AUSTIN, Texas — Dominance has been the theme in Johnson City this spring for McCray Jacobs and Johnny Slawinski.
The left-handed pitchers were nearly unhittable, helping the Eagles to a district title and top-15 ranking in Class 2A. The duo has been putting up video game numbers on the mound, creating their own competition throughout the season.
“They definitely feed off of each other," said Johnson City head coach Steven Shipley. "It's a constant competition."
Both Jacobs and Slawinski are unbeaten. The two posted earned run averages under 0.4 while reaching 100 strikeouts in the regular season.
"We always have to have the competitive aspect," said Slawinski, a sophomore lefthander. "It’s mostly friendly, nothing really serious, except the 100 strikeouts was pretty serious.”
“We were racing to 100 strikeouts. He got there in less innings, so he'd beat me on that," said Jacobs, a junior lefthander. "He gave me crap for that, but I gave up less walks and less runs.”
The strikeout rate for Jacobs and Slawinski works out to around 16 or 17 per seven-inning game, meaning there are only a few balls put in play each time they're on the mound.
"Sometimes, they [teammates] tell me to let them hit it," Slawinski said. "I’d rather not do that.’”
“Every once in a while, I'll have to yell out of the dugout, 'hey, y'all be ready, wake up,'" Shipley said. "We might only get four or five chances in a game.”
Keeping the fielders on their toes is about the only thing Coach Shipley is worried about when his southpaws are throwing.
“McCray’s got a tenacity about him. You see him do different things that a lot of guys don't think about while they're up on the mound," Shipley said. “I think for Johnny, it may be more personal...he's gonna throw it by you, and he's gonna try to make you look stupid.”
Two different approaches to the game, but the same outcomes for opposing batters.
“One of the best feelings in baseball when you strike somebody out, especially when you strike out 15 or 16 a game," Jacobs said. "It just feels like you're in control of everything...feels like they can't touch you."