Pitman sophomore curves Pride into command in CCC

As a 10-and-under travel-ball player, Nick Jones was taught the curveball by a teammate.

The lesson apparently stuck.

Jones, a sophomore right-hander, brandishes a nasty curve that breaks hard and down and, on Tuesday, confounded the Turlock High Bulldogs.

Riding Jones’ nine strikeouts, Pitman (19-4, 10-1 Central California Conference) pulled away for a 7-0 victory that vaulted the Pride two games ahead of the Bulldogs in the CCC race with four games left.

“Probably the best I’ve pitched this season,” said Jones, who allowed four hits as Turlock put runners in scoring position only three times. “I was a little nervous, but I had confidence in my teammates behind me.”

Turlock (14-8, 8-3), the defending CCC champion, can draw even with wins over Pitman on Thursday and Friday. Its margin for error vanished, however, when the Pride scored all its runs in the final three innings.

“I told ’em to forget about today and come back tomorrow,” Turlock coach Mark de la Motte said. “We need a fresh start.”

The crosstown rivals collided in summer-like 90-degree heat with the CCC stakes high. About 150 fans, some of them sitting on lounge chairs in the shade along Marshall Street, witnessed a potential changing of the guard.

That said, the game tilted toward Pitman after an injury to Turlock starter Nick Avila. The game was scoreless in the fifth when Avila suffered what appeared to be a hip or groin injury pushing off from the mound after Dylan Roberts’ leadoff double. Avila tried a few practice tosses and limped off the field.

Until then, Avila, a senior right-hander, matched Jones pitch for pitch. He dodged trouble in the the third with back-to-back strikeouts and, until Roberts’ drive to the left-field wall, had retired five straight.

“Nick pitched as well as he’s done all year,” de la Motte said. “I’m not sure what his status will be from here on. He’s got a good future ahead of him.”

Second baseman Brian Mendez relieved Avila. Moments later, with runners on first and third and one out, new second baseman Cody Justus snared a line drive and tried to double off Todd Jones at first. The throw veered too close to Jones and zipped past first baseman Tate Soderstrom for an error, and Roberts hustled home.

Pitman and Turlock have jockeyed for position atop the CCC all season. The Pride jumped into first place last week by sweeping three games over Buhach Colony, while Turlock dropped two of three to Merced.

The Pride sustained its momentum over Turlock by scoring four runs in the sixth, fueled by consecutive singles by sophomore Anthony Encalade (3 for 4), Zach Wichman, Coleton Horner and Roberts. Daren Finney capped the rally with a sacrifice fly. An inning later, Wichman’s two-run double widened the margin.

“Winning the first one is huge, but it doesn’t mean anything until the end,” Pitman coach John Acha said. “But the first one was important.”

Pitman never has won the CCC title, though it reached the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I final with Colin Kaepernick in 2006. It’s positioned for the breakthrough, thanks to Jones (5-1). Between his well-located fastball and wicked curve – he struck out the side in the third – he was in command.

“Jones looked good from the start. He even looked good in the bullpen,” Acha said. “The poise in him was outstanding.”

This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 10:45 PM with the headline "Pitman sophomore curves Pride into command in CCC."