Inspired by Josiah Viera, Daniel Castano ties Spikes’ franchise record with 10 Ks

Daniel Castano leaned down and scribbled in the mound with his left hand before he threw a pitch Saturday night.

The State College Spikes pitcher repeated the same process between innings, putting the initials of State College honorary bench coach Josiah Viera into the dirt — something he added to his routine for his previous start to keep Viera, who suffers from a rare genetic disorder, in mind.

Castano drew Viera’s initials in the mound again at the start of the seventh inning before striking out the side to finish with 10 strikeouts, tying a single-game franchise record in the team’s 8-2 win over the Batavia Muckdogs at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

“It kind of keeps in perspective it’s just a game,” Castano said. “It’s just baseball. It’s a kids’ game, and he’s going through so much more. I get to play a game and have fun and not overthink or overwork and just do what I do best and just pitch the baseball.”

With his 10-strikeout performance, Castano joined Will Anderson (2014), Fernando Baez (2014), Juan Perez (2015) and Ronnie Williams (2016) in the Spikes’ record books and earned his third win in three starts in the New York-Penn League.

Castano has now recorded 25 strikeouts and allowed two walks in 21 innings this season.

“He’s been able to throw three pitches for strikes. He’s really been able to work his fastball to both sides of the plate,” Spikes manager Joe Kruzel said. “He’s a bulldog out there. He wants to be out there. He competes. He’s just got everything working right now.”

Coming off a nine-strikeout effort in eight innings Sunday against Mahoning Valley, Castano turned in another brilliant performance in his first start at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Viera told Castano to write his initials in the mound before the road game against Mahoning Valley, and Castano stuck with the addition to his routine Saturday night with Viera in the dugout.

The left-hander credited Viera, his Christian faith and catcher Josh Lopez for his success this season after going 2-5 with a 6.19 ERA with Rookie-level Johnson City last season.

“The biggest thing for me was growing in my faith,” Castano said. “That was the turning point for me because that changed my whole perspective of baseball and life. Then having someone like Josiah just to back everything that I’ve been working on in my Christian faith has just been unbelievable.”

Castano and Viera both wear cross necklaces, and the pitcher had his on after the game as he talked about his record-setting strikeout performance.

“He’s capable of doing that,” Kruzel said. “He really is — especially the way he’s going right now, the way he’s feeling, so hopefully he can maintain it.”

This story was originally published July 1, 2017 at 11:15 PM with the headline "Inspired by Josiah Viera, Daniel Castano ties Spikes’ franchise record with 10 Ks."