Swehla uses call-up with Renegades as second chance

Tyler Swehla already had a senior season to remember.

The recent Blair Oaks graduate threw in a combined no-hitter for the Falcons against Blue Springs in the Capital City Invitational. Then he pitched a complete-game no-hitter later this spring at Hallsville.

When Swehla walked off the mound with a no-decision in the sixth inning of the Falcons' 16-inning loss to Helias in the Class 4 District 9 championship game last month, in the back of his mind, he thought his pitching days were finished.

Then Swehla got a text message. It was from Jefferson City Renegades manager Mike DeMilia.

"He told me to come up to Iowa with them and pitch one game because they were really low on pitching," Swehla said. " It was a no-brainer. I was bored, I wanted to do something, and playing baseball is fun."

So Swehla caught a ride with one of the Renegades' assistant coaches to join the team in Clarinda, during the middle of a seven-game road trip earlier this month.

While Swehla was primarily a starting pitcher at Blair Oaks, he would be working strictly in the bullpen for the Renegades.

"He said I would come in and throw late innings, and just throw strikes," Swehla said.

It didn't take long for him to make his debut. On his first night with the team, the left-handed Swehla turned into a closer during game one of a June 9 doubleheader at Clarinda. He walked one and struck out two, pitching a scoreless seventh inning to close a 9-5 win for the Renegades.

"It went pretty well," Swehla said, "so they just asked me to keep pitching."

Swehla had not pitched since that district championship game May 16 in Sullivan. He admitted he was a little nervous stepping back on the mound for the first time in more than three weeks.

"I hadn't pitched off a mound since that district game," Swehla said. "I threw a lot that day (against Clarinda) before I even came in, so I felt pretty comfortable."

He felt so good, in fact, he also pitched in relief in the second game of the doubleheader, a 5-4 loss.

Swehla had heard the Renegades were starting up this season, but with a roster mostly of players coming off a season at college, he wasn't anticipating putting on a Renegades uniform this summer.

"I was really happy with the opportunity I got," Swehla said. "It was fun."

The decision to add Swehla to the roster was an easy one for DeMilia. The Renegades realized shortly after the season started they would be desperate for pitchers, whether it was because of injuries, innings limits or having a small bullpen on a road trip.

"We were running short on pitching and I know Tyler really well," DeMilia said. "He was interested, so we went from there. He did a great job up at Clarinda."

Swehla made his home debut for the Renegades three days later. He entered the game in the top of the ninth with the bases loaded and two outs. He only threw one pitch, getting a flyout to center field to strand all three runners in a 4-2 loss to Nevada.

Because of the number of players added to the roster after the start of the season, Swehla may have confused some fans who were looking at their program roster. He was given No. 23, which had belonged to Cody Creed at the beginning of the year.

"Rusty Creed, my assistant, he's in charge of that and he's shuffling through uniforms left and right," DeMilia said. "It's been a tough deal with the pitching, losing guys and then having to find guys. It is what it is. We're making the best of it."

In four appearances this season, Swehla has posted one of the lowest ERAs on the team. He has compiled 51/3 innings on the mound and has allowed three runs (one earned) for a 1.68 ERA. He has allowed four hits and four walks and still has those two strikeouts from his debut.

Swehla currently doesn't have plans to play college baseball next spring, but as he has already found out this summer, those plans could still change.

"I've had small schools (look at me)," Swehla said. "I haven't made my mind up yet. It's getting late, but I'll have to figure it out soon."