The University of Akron Athletics
Zips Profile: Senior Pat Gliha
March 27 | Baseball
With just six more outings, you will set the school's all-time record for most pitching appearances in a career - surpassing Joe Header, who took the hill 64 times from 1995-98. What will reaching that milestone mean to you?
"Coming in, I never thought I would even come close to having 70
appearances. But it is a big deal to me. Heading into the season, I
knew that I was close and I think a record like that shows that
I've proven myself over the years and worked hard. I had a rough
sophomore year and that kind of motivated me to come back and put
up a pretty good season last year. I've been working hard and when
it happens I'll be pretty happy about it. It'll be a nice milestone
to look back on."
Being one of only two seniors on the pitching staff and one of just
three on the team, talk about your role as a leader.
"We have a lot of young guys who are contributing already. Guys
like Zach Yike (Kettering,
Ohio/Kettering Fairmont) and Jake Plata (Parma,
Ohio/Padua Franciscan) have been throwing a lot and in the field we
have a lot of guys who are getting playing time and I think the
future is bright. I just try to pass on what I've learned over the
past few years and help them learn why we've struggled in the past.
Hopefully they'll be able to create a winning tradition here. And I
think they're already on their way."
You went to the same high school (Villa Angela-St. Joseph)
as redshirt freshman Steven Zemanek II. How
active a role did you have in recruiting him?
"Actually, Steve and I went to the same grade school too so we go
way back to about 1st grade. When (former UA coach Tim) Berenyi
started to recruit Steve, I made phone calls pretty regularly to
him to talk about it. I'd like to think that I had some role in him
coming here. "
Now that he's here, have you been showing him the
ropes?
"I think he knows the ropes pretty well on his own. He's proving to
be a pretty good pitcher. I try to teach him what I can, but he's
got it pretty well figured out."
Are there any similarities between the Steve and
you?
"We're both pretty laid back, but he probably goofs around a little
more than I do. He doesn't take things too seriously but when he's
on the mound, he's a good pitcher and will be good for a long
time."
During your career, you've started games, you've provided
middle relief and you've closed. Which do you prefer?
"I don't really have a preference. I feel comfortable doing either
one of the three. Personally, I think I'm better suited for the
bullpen because my arm tends to bounce back pretty quickly. But any
way I can help the team is the way I like to go about it."
Finish this sentence: The best thing about Euclid, Ohio
is…
"I would say the best thing about Euclid, Ohio is Lake Erie. I love
going up to the lake and spending time on the beach. A lot of my
friends have boats and jet skis. If there isn't anything going on,
it's always fun to go sit around on the beach and enjoy the
water."
You don't normally hear Lake Erie mentioned as a hot beach
spot.
"Hey, beggars can't be choosers."
Which do you prefer to watch, the NCAA Basketball
Tournament or the MLB World Series?
"I'd have to say the World Series. I'm not a huge college
basketball fan in general. Hopefully the Indians won't break my
heart again this year and find their way there."
What's the better vacation spot: the Caribbeans or Las
Vegas?
"Well, I've been to Vegas but not since I turned 21. But I'll have
to go with the Caribbeans. Actually I'm going on a cruise to the
Caribbeans this summer as part of a graduation thing and am really
looking forward to that."
Do you have any superstitions when it comes to
baseball?
"I try not to be too superstitious. Every now and then if I find
something that works and we're winning I'll keep doing it. I wore
the same shirt for all nine games during our winning streak. It
just happened that I wore it a few days in a row and we kept
winning and I decided I better not take it off. But in general, I
try not to be too superstitious and create my own luck."
What TV show do you have to see each week?
"The Familty Guy. Without a doubt."
Are you someone who would rather read the book or rent the
movie?
"Coming into college I was more of a rent-the-movie guy, but I've
kind of made the transition over time. I read a little bit more now
than I did back then, but I could still go either way depending on
what the movie or book is."
What is your favorite book?
"Right now, I'm reading Barack Obama's book, The Audacity of Hope
and I'm really enjoying that."
You're going to graduate with a degree in political science
this spring. Other than yourself, which one of your teammates would
make the best politician?
"I'd probably have to go with my roommate Doug McNulty (Homer
City, Pa./Homer-Center) because he'll talk forever. He's definitely
the friendly, talk-your-ear-off guy."
If you weren't playing baseball, what sport would you be
playing?
"I played football in high school but ended up not being that good
because I was small. So honestly, I'd probably be spending my days
at the golf course."
Who's funnier, Will Ferrell or Jim Carrey?
"Will Ferrell."
Who's the funniest guy on the team?
"Scott Gunn's (Toledo,
Ohio/St. Francis de Sales) got some pretty good lines every now and
then. He'll burn you if you're not careful."
Compare this year's team to other team's you've been on at
Akron.
"I think one of the biggest differences between the team this year
and teams in the past is our confidence level. At the end of the
game, we know we're going to win and we know we're going to be in
every ball game. I think last year, we'd get down five or six runs
early and we didn't think we could come back. This year, we know
the hitters are going to pick up the pitchers and the pitchers are
going to pick up the hitters. We're really working as a team this
year and that's the biggest difference."
What are your plans after graduation?
"I've already taken a job in the Akron area with 21st Century
Financial. It has nothing to do with my major, which is kind of
weird, but that's my plan right now. So I'll be in the area to
cheer on the Zips next year."
Gliha and the Zips open a five-game homestand Wednesday at Lee
Jackson Field when Cleveland State comes to town for a single game
stating at 3 p.m.
