Titans strike first

University took the adage that good pitching beats good hitting to heart when the Titans hosted Mead Friday in the first of two games between the Greater Spokane League’s top two baseball teams.

Of course, it didn’t hurt that they provided good hitting of their own en route to a 10-0, six-inning triumph over a team generally acknowledged as having the most potent lineup in the league.

The victory tied the teams for first place with 15-2 records. They hold a three-game lead over Ferris with as many to play in the race to earn first-round district playoff byes for the top two teams. The Titans and Panthers will break the tie at Mead when they play again Tuesday.

Danny Jordan threw only 67 pitches while allowing four Panthers hits. He also had three of U-Hi’s 13 hits, scored twice and drove in another during a statement-making victory.

“He battles like no one else,” said Titans coach Scott Sutherland. “I’ve said it so many times. He’s such a good competitor. We knew they’re a tough hitting club and were going to put the ball in play. But Danny was around the dish all day and we played good defense like we usually do.”

There was a little early-game suspense when Glen Reser hit a one-out double in the first inning. But Jordan got a couple of fly outs, made a great stop on a Tyler Thoreson scorcher up the middle to open the second and allowed only three more base runners the remainder of the game.

While he held the visitors in check, the Titans’ bats, potent in their own right, did significant damage.

Michael Holmes tripled to open the second and scored on a throwing error. Three batters later, designated hitter Paul Hyndman lofted a two-out ball into a stiff breeze blowing to right field and it cleared the 335-foot fence for a 2-0 lead.

“We had a jet stream and when you get the ball up in the air it goes,” said the senior who takes a turn in the lineup occasionally. “I’m just happy to have a chance to play and know my role.”

He was one of all nine Titans starters to score or drive in runs – or both. Included was No. 4 hitter Tyler Olson, who made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly in the third and who slugged a two-run triple in the decisive fifth when U-Hi scored five times to put the game out of reach.

Travis Clark opened the inning being hit by a pitch (he would also get hit in the sixth and score). Billy Moon, Craig Keeton and Jacob Schnibbe added RBI hits.

Olson finished with two hits as did No. 3 batter Moon and Holmes, who drove in the game-ending run in the sixth.

Olson has 14 extra-base hits and 34 runs batted in for the year.

“It helps a lot when people get on base,” Olson said. “We have good top three hitters. Coaches told us (Mead starting pitcher Thoreson) was pitching outside and to make him throw it over the middle of the plate. Everyone started hitting the ball really well.”

One of those is Jordan, who since dropping from leadoff to No. 2 in the order, has been on a tear. He went 11 for 14 in the four of U-Hi’s last five games in which he’s hit safely, including six knocks in a row.

“He’s just gone off the charts,” said Sutherland. “We put him second where he can be more of a reactive hitter and it’s really working out.”

Despite the importance of the game, Olson said that U-Hi players avoid newspaper and blog comments and simply concentrate on the task ahead.

“We haven’t really paid attention to what they’re doing. We focus on one game at a time,” Olson said. “We got one more.”

Titans coach Sutherland added that no matter how much pressure there is, the players never seem to be fazed.

“The coaches are way more nervous than the guys,” he said. “It’s just an amazing bunch.”

But he also cautioned, whenever you win the first game of a two-game series easily over a team, the second win is harder to attain. And Tuesday’s game, to start the final week of the GSL season, has never loomed larger for both the Titans and Panthers.

Also in league, third-place Ferris (12-5) shook off a recent pair of losses to defeat Mt. Spokane (9-10) 9-2 at home. Beau Brett pitched shutout ball through six innings and also collected a double and his fourth home run this season. Andrew Kittredge was 3 for 4 with two doubles and a triple. He scored three times. C.J. Haney doubled twice. … Shadle Park (7-10) continues its late-season surge. The Highlanders scored two times in each of five innings for a 10-8 victory over host Central Valley (9-8). Taylor Raynor had three hits, drove in two runs and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh. Brian Thomas singled in two runs in the third. The Bears had taken a 5-0 lead after an inning. Both David Borgman, who homered, and Corey Mack, with a double and two triples, had four hits and the Bears had seven extra base hits – three homers – to one for Shadle, but to no avail. … Jake Partridge struck out 17 and allowed but two hits as Rogers (7-10) beat visiting North Central (5-11) 3-1. Partridge was also 3 for 3 with a double and triple. He scored two runs and drove in the other. … Gonzaga Prep (9-8) tied CV for fourth place with a 4-2 win over visiting East Valley (3-14). The Bullpups scored three times in the first inning for pitcher CJ Perry, who walked none and struck out six. Alec Albinson hit a two-run single in the opening frame and Anthony Via added a pair of hits. Aaron Awberry was 2 for 3 for East Valley.