High School Baseball: Collins comes up cluth for Kelso in shutout of Mountain View
PHOTO GALLERY — Hilanders take control of league race with 4-0 win over Thunder behind Bryce Collins' complete-game effort
Skyler Smith for BlastZoneMedia.com / blastzonenews@gmail.com
3A Prep Baseball / Report
RISTER STADIUM — Bryce Collins didn’t just control the game; he dictated every part of it.
Kelso’s ace struck out 10, allowed just three hits, and threw a complete-game shutout as Kelso blanked Mountain View 4-0 in a key league matchup Wednesday, tightening their grip on the league race.
With the win, Kelso improved to 11-4 overall and moved two games clear of Mountain View (9-5) in the 3A Greater St. Helens League standings. And it was a familiar straightforward attack that’s put the Hilanders in front.
“Just attacking hitters with fastballs,” Collins said of his approach. “Letting them know I can command both sides of the plate and then working off that.”
That approach paid dividends early and the Scots never wavered. Collins worked ahead in counts, forced weak contact, and mixed in just enough off-speed to keep Mountain View hitters guessing. When he got ahead, he didn’t miss.
“Getting ahead early in counts really allowed me to get them to chase pitches out of the zone and get themselves out,'“ Collins said.
Kelso head coach Tyler Parsons said that level of command has been a constant for Collins for sometime now.
“He’s been that guy for us for the last four years,” Parsons said. “He did a great job today just attacking with fastballs, and when he couldn’t find it, he’s got the ability to go to those off-speed pitches in any count he wants.”
From the opposing dugout, Mountain View saw the same thing, just from a tougher angle.
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