SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO – Late last season, JSerra pitcher Collin Quinn decided to experiment with a sidearm delivery. As a sort of hybrid pitcher for the Lions, with the ability to pitch multiple innings in relief or serve as a specialist, the unorthodox throwing motion would make him even more dynamic.
After his performance Thursday night, it just might have earned him a new role.
Quinn gave up just three hits and didn’t allow a run in JSerra’s 5-0 win over Alemany of West Hills in the semifinals of the Boras Classic at JSerra High, drawing rave reviews from his coach, Brett Kay.
“If I could say Collin Quinn a hundred times over, I would say it again and again,” Kay said. “He has been so good for us all year long. … He can be used in any role, but he’s earned the right to be one of our starters. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
All three of the hits off Quinn were infield singles. He had eight strikeouts and just one walk.
Only two fly balls left the infield, and the natural sink that comes with the sidearm throwing motion generated a high volume of groundouts.
“It came to me pretty naturally,” Quinn said of the sidearm delivery. “It was pretty hard trying to throw other pitches (besides fastballs), but other than that it wasn’t hard to adjust.”
The Lions (12-1), ranked No. 1 in Orange County, scored twice in the second inning on RBI singles by Royce Lewis and Brady Shockey. Their three-run sixth inning was capped by an RBI triple by Shockey.
Alemany (13-3) advanced to the semifinal after beating No. 2 San Clemente on Wednesday.
The win puts the Lions in today’s championship game at JSerra. They will face Trinity League rival Mater Dei at 6 p.m.
“Any time you hear the name Mater Dei, of course you want to play them,” Kay said. “If we play our game the way we’re capable of, I think we’ll be fine. This is a very veteran team, and it’s a fun team to coach.”
