M-P’s Thomas sparkles in first varsity start
Published 10:58 pm Tuesday, April 7, 2009
MARYSVILLE — Mere inches.
That’s all that stopped sophomore Jacob Thomas from tossing a shutout in his debut as a varsity starter. But in the end, a 6-2 win was just fine with the left-hander.
Thomas limited the Monroe Bearcats to one hit and no runs through six innings Tuesday and went the distance in the Marysville-Pilchuck High School baseball team’s Western Conference North Division triumph. Marysville-Pilchuck committed two throwing errors in the top of the seventh inning that led to both Monroe runs.
The second miscue came with two outs, when third baseman Tyler Holm’s high throw skipped off Devin Peterson’s glove. In the next at-bat, Bearcats designated hitter Aaron Hatch, playing in his first varsity game, knocked in Monroe’s first run of the game with a single.
Monroe (2-4 Wesco North, 3-7 overall) cut the deficit to four runs, but first-place M-P (5-0, 6-1) still increased its winning streak to five games.
“He did fantastic,” M-P coach Kurt Koshelnik said of Thomas, who allowed one earned run on three hits with one walk and three strikeouts. “That’s his third appearance for us and it’s getting better every time.”
Last year Thomas was on the Tomahawks C team. This spring during tryouts he leapfrogged junior varsity and landed a varsity slot. The difference in skill level is eye-opening, Thomas said, but he felt like he belonged Tuesday.
“The (warm) weather helped out a lot with my arm,” he said. “I was a little bit nervous, but after that (1-2-3) first inning I felt really good and kept going.”
Monroe was hitless until the fourth inning. With two out, Trevor Judson smacked a grounder up the middle. But Thomas retired the next eight Bearcats hitters, needing just seven pitches to get rid of the first five.
“I was hitting the corners and (had) good location,” said Thomas, who praised his defense. In the field, M-P flawlessly supported its pitcher through six innings. Outfielders Kyle Pace (left field), Austin Denton (center field) and Levi Cartas (right field) made several nice running catches and line-drive snares.
Shaky fielding hurt Monroe, especially early. A throwing error in the first inning helped M-P score first. Cartas hustled for a leadoff double and got to third on the miscue. Denton (2-for-3, two RBI) tripled to the right-field corner, driving in Cartas.
In addition to two fielding errors, Monroe had some costly wild pitches and passed balls. “It’s just guys not making the plays that they normally would make,” Monroe coach Neil Henderson said.
Monroe starting pitcher Jacob Reppert (2-2) allowed five hits and five runs in five innings.
In the first game of the teams’ two-game series, M-P prevailed 11-2 Friday at Marshall Field in Monroe. Despite losing 13 seniors from its 2008 team, the Tomahawks are rolling. It’s no shock considering the program’s JV team went 19-0 last year.
“They’re right at the top,” Henderson said. “They have hitting, all nine guys. It’s tough to keep them in check.”
At Marysville-Pilchuck H.S.
Monroe0000002—232
M-P200121x—652
Reppert, Petersen (6) and Judson. Thomas and Keister. WP-Thomas (1-0). LP-Reppert (2-2). 2B-Cartas (M-P), Peterson (M-P). 3B-Denton (M-P). Records-Monroe 2-4 in division, 3-7 overall. Marysville-Pilchuck 5-0, 6-1.
Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
