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Pitcher struggles at worst time

After a strong season, Crystal River's Jimmy Metz loses his control in a 3A state semifinal.

By SCOTT PURKS, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published May 16, 2002

TAMPA -- He dominated everybody he faced this season, and after checking his statistics -- 12-1, 0.67 ERA, 120 strikeouts in 73 innings -- there was every reason to believe Crystal River's Jimmy Metz would dominate again.

But Metz struggled and lost 7-1 to Bartow in a Class 3A state semifinal Wednesday at Legends Field.

In five innings he walked three, hit four, threw a wild pitch, struck out two and gave up seven earned runs, as many as he had given up all season.

He also served up a grand slam in the fifth inning to Chad Lewis, who hadn't homered this season, had only four RBI and was hitting .181.

And there's this: Metz, a senior, hadn't given up a home run since he was a sophomore playing for Lecanto.

"Before the game I felt ready to go," Metz said. "I just left the ball over the plate unlike I usually do."

He added that because his team got down 3-1 and made a couple of early errors, he was pressing more than usual.

"I just tried to put it on my shoulders and put all the pressure on me," he said. "I felt like I was getting stronger as the game went on, but I still wasn't hitting my spots. It's tough to explain."

As for the grand slam, he said he hit his spot on the inside corner, "but (Lewis) just turned on it. ... I never imagined he would (hit a home run)."

Bartow coach Mike Ferguson said he was surprised at how well his squad hit against Metz. "The thing is that he came in on us, and we really haven't had anybody come in on us," Ferguson said. "We just bowed up and hit it."

Crystal River coach Brent Hall didn't focus on Metz' struggles but on his team's overall troubles.

"We just didn't come to play today," Hall said. "The kids worked real hard and did everything they were supposed to do. But for whatever reason we weren't focused.

"It's too bad it had to end this way."

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