Thomas Jefferson on verge of 4A title

Four-hit gem by sophomore puts Spartans in control

By John Rosa, Special to the Rocky

Published May 16, 2008 at 9:29 p.m.

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Photo by Chris Schneider / The Rocky

Max Maloney of Thomas Jefferson is hit by a pitch during the second inning against Fossil Ridge on Friday in Lakewood.

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With Fossil Ridge's Cory McEvoy taking the mound in a Class 4A semifinal, there was a good chance that fans were going to see a dominant pitching performance at All-Star Park on Friday afternoon.

That turned out to be the case, but it wasn't McEvoy doing the dominating. Instead, it was unheralded sophomore Brennan Henry of Thomas Jefferson who turned in the gem, and he has the Spartans on the verge of winning their first state baseball title since 1967.

The left-handed Henry tossed a four-hitter and allowed only one unearned run as Thomas Jefferson cruised to a 13-1 five-inning victory against the SaberCats.

The Spartans (23-2) remain unbeaten in the double-elimination tournament and will have two opportunities to win the state title today against Ralston Valley at All City Field.

"I'm really glad we got this game," Henry said. "Now, Ralston Valley has to beat us twice. I'm really looking forward to it."

Henry's performance might seem improbable, considering he was roughed up in his previous Championship Series appearance and that he was playing with a hairline fracture in his throwing hand.

He also was opposing the previously unbeaten McEvoy, who had struck out 16 in a three-hit shutout against Conifer in his previous outing.

But Thomas Jefferson jumped on McEvoy early, putting up six runs on the University of Oregon-bound senior in the first two innings and knocking him out of the game.

Henry, meanwhile, never allowed the Fossil Ridge offense to find a rhythm. The SaberCats (18-6) scored an unearned run on Alex Gianopoulos' RBI double in the second but otherwise had only one other base- runner reach second base.

"The kid's pitching with a broken hand," Spartans' leadoff hitter Dylan Smith said of Henry. "I don't know what to say about him. Last weekend, he was a little shaky because he was nervous, but he came out and did a great job (Friday)."

The Spartans scored runs in all but one inning. Smith scored three runs, and Michael Mankoff went 2-for-3 with three RBI. Smith and Brett Nathan each added two RBI for TJ.

The Spartans already have beaten the Mustangs twice this season, as well as the past six times the teams have met.

"That makes me nervous," Thomas Jefferson coach Tory Humphrey admitted. "We don't want to repeat what happened last year (when TJ lost its final two contests), so we've been playing every game like it's an elimination game, and that's what we have to do."

Thomas Jefferson245 02 - 13 10 1

Fossil Ridge010 00 - 1 4 1

TJ (ab-r-h-rbi) - Dylan Smith lf 2-3-1-2, Tyler Thornton ss 3-2-1-0, Brett Nathan 2b 4-2-2-2, Michael Mankoff dh 3-1-2-3, Kian Jost cf 2-1-0-1, Matthew Mankoff 1b 3-1-0-0, Cooper Hearne rf 3-0-2-2, Devon Fitzgerald 3b 2-2-1-0, Max Maloney c 3-1-1-0. Totals 25-13-10-10. Pitching (ip-r-er-h-bb- k) - Brennan Henry (W) 5-1-0-4-2-2.

FR - Nick Billinger 2b 3-0-1-0, Andrew Pappas c 3-0-1-0, Adam Leverette ss 2-0-0-0, Cory McEvoy p 1-0-0-0, Michael Stohlgren p 1-0-0-0, Ryan Culley rf 1-0-0-0, Adam Follett cf 2-0-1-0, Jared Todd 3b 1-1-0-0, Alex Gianopoulos 1b 2-0-1-1, Jay Rollinson lf 2-0-0-0 Totals 18-1-4-1. Pitching - Cory McEvoy (L) 2-6-6-3-2-3, Luke Dorlac 2/3-5-4-4-1-1, Mike Stohlgren 11/3-2-2-3-2-1, Trey Tracy 1-0-0-0-0.

LOB - Thomas Jefferson 7, Fossil Ridge 4. 2B - Gianopoulos, Smith, Mi. Mankoff, Hearne. SAC - Jost. SB - Thornton, Mi. Mankoff, Fitzgerald.

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