Jefferson County – You might think a three-sport standout like Mark Schaffer has run out of things to accomplish.
The senior, who quarterbacked the D’Evelyn Jaguars’ football team and was an all-state selection in basketball, managed two more career firsts during Wednesday’s 5-4 victory over Evergreen.
Schaffer launched his first varsity home run in the first inning, a two-run shot to left field, and then pitched into the seventh inning for his longest outing in the Class 4A Jefferson County League opener for both teams.
“I was ready to pull him, but when you’re talking about a kid that loves to compete …,” Jaguars coach Dan Porreco said.
It nearly backfired.
After giving up a walk and single to start the seventh, Schaffer was tagged for a run-scoring double by Cougars catcher Josh Dufford and finally had to give way to reliever Chris Milburn.
Milburn closed the deal but not after the Cougars added two more runs and had the tying run on second. Schaffer improved to 3-0 and the Jaguars (7-1) won their seventh straight while Evergreen dropped to 7-3.
“I lost confidence in one of my pitches and I was about to shake it off but I thought, ‘What the heck,”‘ Schaffer said of his pitch to Dufford.
It was one of those games for both squads, which combined for just five RBIs and five errors – including one on a bizarre play in the fifth when the ball got stuck in the webbing of Evergreen first baseman Davis Frease’s glove and two runs scored.
With two Jaguars aboard, Aldi Ozols hit a grounder and was thrown out at first, but Frease couldn’t get the ball out. D.J. Pannel came home and courtesy runner Sean Rebek came around from second just before Frease got the ball loose and threw it behind Dufford as the Jaguars went up 4-1.
“That’s unfortunate because they score two runs off a play without having the ball leave the infield,” Cougars coach Terry Hensley said.
Schaffer was 2-for-2 with a walk and allowed four hits and struck out nine.
Evergreen 000 010 3 – 4 5 2
D’Evelyn 200 021 x – 5 7 3
Evergreen – Coe 2b 3-1-1-0, Jones 3b 4-1-0-0, Dufford c 2-1-1-1, Fithian rf 4-0-1-1, Frease 1b 4-0-1-1, Kelly sp-cf 0-0-0-0, Harris dh 4-0-1-0, Murphy ss-rp 2-0-0-0, Vickstrom lf-ss 3-0-0-0, Coalmer cf-lf-pr 2-1-0-0, Coffer ph 0-0-0-0. Totals 28-4-5-3.
D’Evelyn – Sylvester c 4-0-0-0, Pannel 2b 4-2-2-0, Schaffer sp-3b 2-1-2-2, Ozols lf 2-0-0-0, Baldassari rf 3-0-2-0, Gesell ss 3-0-0-0, Matheson cf 2-1-0-0, Wilson 3b-1b 2-0-0-0, Boyer 1b 2-0-1-0, Rebek cr 0-1-0-0, Barber ph 0-0-0-0, Milburn rp 0-0-0-0. Totals 24-5-7-2.
E – Frease, Fithian; Ozols, Schaffer, Sylvester. LOB – Evergreen 8, D’Evelyn 6. SB – Dufford, Jones; Matheson, Barber. SAC – Wilson.
2B – Dufford; Pannel 2. HR – Schaffer (one on in first).
Batteries – Kelly, Murphy (5) and Dufford; Schaffer, Milburn (7) and Sylvester. W – Schaffer (3-0). L – Kelly (3-2). HBP – Dufford (by Schaffer in first). WP – Kelly, Murphy. T – 2:06.
