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Langley's McLindon a striking success
The bottom of the seventh inning in a two-run, rain-soaked district game isn't exactly the ideal time to try something new, but then again, if you're regular closer is unable to go, that option really doesn't exist.The Langley baseball team welcomed that new option Monday night in a 4-2 Liberty District win over South Lakes, as senior second baseman Jack McLindon earned the first save -- and inning pitched -- of his high school career.
“That's the first time I pitched in high school,” said McLindon, who finished 2-for-2 with an RBI single, a stolen base and a walk. “I've always pitched for my summer teams, but we have a lot of guys who can pitch, so I've never got around to it.”
The primary job for a closer isn't always to light up the radar gun. Most closers who find success have an innate ability to pound the strike zone, and that's exactly what McLindon did from the outset.
McLindon needed only 11 pitches (10 strikes) to record a pair of strikeouts and a weak ground ball that he fielded himself.
“It was nice to see Jack come in and get the save,” said Langley coach Jeff Ferrell, whose team improved to 5-2 overall, 2-0 in the Liberty District. “That's the kind of role that he will be able to handle because he throws strikes.”
Added McLindon, “I don't even try to hit spots. I just throw it and it ends up in the strike zone.”
In a game that was loaded with twists and turns, the final swing came in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out and Langley senior Foster Dunigan -- who was Langley's closer last season until he suffered a back/hip injury that rendered him unable to pitch, but still play the field and hit -- leading off first base, South Lakes catcher Scott Reed was called for catcher's interference, awarding first base to Langley's Eddie Gonzalez.
Langley senior Chris Sievers was up next and hit a two-hop shot up the middle that was snared by South Lakes pitcher Ian Hostetler.
Hostetler surprisingly threw to third, and third baseman Paul Kirchner was unable to handle the throw. After the ball trickled away, Dunigan came around to score the winning run.
“We're not good enough to give teams extra outs,” said South Lakes coach Galvin Morris, whose team dropped to 0-3 overall, 0-2 in the Liberty District. “The best guy with the quickest hands is our shortstop. Get the ball to him and let him turn two.”
South Lakes came out of the gate swinging, as Reed's first-inning double to the opposite field drove in two. However, the Seahawks cooled off and Langley pitcher Jody Davis (6 IP, 2 ER, 7K and 2 BB) retired the following 10 batters after Reed's double.
“We got a little undisciplined at the plate, and we started chasing balls up,” said Morris, whose team will host Stone Bridge Friday at 7 p.m. “If we get a bunt down, or we execute or stopping chasing balls up, that puts a little bit more pressure on them defensively, but we just couldn't get it done.”
Langley will travel to Marshall Friday for a 7 p.m. affair.
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