LEGION BASEBALL: Tuned in to the task at hand ... Austin DeBoer follows in father, Brett's footsteps on the pitching mound

By JASON ELLIOTT

Sports writer

When it comes to being on the pitching mound, Austin DeBoer and his dad, Brett, are a lot alike.

In those key moments, it’s that song in their head that helps them push through.

As for what that tune is …

“I’ll listen to a lot of techno music before I pitch,” Austin DeBoer said. “Just hard beats. Whenever I get in trouble, I’ll think of a blues song or a Beatles song. Something smooth to calm my brain down.”

As for Brett …

“I listened to ‘Thunderstruck by AC/DC’ before my high school state championship start in 1993 at Lakeland,” Brett DeBoer said. “It was in my head that day for sure and got me going.”

But for the most part, Austin often tunes out the music in between innings.

“I just try to keep it within my own mind,” Austin DeBoer said. “I just try to keep with my own stuff.”

And that’s where dad might differ.

“I’m sure Austin has some tunes in his head as well,” Brett DeBoer said. “It might as well be an entire symphony.”

Brett DeBoer was selected in the 46th round of the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft in 1996 by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“My dad always taught me to not just throw, but more pitch,” Austin DeBoer said. “He told me to be a pitcher and not just someone that can throw. Make sure to keep eye contact with the hitter and always point at their chest, and try to intimidate them.”

Austin went undrafted in last week’s draft after graduating from Post Falls High in June.

“When I went to the Area Code games, I had Jim Coffman (an area scout) with the Athletics that was reaching out to me,” Austin DeBoer said. “He told me he was going to come to one of our spring games. Both him and a Twins scout came out to our Coeur d’Alene game and they reached out to me, but were more talking to the coaches, trying to figure out who I was. They were sending me links to stuff to fill out questionnaires for the teams and that stuff.”

Both left-handed pitchers, Brett sees a little of himself in Austin on the mound.

“He’s a really passionate player about baseball and wants the ball in his hand,” Brett DeBoer said. “He’s been working on his endurance, quality of starts and limiting his pitches and command. He’s trying to work fast and be efficient. I try to tell him 12 pitches or less, and I always wanted to be in control and limit the other team.”

DeBoer is 3-0 this season for the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen, with 35 strikeouts in 28.1 innings.

“I just try to preach to him to be a commanding starter,” Brett DeBoer said. “He’s kind of worked on that and you see it in the way he’s battled through some adversity. Before, he’d let the emotions get the best of him. Now, he’s more collected.”

BRETT, AND now Austin, have been coached by Darren Taylor at the Legion baseball level, with Brett playing at Prairie and Austin joining the Coeur d’Alene Lumbermen for the 2024 season.

“The past few years I’ve been playing summer club ball with the Spokane Expos, coach (Pat) Capoe at North Idaho Legends — which isn’t a team anymore — and the Spokane Crew,” Austin DeBoer said. “Coach Taylor convinced me to join with this and told me about the organization. Both my dad and brother played legion, so I thought I’d give it a shot. And it’s been a good experience. I’m a second generation player, so I think he holds me to an expectation because of my dad. And my dad holds me to that too. Darren coaching me has been a blessing. He’s a great coach and I love his philosophies that he’s got going, along with his old school coaching.”

Taylor added that while Austin is more coveted for his pitching, he’s just as good in the field.

“I see Austin more of a position player, but he’s a really good pitcher,” Taylor said. “Austin might throw harder than his dad. But that was so long ago, and Brett would say the same thing. Brett got into the 90s when he was drafted, had amazing control — like pin-point control — and threw a sinker/fastball that was really hard to hit. He was an automatic ‘W’ every time we sent him to the rubber.”

And Austin has learned quickly from Taylor that establishing a pace on the mound can help extend his starts.

He’s kind of instilled in me to compete, even if you’re struggling, as much as you can,” Austin DeBoer said. “Don’t just let up. Know that you’re having a bad day, just give it your all and compete the best you can, even if it’s your ‘B’ stuff.”

Austin DeBoer committed to play at Washington State in the spring, but has since reopened his recruiting.

“Work and school and trying to figure out what school I’m going to go to has been a challenge. I haven’t been able to make every tournament, but I try as much as possible. But it’s been a good experience. It’s more bondage than a summer club where it’s a bunch of kids from different places.”

Austin has not settled on a school quite yet, but is getting close.

“I was committed to Washington State, but decommitted,” DeBoer said. “I just decided to save some money and felt like since I only had a 50% scholarship, I wanted to save those two years at a JUCO and get my associates (degree) and try to get drafted from there and try my luck there. If not, get my grades going and maybe get a full ride somewhere else, or even at Washington State.”

DeBoer is leaning toward San Diego Mesa, a community college in San Diego.

“I’ve been talking to the coaches and trying to figure out the tuition,” DeBoer said. “(Pat) Capone, who I played for at Idaho Legends, he’s the coach over there with coach (Jake) Portugal, who coached with Nathan Choate at Washington State. Washington State reached out to them and they said it would be a good fit for me.”

COEUR d’ALENE (20-14) opens the state ‘AA’ tournament on Friday at Halliwell Park in Pocatello against the winner of today’s game between defending champion Pocatello and Hillcrest.

“I’ve never played for a state legion title, and we’ve never won one,” Austin DeBoer said. “So it’s great to be a part of a team that has an opportunity to do that. We’ve got six solid pitchers throughout our rotation and our entire lineup can hit 1-9. Even the guys that come off the bench are ready to play and give a lot of effort when they come in.”

Coeur d’Alene last advanced to the Northwest Regional tournament in 1979. This year’s tournament is in Billings, Mont., Aug. 7-11.

“We’re playing really well right now,” Austin DeBoer said. “We can figure it out and adjust.”

    MARK NELKE/Press Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen pitcher Austin DeBoer throws a pitch during a recent game at Thorco Field.
  

    MARK NELKE/Press Coeur d'Alene Lumbermen pitcher Austin DeBoer.