WATERVILLE — It’s been a long time since the Thomas baseball players could talk about themselves with this kind of optimism. Wednesday afternoon, the Terriers showed again why they feel that way.
Thomas pitchers allowed just two hits in the first 12 innings of a doubleheader against the University of Maine at Farmington, and the Terriers offense put up big numbers. The host Terriers made it 10 straight wins by sweeping the doubleheader at Mahaney Diamond, 11-0 and 12-7.
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“We’ve been hitting the ball really well lately,” Thomas pitcher Chris Farrar said. “We have six strong starters who can throw as many innings as we need, and then we have a strong bullpen behind that. Just every factor’s working for us right now.”
Farrar, a Messalonskee High School graduate, allowed one hit in six innings in the opener. He walked one and struck out five.
The Terriers are now 16-9 overall and 11-1 in the North Eastern Athletic Conference East Division. Thomas finished 13-26 overall and 9-7 in the conference last spring.
The Terriers’ team ERA is nearly a run and a half lower than last season, but the biggest upgrade for Thomas has been at the plate. The Terriers have a batting average 50 points higher and a slugging percentage 72 points higher compared to last year’s final numbers. Thomas coach Greg King thinks one big reason for that is another stat: Two more assistant coaches this spring.
“(The players) are getting a lot of instruction, every single day,” King said. “Some of the adjustments that I would try to get them to make last year, my assistant coaches can now work on those adjustments. Some of the at bats these guys have had have been absolutely phenomenal.”
While UMF (3-16 overall, 2-9 NEAC East) had to settle for a fifth-inning single by Chris Whitney in the opener, Thomas batters Ben Goodall, Josh Gray, and Taylor Livingston had two hits apiece. The Terriers led 3-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth, and got two runs on a single by Tom Cameron, and two more on Rob Nutter’s first home run of the season.
Thomas built a 12-0 lead through five innings of game two, as starting pitcher James McLamb allowed one hit and struck out six. Goodall drove in four runs to give him six on the day, and Wes Perreault went 2 for 2 with a walk. Skowhegan graduate Cody Vigue doubled home a run in the first inning and drilled an RBI triple to right-center in the second.
The Beavers came to life in the last two innings, making the final score much more respectable and perhaps sending Thomas a reminder about the perils of complacency. Ethan Jean, a Mt. View graduate, was 3 for 4 in Game 2 and pitched a scoreless inning of relief, and third baseman Zach Keene drove in three runs.
Matt DiFilippo — 861-9243
mdifilippo@centralmaine.com
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