IN SPORTS: ROUND TWO GOES TO TOKAY BASEBALL
Accomplishments: Joseph Heryford has been tearing the cover off baseballs lately.
The Tokay High baseball player, a junior designated hitter/shortstop, has hit safely in the bulk of the Tigers’ Tri-City Athletic League games this season. Most notable the last five that has helped Tokay into earning a Sac-Joaquin Section Division I playoff berth.
Entering Tuesday’s game against Lodi, Heryford is 11-for-18 in five games. That included a bunt single in last Friday’s home game against West, in which Tokay (6-7 in the TCAL, 12-12) rallied from a 5-5 tie to win post a 6-5 win in eight innings.
In the series against West, Heryford went 6-for-10 that included a 3-for-4 performance at the Wolf Pack’s field in Tracy on May 2. Against Lincoln on April 28, he went 3-for-5.
Since the start of league play, and after the Tigers’ series against St. Mary’s in which Tokay lost all three games, Heryford’s confidence at the plate has increased.
“I haven’t changed anything with my swings,” said Heryford, who bats in the No. 2 spot in the line-up. “I’m just more confident at the plate.”
Heryford, who also played wide receiver on the Tokay football team last fall, prefers situational hitting. That’s how he’s been tearing the ball in league action.
“Sometimes I go up, if they didn’t get the lead-off hitter, I know they are going to try to come at me,” Heryford said. “They think can get an out. I become more aggressive.”
Heryford was playing shortstop at the beginning of the season. But a nagging shoulder injury from when he was 12 has bothered him. That has led to Tokay coach Pat Macfarlane to use Heryford as a designated hitter.
“I’d much rather be playing out there,” said Heryford, referring to shortstop. “But it’s better than me not playing at all. I’m just trying to focus at the plate.”
Win or lose Tuesday night’s game against Lodi, Heryford and the Tigers figure they will be ready when the section playoffs begin next Monday. Tokay will be the No. 3 or 4 seed out of the TCAL, depending if it won Tuesday and going into today’s rubber match against the Flames at Zupo Field. That confidence for a team that has 17 juniors and only three seniors builds well after this season.
“We’re young,” Heryford said. “We’re just looking forward to the playoffs. Right now we’re getting a lot of experience. This year all we wanted is to go out there and prove it to ourselves. We have a lot to prove to people. We’re looking forward to next year.”