The latest victim was visiting Hamilton College who came in with high expectations and drove home with three losses and very few hits to speak of. Hurlers Brian Donahue '07, Nick Kehoe '07 and co-captain Joe Vladeck '06 led the Jeffs to three impressive victories, giving up a combined two earned runs in over 21 innings pitched. Sophomore starter Chris Edgar didn't have a chance to pitch this weekend, but he rounds out the talented group that is in complete control with hitters at their mercy each and every time they take the mound.
"One of the good things about our staff is that we push one another," said Vladeck. "It's encouraging to know that we have such a deep staff of guys who can go out and dominate, and I think that because of that we all hold ourselves to a really high standard. We expect a lot out of ourselves and out of each other."
"They're unbelievable," said first baseman and co-captain Dave Levinson '06 of the team's pitchers. "All of our league starters could be legitimate number ones for any other team in the league, and we have four of them, plus a clutch reliever and a bunch of young guys who are already throwing league innings and will only get better! With these guys, if we play good defense and keep focused offensively, I think we have a great shot to win the league and get back in the regional and hopefully get some wins there this time."
Kehoe boasts an incredible resume. In five appearances this season, Kehoe has gone the distance twice, including a shutout, given up a meager 25 hits and a slim seven earned runs; ringing up 25 hitters and only walking five. His 2.59 era and opponents' batting average of .255 may be the highest on this staff, but would easily place him as the top guy for almost any team in the NESCAC.
Kehoe showed his grit this Saturday afternoon against Hamilton where he had the Continental hitters at his will, firing a complete game shutout. He only walked a pair of hitters while giving up three hits that went for nothing, while striking out eight. But his pitching wasn't the only story, Kehoe's phenomenal defensive play had both benches and the crowd on hand buzzing. A Hamilton batter appeared to have a base hit through the middle but Kehoe instinctively threw his glove behind his back, stabbing the chopper and calmly taking his time to complete the putout to first baseman Levinson. Kehoe saved the smiles until after the inning when his teammates greeted the pitcher, who also plays quarterback for Amherst's football team. With plays like that, he might have to consider a move to wide receiver, or when he's not on the hill, find a spot in the infield.
The Amherst offense was equally as stifled in the first game against Hamilton but outfielder Andrew Green '06 two-out walk-off single up the middle gave the Jeffs the 1-0 victory while designated hitter Neal Allar '08 smashed two doubles on a perfect 3-for-3 game at the plate. Junior Brian Donahue has the stuff and competitive drive that will land him in professional ball sometime in the near future. On Saturday afternoon, Hamilton got a feel for the 6'4'' 240-pound workhorse who routinely throws in the 90s, intimidating batters throughout the game. Donahue's team-high 33 innings pitched complement his slew of impressive stats including, a 2.16 era, a perfect record of 3-0 and 27 strikeouts, while only allowing seven earned runs. Donahue shut down the Hamilton attack, despite a few early unearned runs, en route to a 7.1 inning outing where he scattered eight hits and struck out six. Senior Rob Anderson came in the game late to shut the door on Hamilton with a solid 1.2 inning for his fourth save of the season.
Allar paced the Jeffs' offensive attack with three hits and an RBI while Levinson, senior left fielder Tom Scott, sophomore catcher Josh Card and rookie right fielder Angus Schaller all pitched in a pair of hits. A six-run sixth inning fueled the Jeffs' come-from-behind win. Hamilton starter Jamie Matthews gave up all seven earned runs on ten hits.
Senior Joe Vladeck is no stranger to pitching for the Jeffs, with over 170 innings pitched and 48 appearances and a career era just over 3.00. He is off to another blistering start this year with a perfect 3-0 record including a complete game. He boasts a 2.10 era and leads the team in strikeouts with 28.
Vladeck was even more dominant than those numbers in the third game of the series with Hamilton this weekend. Vladeck went seven innings of scoreless ball while only allowing four hits and walking nobody. "I actually didn't feel great on Sunday-I couldn't throw my slider at all, or locate my fastball," Vladeck said. "But my split-fingered fastball has felt really good for the last two weeks, and when that is going well it is my best pitch. I rely on my splitter to get me out of jams, which is exactly what happened on Sunday."
Despite a dismal defensive effort by the Jeffs-they committed seven errors-Vladeck got through the game unscathed and used an early offensive explosion by the Jeffs on his way to the victory.
Despite the weak defense the talented Jeffs have been able to get out of tight situations. "Our defense has struggled a bit of late, but whenever someone makes a mistake, someone else picks him up with a great play," said Mazzone. "Every team goes through its batting and fielding slumps and we are fortunate enough to have guys that make big plays to pick up teammates after a botched play."
Amherst scored seven runs in the first three innings and added three more in the sixth for the 10-2 beat down of Continentals starter Bryden Considine. Mazzone was outstanding at the plate and in the field; turning four double plays while going 3-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Scott also fueled the attack with three RBIs on two hits while Allar continued his box score-filled day with three runs scored. Levinson was dynamic as usual, smashing the ball every time at the plate with two hits and a few liners that were right at a Hamilton player. Ben Goldfarb '09 and Ryan Platzbecker '09 finished off what Vladeck started and the Jeffs are now on top of the NESCAC West division at 5-0-1.
Next weekend, watch out for a spectacular game as the team faces Williams College at home. "We always get more excited to play them," said Levinson. "The fans are more into it and as the game progresses, intensity builds for both teams."
NESCAC Notes:
Amherst is tops in the NESCAC West division at 5-0-1 while Trinity and Bowdoin lead the NESCAC East at 4-2. Williams boasts a league-high team batting average of .380 while Amherst is third at .354. Tufts has the best team era at 3.01 with the Jeffs right behind at 3.16. Edgar, Donahue, Kehoe and Vladeck are in the top 10 in a number of individual pitching categories.