WOLFFORTH — Brady Webb waited until Wednesday to inform Jair Johnson that he would be starting the first game of the Region I-2A quarterfinals against Sundown.
Even with the short notice, Johnson admitted he was nervous, an understandable spot for a sophomore who has had quite the spring sports season.
Splitting time with the New Home baseball and track teams, Johnson has dealt with a number of injuries. Between making it to the regional track meet in the 400-meter dash and triple jump (where he finished fifth) and helping the Leopards on the diamond, Johnson has dealt with ailments to his quad, collarbone and pitching arm. His last start came almost three months ago against Dumas.
Getting the first career start in the playoffs, which is also his first year with the Leopards varsity squad, would be enough to send most sophomores into their own heads. If that wasn't enough, Johnson also had to deal with a four-hour rain delay.
During that downtime, where the Leopards returned to New Home and back to the Frenship Athletic Complex, Webb asked Johnson time and again if he was sure he wanted to go back on the mound when play resumed.
"He's that guy," Webb said of Johnson, "and he was excited to be out there, so I just let him go. And he did a good job."
Johnson more than held his own under the circumstances. By the time he reached his pitch limit, he had limited Sundown to two runs, worked out of a number of tough spots and struck out eight batters in helping the Leopards earn a 9-3 victory and a 1-0 lead in the series.
Game 2 is scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, with a third to follow if necessary.
"I feel like I was doing good, but I definitely could have been more efficient," Johnson said. "But that break in between, that kind of threw me off a little bit, but I think I came back prepared."
The anomaly of a day for Johnson can be summarized with the last inning before the rain delay and the first when play resumed.
In the top of the third, Sundown had runners at first and second with one out. Two batters later, the Roughnecks, down 3-1, had the tying run at second and two outs on the board. Johnson left both Roughnecks in their place, inducing a flyout to end the threat.
Johnson returned to the mound about four hours later (and five hours after his first pitch of the day). Again, the Roughnecks got runners to second and third with two outs. And again, Johnson left them stranded, this time with his third strikeout of the inning.
He exited the game in the fifth, having gone 4-2/3 innings with his eight punch outs.
"It was a lot of pressure," Johnson said, "but I feel like I did pretty good. I showed them what I could do and I was just glad I performed the way I did."
Johnson got the nod Thursday with Webb holding his top two pitchers — Texas Tech signee Logan Addison and Brazos Beck — for later in the series. New Home's third starter, Ashton Lucio, is dealing with another knee injury suffered earlier in the playoffs. Webb went to the youngster, and Johnson showed why the coach made the right call.
"He's a kid that I trust," Webb said. "He's a kid that I think a lot of."
Local News
Comments / 0