STATE EXTRA: Thompson chases state gold

By Corine Gatti

Published: June 5, 2008

When Waynesboro slugger Jay Thompson’s name was announced over the public address system on May 30 in the Region III semifinals in Amherst, Jefferson Forest took notice.
Cavalier fans shouted, “move back the outfield,” or “pitch around that guy, he can hit.”
JF pitcher Erik Heiligenstadt responded to the crowd’s pleas, walking the shortstop in his first at bat of the game. Being viewed as a base threat and a long ball hitter is nothing new to the senior.
“It feels good, but I don’t like it too much. I think its good that they respect me like that,” Thompson said.
Thompson led the Giants with 20 RBI and 30 hits under his belt this season and his batting average has escalated from .500 to .517 during the postseason. Waynesboro coach Jim Critzer said no one wants to pitch to his hitter.
“They’ll try to pitch around him or try to get him to go after off-speed pitches,” Critzer said. “He’s been an intentional walk several times this year. Sometimes it has worked for them, sometimes it hasn’t.”
Critzer explained Thompson has a natural talent and the staff didn’t have a lot of training to do.
“In his first game and first time up at Rockbridge, he hits it out and drives it over their left-field fence,” Critzer said. “He hasn’t stopped since. He just had the natural instinct to do what he needed to do.”
Thompson came through the JV program like many others have and the coach knew that the kid had something.
“I think Jay [has] got the possibility to continue his baseball career, coach Stony Wine from Lenoir Community College will talk to him today,” Critzer said. “And I know he wants him, so hopefully we can get Jay to go down there. I think it will be a good pick for him.”
Thompson has shone on defense as well.
“He’s got an excellent glove and incredible range. When you put his bat there, he’s got the No. 3 combination,” Critzer said. “He’s one of the best shortstops in Virginia as far as I’m concerned.”
The senior said his glove work has come naturally.
“It has been something that I haven’t had to really work on, except at practice, “ Thompson said. “I try to make the routine plays and do the best I can out there.”
Even if Thompson takes the route to Kinston, North Carolina, he plans to make the most of his time left as the Giants plow ahead into the Group AA Final Four against Powhatan at 10 a.m. at Calfee Park.
“Yes, this is our second trip to states and I want to make the most of it,” Thompson said. “I just want to win it all.”