A quick changeup artist: South Walton pitcher's signature throw ‘has a way of making people look stupid'

South Walton Seahawk Mitch Peterson is a jack of all trades on the diamond.

The 17-year-old junior plays second base, shortstop and pitcher for Head Coach Kevin Cipriani's team.

"He is just an all-around athlete," Cipriani said. "He just has that mindset."

Peterson, who recorded 11 strikeouts in 6 innings pitching against Walton High School Tuesday night, has been playing baseball since he was 9 or 10.

"My dad loved it, so I started playing," Peterson said. "I have basically been into it ever since."

Peterson is dedicated to his sport. When not playing and practicing with his teammates, he has a private pitching coach that he works with on the weekends.

"We mostly work on my arm strength," he said. "At first it was intimidating to work with him because he has worked with professional players like Jonathan Papelbon of the Boston Red Sox and others."

The soft-spoken Peterson has four pitches in his pocket, throwing both a two seam and four seam fastball, a curveball, and his favorite pitch.

"My best pitch is definitely my changeup," he said. "It's my go-to pitch."

While his coach may not want his star pitcher to rely too heavily on his changeup, he knows how powerful it can be.

"His changeup is pretty nasty," Cipriani said. "That pitch just has a way of making people look stupid. We just know what is going to happen when he throws it."

Cipriani said that watching Peterson pitch is like "playing a video game."

"It’s crazy," Cipriani said. "He can throw whatever pitch we call and hit whatever spot we ask him to."

While Peterson still has two years left at South Walton, he hopes his changeup will take him to the next level.

"I definitely want to play college ball," he said. "Florida State is my dream school. They have a great baseball program."

But Peterson said he is open right now and just wants to play ball.

When he is not playing ball, you will find Peterson at the beach skimboarding, going to the movies with his friends, or munching down on his two favorite foods — pizza and chicken wings.

"He is just a great kid," Cipriani said. "He is very bright, academically as strong in the classroom as he is on the field. You couldn’t ask for a better kid."