Dominion’s McCowat Rings Up 20

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Dominion senior Geoff McCowat was in the zone last Tuesday against Gar-Field. There’s really no other way to describe it. The right-handed hurler owned the strike zone and opposing hitters, striking out 20 in a 7-0 shutout victory.

“It was amazing,” Titans’ coach Jay Raines said. “It went by quick though. It was like a blur.”

It must have felt much the same way for Gar-Field’s hitters as McCowat displayed impeccable precision on the mound. Not wanting to risk throwing off his pitcher’s career game, rather than congratulate McCowat as three consecutive strikeouts became five and five became eight, Raines let him be.

“I really didn’t talk to him the whole game,” he said. “I didn’t want him to get side-tracked. One of the managers came up to ask me what our school strikeout record was and I said, ‘Don’t talk about that. No one talk to him. Just leave him alone.”

It’s unclear whether the 7-inning, 20 strikeout performance is a VHSL record, but the only evidence of pitchers matching or exceeding McCowat’s total came in longer games. Raines will submit a form to the VHSL in order to get his senior starter into the record book.

McCowat’s big day wasn’t limited to his work on the mound either. He also helped himself with two home runs and five RBIs. The senior faced 25 hitters on the day and fanned 20, allowing only two hits, hitting two batters and walking none.

“I’ve said this before and I’ll keep saying it until I’m blue in the face, the kid has so much ability but he’s got to put it together,” Raines said. “Last year as a junior he would have a decent outing but wouldn’t be able to do it again the next time out.”

This was performance appears to be a big step in the right direction for Dominion’s second starter.

Note: Gar-Field visits Dominion Tuesday for the second leg of their home-and-home series with the Titans. Fortunately for the Indians, McCowat won’t be on the mound this time. He’s been dealing with an infection that resulted in swelling in his feet, but is expected to return later this week…The Titans host JEB Stuart on Wednesday and travel to Freedom to kick-off the AA Dulles District schedule Friday.

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks