Always a solid catcher who swung a steady bat, Jordan Peplinski had hit a wall.

Twenty-five games into the season, Peplinski had managed just 9 hits in 45 trips to the plate. His defense and pitch-calling abilities were anchoring St. Mary's defense, but his bat was docile.

Jordan Peplinski

He had not counted on batting .200 his senior season. He was frustrated, and his coach noticed.

"I talked to him, and told him he's doing everything right mechanically," said Eagles' coach Steve Plamondon. "It was just one of those slumps you have to work through. I told him when they start to drop, they'll drop by the bucketful."

Prophetic.

Starting in a doubleheader at Buckley three weeks ago, Peplinski has been on a hitting tear that seems to defy the long-established percentages of baseball. He has pounded out 16 hits in 23 at bats — a .696 average — while knocking out five home runs.

Peplinski had previously hit two home runs as a sophomore, the season he transferred to St. Mary from Glen Lake, and none as a junior.

So what happened?

"I have no idea," said Peplinski. "I just started hitting the ball, and it started dropping in."

And over. Peplinski's home runs have been solid shots, generally to left center field. That's where a solo homer ended up against Traverse City St. Francis last Tuesday, and where his first of two went Saturday against Leland. His second shot sailed over the right center field fence.

Peplinski's hitting heroics have come at an opportune time for St. Mary, which went 3-0 in District play to capture its first title since 2004.

Plamondon took notice, moving Peplinski to the No. 2 hitting spot as his batting average steadily improved to .368, tied for third on the team with Michael Kalchik. Matt Pasch leads the 26-6 Eagles with a .413 average, followed by Colin Korson at .387.

Even when Peplinski wasn't getting on base, he was important to St. Mary for his ability to keep opposing teams off the basepaths.

"I knew he was down in the dumps about his hitting," said Plamondon.

"But he's so valuable to us behind the plate because he blocks balls, his strong arm throws out runners and he can call the right pitch."

Even during his present hitting steak, Peplinski considers donning a mask and squatting in the dirt behind home plate — the blue collar side of baseball — to be his favorite part of the sport.

"You're always in the middle of everything," said Peplinski of his role as catcher. "That's fun. I learned how to call a game from going to camps and the managers, and just from being around baseball."

While Peplinski realizes that in the state tournament every game could be his last for organized baseball, he has a collegiate athletic career waiting for him. He is enrolled in Hope College, where he was recruited to play football after completing his prep career with Suttons Bay High School. A three-sport star, Peplinski earned letters in basketball from St. Mary.

Peplinski also plans to hit the books. The son of George and Denise Peplinski of Cedar, he graduated Sunday from St. Mary with a 3.4 grade point average.

But for now, he would like to see the Eagles advance as far as possible in the state tournament.

"I know we have to play a good team (Holton) in the Regional. But it's a lot of fun."