Thorpe kept the Wildcats’ normally potent bats at bay, limiting them to two hits and walking one. Though he felt fatigued in the seventh inning, he redoubled his focus and with his 100th and final pitch recorded his ninth strikeout.
“I was pumped, I could go another seven innings,” Thorpe said. “It was awesome, the adrenaline rush was just amazing.”
Along with his memorable pitching performance, Thorpe drove in what proved to be the winning run. After Hornets leadoff man Zach Holbrock drew a walk to open the game, Jake Little moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt. Thorpe then spotted himself a run, lining an RBI single.
The most trouble Thorpe faced came later in that first inning. Wildcats junior and Southwestern Buckeye League Player of the Year Travis Lakins doubled, then moved to third on a passed ball with one out. Thorpe calmly worked out of the jam, inducing a strikeout and groundout in succession. From there, no Franklin player passed second base.
Thursday’s win marked a high point in the Hornets’ late surge. A few weeks ago, their record stood at 8-12. Since then, they’ve won seven of eight.
“(Thorpe) has absolutely carried us, he’s been unbelievable,” Monroe coach Bobby Hunt said. “He’s clicking at the right time, we’re playing defense behind him, we’re getting clutch, key hits at the right time; it’s been amazing.”
Monroe will try to keep that momentum going when it faces either Tippecanoe or Ben Logan in the district final on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Mason High School.
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