Cassopolis baseball player Lance Sheteron has gone from being an inconsistent starting pitcher to an ace in one year.

This season, Sheteron is 4-0 with a 1.45 earned run average. Last spring, the 6-foot-2 junior ended up with only two wins and had an ERA of 3.40.

“As a freshman and sophomore he fell behind batters and when you do that you’re stuck,” said Cassopolis baseball coach Matt Brawley.

“He’s older now and he put a lot of work in during the winter and it’s paid off. He’s really got command of his fastball now and he’s getting ahead of batters.”

Sheteron spent his days throwing pitches at home where he set up a bullpen.

“I credit my success to the hard work I put in during the offseason,” said Sheteron. “I threw my fastball and locating it and I worked on my finish in my windup.”

Sheteron says he can throw now in the mid 80s.

“The best pitch is a well located fastball,” Sheteron said.

A fastball isn’t his only pitch as Sheteron also tries to baffle hitters with his cut fastball, curve, changeup and slider.

“I added a slider this year,” Sheteron said. “It’s really been a good pitch for me. It just came naturally.”

Sheteron only pitched in the first inning Monday against Edwardsburg. Brawley wanted Sheteron to be at full strength for the Rangers’ Lakeland Conference doubleheader Tuesday against Buchanan.

Sheteron retired all three Edwardsburg hitters he faced in the first inning.

“I did pretty good,” Sheteron said. “I felt good.”

Pitching isn’t the lone area where Sheteron excels. When he’s not on the mound, Sheteron plays first base and third base.

He’s batting .337 this year with nine RBIs. Sheteron hit over .300 as a freshman and sophomore and drove in 42 runs as a freshman and 37 runs as a sophomore.

“He’s always swung the bat,” Brawley said.

“My hitting could be better this year,” Sheteron said. “It’s been decent.”

Sheteron showed his defensive skills at first base against Edwardsburg when he scooped a ball out the dirt on a toss thrown to him by second baseman Nick Baker.

“I want to do as best as I can defensively,” Sheteron said.

Sheteron’s best also includes hitting the books. He has a grade-point average above 3.0.

“He’s a great kid, who’s a model student,” Brawley said. “He’s the kind of kid that you want your own kid to grow up to be like.”