STATE EXTRA: Critzer: Teams are equal

By Corine Gatti

Published: June 2, 2008

Waynesboro coach Jim Critzer said his team is evenly matched in tonight’s Group AA quarterfinals against Abingdon.
“I see a lot of similarities, they’re not per se a dominating team,” Critzer said. “They know how to comeback, they showed that against Hidden Valley on Friday night. They have a couple of good pitchers and when one is not pitching, the other one plays short stop. It’s pretty much what we do with [Jeremy] Hahn and Joseph [Lucas].”
On the mound the Giants have three good arms in Lucas, Hahn and freshman Drew DeMoss.
“What else can you expect from the kid, he hasn’t seen much time and has done a very good job for us,” Critzer said. “We knew that Lucas and Hahn were going to be our top two pitchers this season.”
His pitchers have the combination of hitting and defense as well.
“Lucas is an excellent defensive outfielder and we noticed early on he was hitting the ball,” Critzer said. “Sooner or later he was going to break and he did. He’s had a great season for us hitting. He does his job defensively and he’s swinging the bat.”
The mix of the defensive and offensive talent has worked to the Giants’ advantage the skipper said. Hahn is another hurler that can swing the bat.
“This has worked out nicely for us. When Joseph’s pitching Hahn’s in the outfield,” Critzer said.
The Giants have constructed their talent by tailoring their game from the infield out.
“You build teams from the middle out — short stop, second baseman, catcher, center fielder and then you build out,” Critzer said. “That’s the core.”
The coach has seen a lot of promise from his leadoff batter Terrell Thompson.
“Terrell Thompson has stepped up and run with it as our leadoff batter,” Critzer said. “His bat was a total surprise.”
In the No. 2 position is Eric Hall.
“He’s got a hold of the number two spot and was ‘Mr. Clutch’ all year,” the skipper said. “He’s struggled a little in the playoffs. I have confidence in him.”
With Terrell Thompson and Hall setting the table for Jay Thompson at the top of the lineup, the Giants could be tough at the bottom of the batting order as well.
“If we get Eric going, and the bottom of the lineup with Stevie Moreland our number six batter, we’re going to be tough to beat. I think we are a better hitting ball club,” Critzer said.
Tonight’s starters for the Falcons will be Zach Whitt (8-2) or Justin Malone (4-1). The Giants will pitch Lucas.
The game stars at 7 p.m.