Mihaljev’s set up on the pitcher’s mound takes little time, so as soon as the batter is prepped he deploys his explosive, sling-shot delivery.

One, two and three, Mihaljev’s right arm does the talking, and no batters are left at the plate - this is Welland’s latest pitching prodigy.

“I’ve always been into pitching since I started playing house league,” said Mihaljev. “I played a bit of second base last year, but I’ve always taken pitching clinics and worked on it. Pitching is my first love.”

At 16 years-old he’s already the go-to hurler on more than one pitching staff.

His high school squad, Notre Dame Fighting Irish, played through the baseball season undefeated, and coach Gregory Valovich didn’t think twice of starting him in the battle for the Zone 3 final against the Saint Michael Mustangs on May 21.

“Pitching is always one of our shortcomings here. We always have three pitchers, maybe a fourth if we’re lucky,” said Valovich. “With our team anyway. It’s always been our shortcoming. Joey’s been great for us. We’re looking forward to having him in our rotation next year.”

The Mustangs outlasted the Fighting Irish 2-0 and advanced to the Southern Ontario Secondary School Association championships.Mihaljev’s also a member of the Bullettproof Baseball Academy based in Welland run by former Major League Baseball outfielder Scott Bullett, who played ball for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs in the 1990s. Mihaljev is a closer on the Bullettproof Under-16 team. The U-16’s play in the Eastern Canadian Premier League and participate in tournaments in Ontario and the United States. Mihaljev and the U-16’s are essentially a feeder for the Bullett Proof Prospects Showcase team. It’s exactly the path Mihaljev wants to take, which he hopes will land him a scholarship to play baseball, and to study journalism.

“You learn a lot from these guys, because they have so much experience in the game,” he said. “It’s a good game, and if we can spread our name that would mean a lot to the next generation of players. There’s a bunch of teams and opportunities coming in now. Players are starting to get noticed around here.”

The 5-foot-10, 151-pound Mihaljev hasn’t suffered an injury because of pitching, and has begun a weight-lifting program at Notre Dame.

“My parents (John and Julianna) back me one hundred per cent, and do what they can to help me improve,” he said.

Mihaljev will look to follow in the foot steps of the other young pitching prospects that have passed through Notre Dame - Geoff Strong went on to Niagara University in New York on a scholarship and Robert Nixon, who pitched his way onto the Adelphi University (New York) baseball roster.

“Pitching use to be hit or miss at our level, but now that there’s baseball at Canadian universities. You can see the studs popping up in our league,” said Valovich. “Joey is one of ‘em.”