SACCO: Don’t blink, or you’ll miss the Giants’ quiet killer

By Jim Sacco

Published: June 2, 2008

Don’t blink.

You’ll miss Terrell Thompson on the base paths.

Try not to close your eyes for a second or you’ll miss Waynesboro’s speedy junior, and hands down the most dangerous player in the Southern Valley District (and Region III, maybe?), score.

Don’t turn away.

You’ll miss Thompson holding those batting gloves loose in his hand, swaying back and forth with a nice lead at first, ready to jump the second the pitcher makes a move for home.

Don’t sneeze.

You’ll miss Thompson sliding into second, wiping the red clay off his pants and enjoying life in scoring position. Yeah, when you’re Thompson, even in high school, second base is scoring position.

Don’t talk too loud.

You won’t be able to hear Thompson, who tends to be pretty quiet (except when he’s chatting it up and sharing batting advice with a teammate in the on-deck circle).

Don’t get a drink.

You’ll miss Waynesboro skipper Jim Critzer, also the Giants’ third-base coach, screaming for Thompson to “Get some, go get some,” as he inches his way toward another stolen base — this time third.

Don’t turn to kiss your wife.

You could miss Thompson taking off for third and Eric Hall putting down a bunt to move him over, replete Critzer yelling at Thompson, “You’re OK, shortstop, shortstop, second, second,” as he clues Thompson — always watching the pitcher — if there’s a pick-off play brewing and who the ball is going to.

Don’t miss the opportunity to chat it up with Waynesboro’s junior leadoff man. Because then, and only then, will you realize the quiet confidence this player wears like an Italian suit. He’s also the first to point out his mistakes — how, maybe, he didn’t do his job in the Little Giants’ Region III title loss to Alleghany last Friday — and what the Little Giants need to do to make sure they get to play in the Group AA title game Saturday.

“We got to hit the ball,” Thompson says without hesitation. “Make less errors, less mistakes and keep our heads up. Show class and good attitude. And just come out and play.”

But what about you, Mr. Terrell Thompson?
“I need to be a good leadoff man,” he says.

Critzer isn’t exactly sure how many bases the junior lifted from opponents this season. But he knows it’s more than 20 and it could have been more.

“I didn’t run him nearly as much as a I could have and should have,” Critzer says. “But sometimes the anticipation can be worse than the medicine.”

And with Thompson swaying away with that eagle eye on the pitcher, the anticipation can be heart-attack inducing.

But it wasn’t always like this for Thompson — an early-season call up from JV last year who was relegated to pinch running for pitchers and catchers.

Thankfully, he got to learn from one of the best leadoff man in the then-Valley District: James Lucas — the man he would replace in 2008.

Lucas’ lessons were simple: “You got to get on base,” Thompson says. “You got to hit the ball.”

Batting at a near-.500 clip for most of the season, hitting hasn’t been a problem. His batter’s eye has developed and Critzer says a few others rose with it.

“He’s the best two-out hitter I’ve ever seen,” he says.

Don’t look away to put that potato chip in your mouth. Hitting is just something else you’ll miss.

One of the most consistent hitters for the Little Giants — Jay Thompson (no relation) — has reaped plenty of benefits from Terrell Thompson’s speed. Batting out of the No. 3 hole, Jay Thompson comes to the plate plenty of times with Mr. Eat My Dust either at second or third. (And, again, with Waynesboro’s aggressive base running and Terrell Thompson’s speed, second is scoring position, folks.)

“Then I just hit him in from there,” Jay Thompson says.

“He’s extremely fast for a leadoff man,” the senior says. “He makes good contact, he doesn’t strike out a lot and you know if he hits it on the ground, he’s going to beat it out every time.”

Terrell Thompson isn’t without fear, though. Some pitchers, he admits, intimidate him.

“I don’t like it when a pitcher slide steps,” he says. “But I try not to let it get to me.”

What? So you can get to the pitchers but they aren’t allowed to get to you Mr. Catch Me If You Can?

He just smiles and walks (one of the few times he isn’t quick) away before spitting out a few sunflower seeds. Of course, he does that quickly, too.

Just don’t blink, or you’ll miss it all.