WSU notes: Mikel Mucha still getting bigger, better in Shockers’ outfield

Outfielder Mikel Mucha arrived at Wichita State in 2011 fueled by Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and weighing around 140 pounds.

“The fans, the first fall World Series game, said I needed to be wearing bricks in my pockets so the wind didn’t take me,” he said.

Mucha, now a fifth-year senior, is about 45 pounds heavier and blowing through his final fall practices with skill and power. He is WSU’s best defensive outfielder and coach Todd Butler is debating whether he fits better hitting second or third.

Mucha got to this place with hard work, after rehabbing a broken leg that cost him his 2014 season, and with much less cheese powder on his fingertips than in previous years. He cut out most of the fast food and junk food from his diet to help his strength and conditioning. Flamin’ Hot Cheetos tested his will power more than any other food.

“I’m still struggling to give those up,” he said. “I like hot foods a lot. I’d crush a bag a day, pretty much. I had to cut those out.”

The Shockers begin their best-of-5 fall scrimmage series on Thursday (6 p.m.) at Eck Stadium. Mucha will likely patrol center field and hit high in the batting order. Butler points to Mucha as a good example of how he wants his young outfielders to work and play.

“He is our best outfielder, as far as going and getting the ball, diving and making catches,” Butler said. “When the ball is hit, you actually think he is going to get to everything. He can hit with two strikes, he can bunt on you and he drive the ball out of the park at times.”

Mucha, now up to around 190 pounds, started 46 games last season and hit .313 with nine doubles. He credits assistant coaches Brian Walker and Mike Sirianni with improving the leverage in his swing. Combine those changes with added strength and his bat produces more pop.

“He’s a different guy at the plate – he’s got more gap-to-gap power,” shortstop Tanner Kirk said.

Mucha broke his left leg early in the 2014 season. He played all of 2015, but wasn’t full speed. This summer, he began to run without a hitch.

“I’m finally back to 100 percent, running down balls in the gap and it’s been a lot better,” he said.

Run through the Valley – By Saturday evening, WSU cross country coach Kirk Hunter will know much about where his team fits into the Missouri Valley Conference power structure.

The Shockers join defending MVC women’s champion Bradley and defending men’s champion Indiana State in the Pre-National meet in Louisville, Ky., on Saturday. On Friday, Illinois State, Loyola, Drake and Northern Iowa compete in the Bradley Classic in Peoria, Ill. (in which Bradley will run its second string).

The WSU men, ranked No. 8 in the Midwest Region, are the highest ranked MVC team. Bradley’s women are No. 4 regionally, with WSU next at No. 9.

“When the races are over, I’ll just take everybody that’s not in the Valley out of the equation and I’ll look at where we placed,” Hunter said. “Head-to-head competition, we’ll have a great idea of where we’re at.”

Hunter scaled back the demands on his top runners in September, aiming for a full effort earlier this month at the Chile Pepper Festival in Arkansas. Saturday is their next big meet and Hunter wants his scheduling to keep legs fresh for MVC Championships on Oct. 31.

“We went to Chile Pepper and opened up really well,” he said. “That’s a good indicator that, so far, we feel like it’s headed in the right direction.”

Bennett honored – WSU junior Grant Bennett earned MVC golfer of the week honors after winning the Bill Ross Intercollegiate with a career-best 206 in the 54-hole tournament. It was Bennett’s first win as a collegian.

This story was originally published October 14, 2015 at 6:11 PM with the headline "WSU notes: Mikel Mucha still getting bigger, better in Shockers’ outfield."