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May 04, 2008 (The Lexington Herald-Leader - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- When pro baseball scouts discover a high school left-hander equipped with a 90-mph fastball, good breaking stuff, terrific control, tenacity on the mound -- and the kid has solid character to go with his pitching talent -- it's a rare find.

That's why pro scouts have camped out in Lexington this spring to evaluate two of the best southpaws in the nation: Nick Maronde of Lexington Catholic and Robbie Ross of Lexington Christian Academy.

"To have two potential top-50 picks, both gifted high school left-handers, in a city our size is a once-in-a-lifetime situation," said baseball agent Dick Robinson. "This happens in Texas, Southern California or Florida, but for it to happen outside those baseball hotbeds is unusual."

Maronde and Ross could be taken in the early rounds of the major-league draft on June 5, although nothing's certain in the subjective world of scouting.

Both aces have college to fall back on if turning pro is not in the cards.

"I don't know what to expect with the draft," said Maronde, who has signed with the University of Florida. "I just want to have the best high school season possible and let the rest take care of itself."

Ross, who has signed with Kentucky, sees himself in a win-win situation.

"If I don't get drafted, I'm not going to be upset. I put it all out there and worked as hard as I could. It'd be awesome to get drafted, but it'd be exciting to go to UK, too. I'm leaving it in God's hands."

Maronde and Ross, rivals and friends, are a lot alike as pitchers. They have what the scouts call "mound presence."

Both battle every batter, no matter the situation. Both have fastballs that have touched 94 mph. Both throw above-average sliders. Both have pinpoint control.

But Maronde and Ross are different in personality and background.

Maronde is stoic. When he's on the mound, it's impossible to tell whether he's winning or losing. (It's probably safe to assume he's winning because his career record at Lexington Catholic is 32-2.)

It fits that Maronde's pitching idol is New York Mets ace Johan Santana, who does his business without a lot of flair.

Ross, meanwhile, is a high-energy guy, talkative and willing to let his feelings show. He might give a fist-pump and a holler after recording a big out. It follows that his pitching heroes include retired fireballer Nolan Ryan (whom he has checked out on YouTube), and Boston Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon.

"I like Ryan because he wasn't scared to peg you or fight you. People kind of respect that insane look," Ross said. "I like the way Papelbon runs to the mound and comes out throwin' it and smokin' it."

Maronde was born in Lexington but has lived in Orlando, Fla., and New Zealand, where his dad's parents live. Mark Maronde, Nick's dad, is a bloodstock agent for WinStar Farm.

Maronde's family moved back to Lexington before his freshman year of high school. He immediately hooked up with a summer baseball team that included Ross, and they became friends.

Ross has lived in Lexington all his life. Chuck Ross, his dad, was a standout catcher for Tates Creek, and was the 27th overall pick, taken by the Milwaukee Brewers, in the 1975 draft. Robbie was home-schooled until the third grade, then went to Trinity Christian before transferring to LCA as a sophomore.

Both Maronde and Ross first showed a lot of promise as prospects when they were about 15, although they have followed different paths as high school pitchers.

Lexington Catholic Coach Rodney Martin identified Maronde as an impact player right away: "We knew Nick was going to be special because of his arm strength. He was a little green and had to learn how to pitch, but he was willing to work at it."

Maronde went 6-0 as a freshman, then burst into stardom as a sophomore when he went 13-0 and helped Lexington Catholic win the state championship.

As a junior, he ran his career record to 29-0 before he absorbed a heartbreaking loss to Paul Dunbar in the region finals. Maronde threw a one-hitter, but the one hit was a two-run homer. The Knights lost 2-0, and Dunbar went on to win the state title.

"It was tough to lose like that," Maronde said. "We knew we had something special."

Ross was probably better known as a soccer star at LCA before he blossomed in baseball. As a sophomore, he played mostly outfield for the Eagles and pitched some in relief. As a junior, he worked only 43 innings.

As his body matured and his strength increased, he added to his workload. "It's cool because it's like I've saved my arm," Ross said. "I've been able to grow and build up my body, and not throw my arm out."

Ross is a pretty good hitter, too. He batted .384 as a sophomore and .370 as a junior and has a .450 average this season. Chuck Ross said UK is still thinking it might be able to use Ross as a pitcher and outfielder.

Ross and Maronde are best suited for the mound, though, because of their refuse-to-lose, every-pitch-counts attitudes.

Lexington Catholic pitching coach Brad Redmon said that's Maronde's best asset.

"Nick gives up nothing; he gives no quarter," Redmon said. "Whether he's facing the nine hitter on a weak team, or the three hitter on a good team, he treats them all the same. He does what it takes to get them out.

"He's kind of a throwback kid. He's not out there to impress anybody. He's just out there to compete with a single-minded purpose."

That sounds like LCA Coach Keith Galloway's description of Ross:

"Robbie competes no matter how tough the situation. He just bears down, and you know he has what it takes to get the job done.

"I also like his athleticism and energy. He's a real spark to his team."

Ross became a hot commodity last summer in showcase events and in tryouts for the USA Junior National Team. He created a buzz early this season during LCA's spring-break trip to Florida when he outdueled Niceville's Brett DeVall, another of the nation's top lefties.

LCA won 2-1, thanks to Ross's last-inning heroics.

Niceville had runners at second and third with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. Ross escaped by getting a groundout, then fanning the last two batters with fastballs clocked at 93 and 94 mph.

A couple of weeks ago, Ross and Maronde were matched up in a game that drew more than a dozen scouts. Ross also won that showdown 2-1. He had 14 strikeouts to Maronde's 13.

Maronde and Ross talked on the phone the night before, and again afterward.

"We told each other we're always pulling for each other," Ross said. "We both want the best for one another. Win or lose, we'll still be friends."

They say that friendship will continue whether they're Southeastern Conference rivals, or minor-leaguers trying to climb the ladder to the majors.

In just over a month they'll know whether they're headed to college or the pros.

Chuck Ross has tried to educate his son on the differences.

"When I was drafted out of high school and went pro, it was quite a thrill," Chuck Ross said. "But it quickly became a business.

"When you're in high school, it's rah-rah fun playing against your buddies and with your friends around the ballpark. Then all of a sudden, you go away and play minor-league baseball and you don't know anybody. It's a tough grind.

"I've been pounding it into Robbie's head that he'll give up a lot, the whole college experience, by going pro."

Robbie said that while it's his dream to go pro one day, "if now's the time it'll be awesome. If it's not, that's OK.

"It's at a point now where I don't want (the scouts) to think I'm dead-set on college, and I don't want them to think I'm dead-set on the pros."

Chuck Ross said he's talked to Maronde's parents, and "they're holding their cards close to the chest, too" about whether Nick would rather go to college or go pro.

Nick said he "just wants to play ball," whether he's pitching in the minors or for Florida.

"Whatever happens with Robbie and Nick," Chuck Ross said, "they have fantastic situations in front of them."

To see more of the Lexington Herald-Leader, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to
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Mike Fields

Copyright (C) 2008 The Lexington Herald-Leader, Ky.

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