White River Junction
Jones, this summer, is Upper Valley’s lifeline.
“He’s almost invaluable,” Nighthawks general manager Noah Crane said. “You’ve seen we’ve playing six or seven games so far, (and) he’s pitched in almost every one of them in the tightest spots. He’s been incredibly effective. It’s just so hard to hit guys like that.”
A senior from Kansas City, Mo., Jones represents somewhat of a rarity in both collegiate baseball and, particularly, summer collegiate baseball, where sidearm pitchers are coveted from leagues across the country. Crane, in his six years with the NECBL’s Winnipesaukee Muskrats, was never able to lure a submarine pitcher to his pitching staff. Jones is the first on a Crane-built team.
“You’re always looking for those guys,” Crane said.
“Again, they get snatched up early because everybody wants them. … We were very fortunate that Nick was still available. It was our first-ever guy from Kansas State, so to open that relationship up is great.”
Jones’ favorite player growing up was Nomar Garciaparra, the popular shortstop for the Boston Red Sox and three other teams from 1996-2009. As Garciaparra was a sidearm-throwing infielder, something about the way he threw made something click instantly in Jones’ mind.
“I’ve actually always thrown sidearm, even when I was about 9 years old and used to play shortstop,” Jones said. “When I became a pitcher, I just started throwing sidearm from there.”
Jones has made four appearances this season through Friday, with no more than an inning in each game. He’s faced 11 batters, allowed only one hit, walked two and recorded two strikeouts and one save.
Although a Cenatiempo call to Jones is a last resort, the pitcher relishes the pressure.
“I’m definitely used to it by now,” Jones said.
“That’s my job is to come in there and stop the bleeding as much as I can, not let the guys score. I actually enjoy coming in in those situations. Get the adrenaline going, get ready to go.”
Jones represents the kind of situational pitching specialist that has proven essential to Upper Valley’s early success this summer. The trick for the Upper Valley coaching staff, however, is to not fall in love and use him too much, too early.
“We don’t want overuse him; we want him to be fresh all the way through,” Crane said. “It’s hard not to want to go to him all the time. He’s just so good.”
Jones, in his first summer in the NECBL, can’t imagine throwing any other way.
“I’ve never actually tried off the mound, in a game throwing overhand,” Jones said with a laugh. “I’ve messed around throwing overhand, and it’s not pretty. It’s very natural for me.”