MMI Prep junior baseball player Adam Frask hit for the cycle — in only five innings — in the Preppers’ 12-0 win over Susquehanna in the District 2 Class A championship game. He led off the game with an inside-the-park home run, doubled in the top of the third inning, hit a single in the fourth and drove a triple to the gap in right-centerfield in the fifth. He also stole home following his triple for MMI’s 12th and final run and made an fine over-the-shoulder catch to end the game.
Athlete of the Week: Adam Frask
Nickname: Frasky
Age: 17
School: MMI Prep
Class: Junior
Hometown: Drums
Family: Mother, Hope; father, Corey; brothers, Carter, 23, Noah, 21
Sport: Baseball
Other sports you play or have played: Soccer, basketball
Favorite team: New York Yankees
Favorite athlete: Anthony Volpe
Favorite school subject: History
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite hobby: Golf
Favorite movie: “Maze Runner”
Favorite TV show: “The Simpsons”
Favorite pump-up song: “2055” by Sleepy Hallow
Best advice you ever received: “Keep working; the day will come.”
Future plans: Four-year college
In your wildest dreams, did you ever envision hitting for the cycle in a game, let alone the district championship game?
I knew I had the talent to hit a cycle, but it came down to when it was gonna happen. I never imagined that it would have come when it did, but I’m thankful it came when it did to help my team bring home another (district) championship.
And to do it in only five innings…
I couldn’t have done it without my team. For me to get four at-bats in five innings, I needed everyone on my team to get on base any means necessary.
How much did hitting an inside-the-park home run in your first at-bat set the tone for the rest of your memorable game?
It set the tone for the entire game. Throughout the whole season our goal was to start early and that’s what I did. It motivated our whole team to finish the game as soon as possible.
How much were you trying to hit a triple in that last at-bat?
Extremely. I knew that’s what I needed. I saw my pitch and I went for it.
Did anyone mention that you were a triple away from the cycle?
Yes, a couple of my teammates were talking about it in the dugout, but they didn’t want to jinx it.
How big did the baseball look to you in that game?
Clear. I saw the baseball whether it was either batting or fielding.
How aware are you about how rare hitting for the cycle is?
In the moment I didn’t realize how rare it actually was. Through the excitement of the win, I wasn’t even thinking about what I just did.
According to our research, throwing a no-hitter is slightly rarer than hitting for the cycle. Yet, your teammate (Andrew Burns) pitched a no-hitter in the district final last year and you hit for the cycle in this year’s title game/ How bizarre is that?
We have talent and we come through in the big games. It doesn’t matter what players did in the regular season. Something ignites in all of the players and helps us win in these big games.
Team-wise, MMI has had a nice run of District 2 championships over the past decade. What do you attribute the Preppers’ success to?
We have great coaching and players who truly want to win. We have had great pitching in our wins in the championship (games), and that wasn’t any different than this year.
How much does the experience of playing in the state tournament help as you get ready for another PIAA first-round game?
We know what the pressure feels like. The seniors and Juniors have all been through this before and are ready to make a run this year.
Has your program reached the point where you’re not happy just to qualify for the state tournament?
We are grateful to be able to reach the state tournament, but we want to make a deep run this year and this is making us work harder in practice to get prepared.
What will it take to make a run at the PIAA championship?
We need to click on all cylinders. It’s not just the nine players in the lineup. It is everyone on the team.
Tell us something about Adam Frask that we don’t know about.
I thank God for all of the opportunities he gives me to achieve my goals everyday.
