Summer ball helps Aston’s Kester to heal
ASTON » Ryan Kester didn’t throw during his sophomore season at Sun Valley.
“I tore my rotator cuff,” said Aston’s left-handed pitcher.
Kester went down during preseason workouts, leaving him relegated to the bench, watching as others passed him on the depth chart. He eventually returned to finish his year with the junior varsity team.
Kester was motivated to return to full health by the time Aston Valley’s Intermediate EDCO season got under way.
“I’ve been pitching pretty much all season with this team,” he said. “I feel good.”
Kester was his best Tuesday night in Game 2 of the championship series against Media at Jim Buggy Memorial Field. For Aston, there was no other option. Kester had to be the man. Media, which won the opener of the best-of-3 series Sunday, needed one more victory to clinch the Intermediate EDCO title.
Kester wouldn’t allow that to happen.
He labored at times, but the southpaw showed signs of pinpoint control on the way to throwing a three-hit shutout as Aston stayed alive with a 1-0 victory. Game 3 to decide the champion takes place Thursday at 6 p.m. at Springton Lake Middle School.
“First time we played Media (in the regular season), I pitched against them and let them get under my skin,” said Kester, who struck out four and worked around five walks. After dealing with control issues in the first three frames, Kester retired 11 of the final 13 hitters he faced.
“I didn’t throw very well then,” he said. “I knew I had to be (better) tonight.”
Kester walked pinch hitter Jack Fletcher to begin the top of the seventh inning. After getting Dan Esparragoza to fly out to center fielder Brett Howe, Evan Sides hit a weak fly ball to right fielder Avery Frank, who then fired to first base to nab Fletcher for a game-ending double play.
“Proud of these guys,” Aston coach Todd Kirk said. “We were down 1-0 (in the series), backs against the wall. They really battled tonight and showed a lot.”
Kester’s odd delivery kept the Media hitters in guessing mode. Kester pitches with a leg kick, which he stops in mid-delivery before making his pitch.
Is he trying to mimic anyone on the mound? You bet.
“Clayton Kershaw,” he said.
Meanwhile, Media let a fantastic outing by Caleb Mahalik go to waste. The tall right-hander, who showed off his athleticism several times while fielding his position, had a no-hitter brewing into the sixth inning. Aston’s lone hit was a bloop single off the bat of Connor Boyd that landed between second baseman Justin Heidig and right fielder Cummings.
Mahalik went the distance, allowing an unearned run on one hit with two walks and three punchouts. He deserved a much better fate.
In the first inning, Aston scored the lone run of the game without the benefit of a hit. Mahalik got the first two outs with relative ease, then Media hurt itself on defense. Kester hit a grounder to third that went through the five-hole, stole second base and scored on an error by the left fielder.