Brett Nathan got up Wednesday morning with a stomach full of Christmas-like nerves.
But instead of unwrapping gifts or chugging eggnog, the Thomas Jefferson pitcher threw a gem and cracked two home runs as the Spartans rushed rival East 16-4.
Nathan scattered six hits over five innings while leading the Spartans (8-2, 2-0 DPL), ranked No. 1 in Class 4A, to their sixth straight victory thanks in part to two two-run homers to the opposite field.
“From the moment I wake up, I get dressed and come to school It’s hard to even come to school with that,” said Nathan of the excitement of playing the 5A Angels (8-4, 1-1).
Nathan improved to 4-1, striking out seven and was one of three Spartans to have three hits. Shortstop Tyler Thornton was a homerun shy of the cycle and No. 8 batter Dustin Burns was 3-for-3 and scored twice as all of TJ’s starting lineup touched home.
Nathan and left fielder Dylan Smith each drove in four runs for the junior-dominated Spartans, who grew up quickly last season with a surprise trip to the state tournament.
“There’s not too much pressure,” Burns said of watching the early hit parade. “You just go up, swing and have fun.”
East ace Chris Hayden didn’t have his usual velocity, and TJ jumped out to a 6-0 lead before chasing the tall left-hander in the third inning. Tagged for 11 runs on 10 hits, Hayden’s small consolation came with a towering two-run homer to right field in the bottom of the fifth.
The Angels committed three errors in the first inning and another in the second as the Spartans jumped out to a 12-1 lead heading
into the bottom of the third.
“No excuses. TJ came to play,” East coach Howard Karsh said. “They played very well. It was probably our worst game in five years, but give TJ credit.”
Thomas Jefferson 624 40 – 16 16 0
East 101 02 – 4 6 4
Thomas Jefferson – Smith lf 4-2-2-4, Thornton
ss 4-3-3-1, Nathan p 4-3-3-4, Mi. Mankoff rf
3-1-0-0, Jost 2b 2-1-1-1, Ma. Mankoff 1b 3-1-0-0,
Dillard dh 3-1-1-2, Hearne cf 1-0-0-0, Burns 3b
3-2-3-0, Freeland 3b 1-0-1-0, Maloney c 3-2-2-0,
Schueber ph 1-0-0-0, Allen lf 0-0-0-0, Blackburn ss
0-0-0-0, Hodapp 2b 0-0-0-0, Tinling rf 0-0-0-0. Totals
32-16-16-12.
East – A. Wilson 3b 2-0-0-0, Ca. Houston ph
0-1-0-0, Nathanson 1b 3-1-1-0, Hayden p-cf
3-1-2-3, Harlor cr 0-0-0-0, Prevedel lf 3-1-2-0, V.
Wilson ss-p 2-0-1-1, Sorenson c 1-0-0-0, Leaman-
Miller cf 2-0-0-0, Bridge dh 1-0-0-0, Wilkerson
c-p 0-0-0-0, Vera rf 1-0-0-0, Ferguson ss
1-0-0-0, Denton 2b 1-0-0-0. Totals 20-4-6-4.
E- Wilkerson 2, A. Wilson, Nathanson. LOB –
Thomas Jefferson 5, East 4. SB – Mi. Mankoff 2,
Nathan, Jost, Burns; Nathanson, V. Wilson,
Bridge.
2B – Thornton, Dillard, Burns, Maloney,
Prevedel 2. 3B – Smith, Thornton. HR – Nathan,
one on in first and one on in third; Hayden, one
on in fifth.
Batteries – Nathan and Maloney; Hayden, V.
Wilson (3), Wilkerson (5) and Wilkerson, Sorenson
(5).W-Nathan (4-1). L- Hayden (2-3). HBP
– Mi. Mankoff (by V. Wilson in third). WP – Hayden,
V. Wilson. PB – Maloney. T – 1:58.
