Getting cut from the Sherwood junior varsity was just the ticket for Drew Hoffmaster. Three years later, the work he put in to make the team is paying dividends for him and the Warriors.
Tuesday afternoon in the Maryland 4A state semifinals, Hoffmaster dazzled Thomas Stone with his less-than-overpowering stuff. Keeping the Cougars off balance with his impeccable control and wide array of pitches, Hoffmaster limited the Waldorf school to four hits in a 10-0 victory.
Hoffmaster walked one (his ninth of theseason in 73 innings) and fanned four, throwing an economical 70 pitches in six innings as Sherwood (21-0) advanced to the title game Friday night at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen.
“Eighty innings in a season takes its toll. But if necessary, I’ll be there,” said Hoffmaster (12-0) after twirling his fourth shutout and lowering his ERA to 0.39, mixing a fastball, curve, split-finger and change.
It’s a long way from the disappointment of his freshman year.
“I wasn’t small. I was 6-[foot]-1,” said the Catholic University-bound Hoffmaster. “I worked really hard. I worked with every pitching coach I could. I worked out. I got bigger. I threw every day. I owe it all to being cut as a freshman. It’s the best thing that happened to me.”
Only one player from Thomas Stone (13-9) solved Hoffmaster. In three trips to the plate, leadoff hitter Ryan Burch had a single, double and triple.
“He mixes his pitches really well,” said Burch. “He’d throw that fastball for a strike, then come in with the change-up. The biggest thing is, he just throws strikes.”
Burch, also the losing pitcher, was one of four Cougars hurlers who surrendered runs. Leadoff hitter Tom Gilchrist reached base and scored on all four of his plate appearances. The junior shortstop homered for the second straight game and added a triple.
“We found out they were the away team,” said Gilchrist. “We couldn’t wait to get up and hit the ball.”
Right fielder Matt Lopsonzski went 1-for-1 with an RBI, three walks and three runs. Catcher Kevin Hamerski, third baseman Alejandro Acevedo, and designated hitter Carter Willson drove in two runs apiece. And outfielder Nick Koutsos had a run-scoring double.
Sherwood has a well-rested Kyle Blackwell (5-0), a 90 mph thrower who has signed with Maryland. But the urge to use Hoffmaster might be hard to resist for coach Billy Goodman on Friday.
“We’ll let him go two days, he’ll blow it out,” said Goodman. “He runs light tomorrow. We’ll see how he feels. If he’s ready, we’ll go with him.”
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
» Quince Orchard (15-5) and Eleanor Roosevelt (22-2) played in the other semifinal, which was completed after press time.
» Sherwood (21-0) is bidding to become the first undefeated state champion since Damascus won the 3A title in 2000.
» The last undefeated 4A champion in Maryland was Perry Hall in 1992.
