43
Hillyer tames Poland bats
Photo
Poland players watch from the dugout as Springfield’s James Hillyer bats during the fourth inning of Monday’s game in New Middletown. Springfield won, 5-2.
By Ryan Buck
NEW MIDDLETOWN
On the eve of another highly anticipated season for the Springfield High baseball team, Coach Matt Weymer wanted to send his team a message.
After a team dinner, the Tigers sat down and, for the first time, watched a replay of their 2-1 defeat to Newark Catholic in last June’s Division IV state final at Huntington Park in Columbus.
“That’s a tough pill to swallow,” Weymer said. “It’s kind of like, ‘Bury the old and start anew.’
“I think it was good for everyone to watch that one time together, swallow that and come back.”
Senior pitcher James Hillyer’s performance along with timely hitting and flawless defense in Monday’s 5-2 victory over Poland told Weymer one thing: message received.
Hillyer, a reliever converted to starter, struck out 14 batters.
The bespectacled Hillyer, sporting a not-yet-impressive beard beneath a crooked, flat-billed Tigers cap, dominated the Bulldogs with an impressive fastball.
“I just went out there and threw the ball hard,” Hillyer said. “We’re really trying to get back to state. We had a really good time last year and we believe that we can get back.”
Hillyer struck out Jon Shurilla with two men on to escape a shaky first, then allowed two base runners through the next three innings.
Hunter Snyder’s walk and eventual run in the bottom of the first gave the Tigers an early lead.
In the second, Donald Donachie ripped Pat Carlozzi’s full-count offering into center field, scoring Jordon Peterson and Ian Grdina to put the Tigers ahead 3-0.
“Early on, we walked a few guys,” Poland coach Rich Murray said, “and if you get behind 3-0 to a team like [Springfield], it’s hard to come back.”
In the fourth, with Hillyer cruising, Springfield (1-0) added two more runs when Grdina walked and scored before Hunter Snyder, able to shake off a sore thumb from catching Hillyer, singled and scored on a throwing error.
The fifth inning finally saw Hillyer struggle.
Nick Maillis doubled to lead off the inning for Poland before scoring on a Dom Lipari single. Lipari later came around to score, prompting Weymer to pay a visit to the mound.
“[Weymer] came out there to make sure I was good,” Hillyer said. “He told me to pound the strike zone and throw hard. I really didn’t think about it too much and just blocked it out of my mind.
“I was feeling great the whole game.”
Again, he struck out Shurilla to end the inning.
Hillyer’s dominance, which came against the school he attended until his junior year, might have his coach considering a promotion.
“I think we’re going to have to slot him into the starter’s role, said Weymer, whose team is making the jump to Division III this season. “He came to us last year so it’s a little bit extra for him.
“He didn’t want to come out. I didn’t want him throwing 100 pitches out of the gate, but I don’t think he was coming out.”
Hillyer retired six of his last seven batters and finished the win with 110 pitches, 74 for strikes.
Poland (0-1) did manage to out-hit Springfield, 7-to-4.
“We were all really hyped up today,” Hillyer said. “We were so excited to play. We couldn’t wait to get on the field, get outside and play some baseball.”