Now playing college ball, former Comet centerfielder steals a base per game

By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

No athlete wants to finish a season knowing that he left anything on the field.

At the end of his 2007 season, Kyle Olasin made sure that nobody would make the mistake of thinking he did.

Olasin ended his season with Enterprise-Osark Community College (Ala.) with a bang – in his final series of the year, his best game included a 5-5 performance in which he scored two runs and had three stolen bases.

It’s nothing new to those in the River Parishes who followed his career at St. Charles, where he roamed centerfield at Comet Field. Olasin was named to the All-State team as a first team outfielder in 2006, his senior year, as he helped St. Charles get to the state semifinals, where it took Ouachita Christian to 10 innings and almost reached the state championship game.

&#8220We went through a lot on that team,” Olasin said of his time as a Comet. &#8220The coaches helped us believe in ourselves, got us to the next level. Some of us were struggling. I was struggling, and they helped us through it. We started 4-3, looked like we were going nowhere, and we ended up going places that year.”

Olasin has not missed a beat in his first year of college ball. He hit .453, placing second among batters in his division and first on his team. He did not commit an error in any of his team’s 37 games, and had 22 multi-hit games.

But on the basepaths, Olasin was truly a thorn in the side in the opposition. He maintained an incredible pace, stealing 37 bases in 37 games.

Olasin said that his confidence level once he reaches base allows him his success.

&#8220You just have to tell yourself that you can do it,” Olasin said. &#8220I got to a point where I truly felt that nobody could throw me out. I used it to my advantage.”

Still, Olasin says that it is a meaningful step up in competition from high school ball.

&#8220The game moves a lot faster,” he said. &#8220It’s harder to go up and get a hit. Everyone brings good competition to the table, there are really no horrible teams where you can go and take an easy win.”

Olasin, who lists Andruw Jones of the Atlanta Braves and Ken Griffey Jr. of the Cincinatti Reds as major leaguers who have inspired him, now patrols centerfield for the New Orleans Spice, a team comprised of high school juniors, seniors, and college freshmen. In his final year with the Spice, he thinks they can once again take the Dizzy Dean World Series, just as they did last year.

&#8220We’re getting better and better,” Olasin said. &#8220I think we’ll get back to where we were.”