Finn Collins hadn’t been in this position in a year.
Collins, the center fielder for American Legion’s Juneau Post 25 team, was called on to pitch in the second inning of Friday night’s game against Service Post 28, and said it was the first time he had taken the mound in a game since last summer.
It wasn’t in an easy spot, either. Juneau was playing its first game in two weeks and showed signs of rustiness early, as two errors had opened the door for four Service runs in the second inning. Juneau coach Joe Tompkins was bringing Collins in to stop the bleeding, with Juneau facing an early 4-0 deficit.
“He’s a quiet, reliable, hard-working individual,” Tompkins said of Collins. “He’s one of those that coaches wish they had 12 of. He just works hard, he’s quiet, he just tries to inspire guys by actions.”
Collins did just that, getting out of the inning with no damage and pitching the next five innings, allowing just one run as Juneau’s bats came alive and secured a 12-5 victory in seven innings. Collins also contributed one of the biggest hits of the game, a bases-loaded double down the line in left that plated three runs and gave Juneau its first lead of the evening.
After getting out of the second-inning jam, Collins pitched the next five innings, allowing just one run and striking out three. His third-inning double capped off a five-run frame that jump-started Juneau’s bats.
“I just kind of rebuilt my confidence tonight,” Collins said. “I fixed my mental approach and my approach in general tonight.”
Patience at the plate set up that five-run third inning, as Service pitcher Carsen Sandau walked four batters — including three in a row — prior to Collins’ bases-clearing double. In all, Juneau batters walked nine times and five of those walks came around to score.
Juneau batter Alex Muir didn’t register an official plate appearance, walking four times and scoring twice. Collins said that at a certain point, it became a focus for Juneau’s batters to take pitches and wait for one to drive.
“They were a little bit off tonight,” Collins said. “As we noticed, they were walking people later in the game. Everyone kind of just came together and said, ‘Hey look, let’s be patient up there, because they’re not throwing anything around the strike zone too much,’ but when they did, our team delivered with a few extra hits.”
Batters up and down Juneau’s order were able to find success at the plate, but the middle of the order did much of the damage. No. 3 hitter Kasey Watts had two hits and two RBIs, including a go-ahead sac fly in the fourth that put Juneau ahead for good. No. 5 batter Bobby Cox reached base every time at bat, singling twice and walking twice.
It wasn’t a league game, so the win won’t go on Juneau’s record, as Tompkins reminded his team afterward. This contest was much more about shaking off the rust and getting prepared for league action during the weekend.
“We just wanted them to get back in the groove,” Tompkins said. “They’re pretty good at coaching themselves, for the most part. We just wanted them to get back.”
• Contact reporter Alex McCarthy at alex.mccarthy@juneauempire.com.
Juneau Post 25’s Kasey Watts hits a single against Service Post 28 at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Friday, July 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Post 25’s Owen Mendoza, right, attempts to tag Service Post 28’s Carsen Sandau at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Friday, July 14, 2017. Sandau was safe on the play. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
Juneau Post 25’s Zeb Storie, left, reaches third base ahead of Service Post 28’s Raleigh Pigg’s throw at Adair-Kennedy Memorial Park on Friday, July 14, 2017. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)
