SOMERS - — Scott Czerwinski sits on the Somers bench, looking out of place. His baseball uniform top isn't required. The pitcher's sore right shoulder needs rest.

The position is so foreign for Czerwinski, who has been on the varsity in three sports for four years, he hardly knows what to do. He grabs a bat, a glove and a ball. He can't use them today. Too bad it isn't soccer season.


"I don't think I could play less than three sports a year," said Czerwinski, 18. "It would be too much sitting around. I'm always moving."

Czerwinski (2-0) missed two games, but returned to play shortstop Monday. Doctors cleared him to pitch Wednesday, but Czerwinski decided to wait a few more days. Rain postponed his expected start at Windsor Locks Friday.


No more sitting around.

Sports, games are an everyday challenge for Czerwinski. He would have a tough time living without them. Whether it's checkers, Wiffle Ball or a state championship basketball game, Czerwinski has the same competitive nature.

Czerwinski - a three-sport (soccer, basketball, baseball) NCCC All-Star as a junior - has accomplished a lot at Somers, yet he is always looking for a new challenge.

"That's why I like baseball so much," Czerwinski said. "Every time a guy steps to the plate, it's a challenge. He's going to have three, four chances to beat you. If you can get him to pop up or strike out, you've won. There's nothing better than the feeling after a shutout."

Czerwinski, 6 foot 4, 168 pounds, said he started out at Somers known more for his basketball ability. But after his freshman year, he decided to make use of the summer to work more on baseball with the Ellington American Legion team.

Each year since, working with his father, Richard, and Legion coach Len Solesky, Czerwinski has increased his confidence and repertoire on the mound. Last summer, he raised eyebrows after he was clocked at 85 mph on the radar gun at a Cincinnati Reds camp in Middletown.

"That's tremendous [speed] for a high school pitcher. Even a college pitcher," Somers coach Peter Lewis said. "You throw that kind of fastball, then come back with a change or a curve? Wow."

Two years ago, Czerwinski was a .500 pitcher as the No. 1 starter on a 7-11 Somers team. Czerwinski let things bother him on the mound.


That summer, Czerwinski began to mature as an individual and a pitcher. He improved his curveball, split-finger fastball and changeups. The results were an 8- 2 record, including a no-hitter against Stafford and a 0.92 ERA as the Spartans shared the NCCC title, reaching the Class S semifinals.

"It just all clicked for Scott at the right time last year," teammate Sean Tabb said. "Since the beginning of last year, he's just been overpowering."

Czerwinski said he has more command of his pitches. He's not afraid to throw a curve or changeup at any point in the count.

"He's the easiest pitcher I've ever had a chance to catch," Somers catcher Carl Stebbins said. "The ball is never in the dirt."

Czerwinski, a B-/C+ student, decided this week to attend Eastern Connecticut and he may also play basketball.

Somers basketball coach John Bridge wonders what would happen if Czerwinski concentrated on basketball. Czerwinski scored more than 1,200 points and was a key player on two Class S champions (1992, '94). This past season, he averaged 24 points (up about 10), nine rebounds and five assists.


Still, most outsiders thought of Somers as Tabb's team. Tabb scored 2,000 points in his career, was a three-time All-Stater, and accepted a scholarship to the University of Hartford.

"[Tabb and I] were building for the same goal," Czerwinski said. "We've been friends forever and won't let something like [publicity] bother us. A lot of teams can't do that."

Two games stand out to Bridge.

* When Tabb was sick early in January and Czerwinski stepped up to score 33 points against Tolland, nearly pulling off a victory.

* Czerwinski sprained his right ankle in the quarterfinal victory over Putnam and could not walk the next day. He didn't practice the day after that. But he played through the pain the following day to finish with 13 points and 12 rebounds in a victory over Gilbert- Winsted.

"It was still hurting, but there was no way I was going to sit out," Czerwinski said. "I just wanted to go in there and do the little things."


Czerwinski, who made crucial free throws late in a triple- overtime victory over Haddam- Killingworth in the 1992 final, scored 17 points in the '94 championship game and often got the ball to Tabb, who had 34.

As much as Czerwinski has accomplished in basketball and baseball, he said his junior soccer season may be his best athletic season.

Soccer is a sport he plays three months a year, no more. Yet, Czerwinski scored six goals his sophomore season, then 13 his junior year to lead Somers to the Class S semifinals - the first time the school qualified for the tournament since 1979. He scored 14 in 1993.

Czerwinski gives a lot of credit to his father, who put in countless hours with Scott and his sisters Beth, Lynn and Amy, and brother Adam, who will be a freshman at Somers next year. Richard Czerwinski, who played soccer and baseball at the University of Rhode Island, always pushed Scott to do the best he could each day.

"I appreciate that now," Scott said. "You only come this way once."

Czerwinski's dream is playing professional baseball, but he knows only a select few get a chance. Scouts have told him he has the size and speed they like. Time will tell.


"I want to reach my full potential," Czerwinski said. "I'll do all I can to get to that point. If anything happens after that, it's a bonus because I've had so much fun playing all this time."