King, Cougars secure share of AAC title
Senior lefthander tosses 7 innings on final day of regular season
His day over, John King came out for what amounted to a curtain call when he was recognized as the only senior on the University of Houston baseball team.
Turns out, the celebration was just getting started.
King tossed seven strong innings in his first start in nearly a month, and the Cougars clinched a share of the American Athletic Conference regular-season title with a 7-6 victory over Cincinnati on Saturday at Schroeder Park.
“It’s a storybook ending for John King to this point,” UH coach Todd Whitting said of the lefty. “He was gritty. I’m proud of him.”
On the final day of the regular season, the Cougars claimed their third AAC title (two regular-season and one tournament) in four years. At 15-9 in league play, UH finished in a tie with Central Florida for first place. Since the Knights own the head-to-head tiebreaker, the Cougars will be the No. 2 seed and open tournament play against seventh-seeded Memphis at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Clearwater, Fla.
“The team has been grinding all year,” Whitting said. “We’ve had a lot of ups, a lot of downs. I’m just really proud of all the guys in the clubhouse.”
This title might have been the most improbable, with UH’s roster featuring only one senior and 23 newcomers, including more than a half-dozen freshmen who have played key roles. There also were injuries to overcome and the distraction involving star pitcher Seth Romero, who was suspended and eventually dismissed from the team.
“This is one of the toughest years I’ve been through, with off-field stuff going on and devastating injuries,” Whitting said. “To be able to pull off something like this with all the factors working against us (is an accomplishment).”
In his first start since April 23, King held Cincinnati to one earned run and seven hits over seven innings. After allowing two runs — one coming on a first-inning error — King used a pair of timely double plays to finish with five shutout innings.
“I knew what was on the line,” said King, who missed three turns in the weekend rotation with discomfort in his throwing elbow.
UH backed King early, scoring five runs in the first inning as Cincinnati’s Nathan Kroger struggled with control. Kroger hit Jake Scheiner before issuing consecutive walks to Corey Julks, Joe Davis and Connor Hollis. Cooper Coldiron added a RBI groundout, and Jared Triolo added a two-run single. UH pushed across two more runs in the fourth on a RBI double by Grayson Padgett and Julks’ run-scoring single.
UH reliever Fred Villarreal allowed four runs in the eighth, the big blow a bases-clearing double by Eric Santiago. But Villarreal settled down, needing just seven pitches to close out the ninth.
“He went right after them,” Whitting said.
Fittingly, as UH players celebrated near home plate, it was King who was handed the trophy to raise in the air.