baseball
Memphis recruit Jones throws out Thomas in Celtics’ victory
No one had to tell Providence’s Nick Jones who represented the tying run at first base in the bottom of the seventh inning Saturday.
The senior catcher knew it was Mount Carmel speedster Alek Thomas, who hadn’t been thrown out stealing all season.
Thomas, a Texas Christian recruit, was a perfect 10-for-10.
“What was going through my mind was I wanted a strike from our pitcher and me getting a good transfer from my glove to my hand if he tries stealing,” Jones said. “If those things happened, I thought I would throw him out. I have confidence in my arm.”
Jones’ analysis proved spot on. The Memphis recruit fired a perfect throw to second base to get Thomas, and the Celtics hung on for a 7-6 Catholic Blue victory at Mount Carmel.
“It’s more exciting than hitting a home run,” Jones said of catching Thomas on an attempted steal.
Jones also reached base four times on an error, a single and getting hit twice by pitches. Alex Helmin and Dakota Kotowski both homered, and Logan Anderson added a two-run single for Providence (9-6, 3-2).
Junior reliever TJ Galligani also deserved a bit of the credit for the Celtics.
When the count first reached 3-2 on Mount Carmel’s Malik Peters, Thomas took an enormous jump and would have easily stolen second base. Peters, however, fouled the pitch off. Galligani then threw over twice to first base to keep Thomas in check. The next time Galligani came home, he struck out Peters while Jones threw out Thomas.
Galligani then induced Anthony Herron to fly out to end the game.
“As soon as Alek got to first base on the walk, I said to myself, ‘Uh-oh, he’s going to turn this into a double,’ ” Providence coach Mark Smith said. “Alek is a phenomenal player. But Nick made a big-time play. It was the play of the game.”
Kotowski, Providence’s right fielder, had faith in Jones.
“Alek makes most catchers look stupid,” Kotowski said. “I knew Nick had a shot at throwing Alek out. Alek didn’t get a great jump. TJ did a good job holding him on, and Nick made a perfect throw.”
Mount Carmel coach Brian Hurry took the blame for the rally-killing play.
“I’m kicking myself for not having Peters bunt in that situation,” Hurry said. “My thought process was Malik would somehow put the ball in play, and Alek would steal the base.”
Thomas, Tony Livermore, Jake Kapers and Joe Egan drove in runs for Mount Carmel (11-7, 1-4). Thomas hit a solo homer, and Egan added a two-run homer in the seventh against Providence starter Ethan Petric that cut the margin to 7-6.
The Caravan defense didn’t do starting pitcher Alec Gonzalez any favors by committing five errors. Gonzalez struck out 12 over six innings.
“Our focus right now is improving our defense,” Hurry said. “We’re beating ourselves.”
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