After the Port Townsend High School boys’ baseball team lost April 9 to Chimacum 1-12, there was no reason to think its losing streak would be broken April 13.
“Well, it finally happened on …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you had an active account on our previous website, then you have an account here. Simply reset your password to regain access to your account.
If you did not have an account on our previous website, but are a current print subscriber, click here to set up your website account.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
* Having trouble? Call our circulation department at 360-385-2900, or email our support.
Please log in to continue |
|
After the Port Townsend High School boys’ baseball team lost April 9 to Chimacum 1-12, there was no reason to think its losing streak would be broken April 13.
“Well, it finally happened on Friday the 13th,” PT coach Lamont Thornton said.
It had not happened in the preceding 1,439 days, but the Redhawks baseball team notched its first win in almost four years, beating Klahowya by a score of 6-2.
“We knew this day would come eventually, but with the ebbs and flows of the game, it’s hard to know when,” Thornton said.
While Thornton conceded his players were guilty of some “lackluster efforts” this season, he hastened to add they have “come out of the blue” with some exceptional performances, as well.
“As was the case this week, coming off a bad loss to crosstown rival Chimacum,” Thornton said. “Our score against Chimacum could have been way worse, but their head coach recognized PT was totally overmatched and basically called off the dogs.”
Thornton offered high praise for the Chimacum baseball team, describing them as “the best team in our league,” and noted PT went into its April 9 game undermanned due to “eligibility issues” and the illnesses of some key players.
“I have been saying all year that if we could just get everyone healthy and eligible, we have enough to win,” Thornton said. “That all came together April 13.”
When Thornton took the team roll call the day before the April 13 game, he asked who wanted the ball against Klahowya, and it was senior Marc Evans.
“Marc put the entire team on his back and carried us to our destiny,” Thornton said. “I will be talking about this day, and using Marc’s guts and determination as an example of what it takes to win, for the rest of my coaching career.”
Thornton deemed the Redhawks’ defense as “better than it had been, but still far from perfect,” and credited Evans with not blinking, even in the face of fielding errors from his teammates.
“After coming back to the dugout in the fifth, after wiggling out of a bases-loaded jam, I just looked into Marc’s eyes, but didn’t say a word,” Thornton said. “I was mesmerized. Marc just stared back at me, smiled and said, ‘You like that, coach?’ It was a moment I’ll never forget.”
Along with Evans’ “Herculean effort,” Thornton named a number of others who “came through big” for the team, including freshman Jonathan Holt, who entered the game for an injured starter.
“Jonathan’s clutch two-out, bases-loaded single was the hit that changed our history,” Thornton said. “I told him, ‘You just earned your varsity letter, kid.’”
PT sophomore right-fielder Logan Donahue made the game’s final putout, after making what Thornton called an “amazing” sliding catch two innings earlier.
“Everyone on our team needed to step up to ensure this win,” Thornton said. “Senior Jackson Foster was playing the game far from 100 percent, but it makes all the difference when he’s in the game, because Jackson is our backbone.”
Thornton admitted the Redhawks are still mapping out how to build on this win, but he expressed confidence that PT is not done winning games.
“We still have a ton of work to do, but I think we now have a better understanding of what it takes to be consistently competitive, day in and day out,” Thornton said. “Our program won’t last if we have to wait another 1,439 days to win again.”