team is fun to play on but the competition in the Legion is definitely better," said Schuknecht. His presence has certainly lightened the load on Duren's shoulders. "He's been one of those surprises that I really wasn't expecting," said Duren.