Someone to know: Argentina fastball pitcher Pablo Masmu

June 28, 2013

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ORIGINAL STORY by Bob Otto

 

Pablo Masmu, 20, is one of several talented foreign pitchers pitching for elite men’s fastpitch clubs in the U.S.

MASCOUTAH, ILL – In fastpitch softball, the U.S. is like a magnet pulling talented foreign pitchers to its ball diamonds eager to challenge the world’s elite hitters with their risers and drops, change-ups and curves.

Many foreign pitchers have established great careers in the U.S. such as White and Meredith, Mata and Folkard, Potolicchio and Gervasutti.

And now there’s Pablo Masmu. The 20-year-old from Argentina is pitching for Pete’s Blues of Mascoutah, Ill. And it looks like Pete’s found a gem.

His 2012 resume shines with success. The right-hander helped his country win the International Softball Federation (ISF) Junior Men’s World Championship in Parana, Argentina last November. Where he was chosen the ISF’s Most Valuable Player.

Three months earlier, Masmu helped Argentina (7-0) win the 2012 ISC Under-21 World Championship in Midland, Michigan. He was one of the tournament’s elite pitchers, earning All-World for his 4-0 record, 0.43 ERA, and 28 strikeouts in 16.1 innings.

Certainly he enjoyed a great 2012. But Masmu’s not resting on his laurels. He’s off to a great start this season. Recently he pitched Pete’s Blues to the championships of the Kelso Klassic, going 3-0 and allowing just four hits and no earned runs in 15 2/3 innings.

When the tournament awards were passed out, Masmu was chosen the Most Valuable Pitcher.

“Pablo is very mature and confident in the circle for a 20 year-old kid,” said Pete’s Blues infielder and coach Dave Perkins. “He threw a perfect game against a good Franny’s Ole Irish Pub from Springfield, IL, then held down a Bloomington Stix lineup (3-2) full of current and future Aussie Steelers for two games on Sunday. Every time Pablo steps in the circle, we have a chance to win.”

 

Let’s talk with Masmu and hear from Perkins, who is getting to know him pretty well.

Q: How did you get started in fastpitch? A: I started softball because in my city (Parana) there is no baseball. My dad, Ricardo Masmu, started me.

Q: Winning the ISF World Championship must have been a great experience, what was that like? A: Winning the world championship for the first time is an unforgettable experience that no Argentine will forget! We made the effort, dedication and time to the sport and love softball. It was a pleasure to see a few months after (the world championship) the softball fields full of boys beginning and interested in our sport! All our players who participated in the world championship are very popular.

Q: What was the competition like? A: We were aware that we were going to face the best in the world. All the teams are hard. But the goal was to beat USA, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Japan. For those are the best teams that are always the strongest and highest level in our sport. (Argentina went 9-0 and defeated Japan, 5-0, for the Gold Medal.)

Q: What do you like best about pitching for Pete’s Blues? A: I like the quality of people. All players are excellent people. I like how they play defense! I think the strongest point is that. But the batting is good and growing better tournament to tournament. There are players with experience willing to pass it on and all players’ level goes up.

Q: In the U.S. the ISC and NAFA are the top tournaments. What has that experience been like? A: With the (Argentina) national team, we participated last year in the ISC World Tournament in which we won one game, and proceeded to play in the ISC Under-21 championship. This year is the first time I’m going to play in the NAFA.

Q: What pitcher has impressed you? A: I am impressed by the speed and quality of Australian pitcher Adam Folkard.

And, added Perkins, he believes Masmu has a couple of good examples to follow from his own country:

“It is obvious that Pablo is determined to follow the example set by some of Argentina’s top arms like Juan Potolicchio and Sebastian Gervasutti who came to the U.S. at a young age to play an Open schedule, he said.

Q: All pitchers have a few hitters that give them trouble? Who gives you trouble? A: For me it is Brand Rona and Patrick Shannon because they are excellent hitters with lots of experience.

Perkins likes what he’s seen of Masmu’s focus in facing the game’s best hitters.

“Pablo has the unique ability to focus every single pitch through an entire lineup 1-9 for an entire game,” he said. “This minimizes or ideally eliminates the one mistake pitch that can change a game.”

Q: Are their any differences between fastpitch in Argentina and the United States? A: In Argentina there are fewer teams. Here, you find different teams and tournaments, all at a good level. And you find all the top players in the world playing here.   

Q: Have you set any goals in fastpitch? A: My goals are gathering experience, learn from the best, and to grow in this sport!

“He practices every day and has already established himself as a quiet leader on our veteran team,” Perkins said. “We are excited for Pablo and Erick Urbaneja (Venezuela pitcher) to push each other when Erick arrives just before the Boys of Summer tournament in Denmark, WI.”