WASHBURN A DIFFERENCE MAKER SINCE RETURNING TO PLAY

Jace Washburn spent an unusual amount of time watching from the bench during 2024,

Due to the length of football season, Washburn was in just his fifth basketball game of the when he broke a bone in his foot in Danville on January 12. He was not cleared to return to athletics until March 26.

“I watched a lot of TV. If there were college games on, I watched that,” Washburn said of the idle time. “I did a lot of pushups.”

From the knees of course.

With Washburn in the lineup for now 13 games the Bearcat baseball team has run what was a three game winning streak when he returned to one of 16 games.

Washburn has been the winning pitcher for five of those wins, including the district tournament finals, when he threw a complete game against Charleston, somewhat ironically, in Danville.

Other than the Charleston game, Washburn also started against and beat Class 2A-1 regular season champion Greenland on the road.

His other appearances have been against Pottsville, a four and two-thirds inning shutout outing in his first duty of the season, four innings of shutout relief in the regular season title clinching win in Paris, and two innings Monday night against Perryville.

Combined that is 22 and two-thirds innings with a 1.54 earned run average.

“I like pitching. You’re in control of the game,” Washburn said.

As far as offense goes Washburn has not been as thrilled with his 2024 performance.

“I’m not hitting too good,” he insists.

That is not completely fair. He is hitting .341 with 16 RBI in those 13 games with 14 hits in his 41 official at bats. Washburn hit .410 as a sophomore.

Teammates were quick to point out he actually had a batting average when he singled in Danville to end an 0-for-6 to start the year.

Still, after the April 5 Two Rivers game he was hitting just .222. Since then he is hitting .375 with 13 runs batted in.

Washburn’s on base percentage is .462 but is due more to being hit by pitches rather than to drawing a base on balls as he has been hit a team leading seven times.

There is no direct correlation to his pitching as he has hit just two batters. Physically three opposing batters have been struck but one was called out for having purposefully leaned into a 2-2 pitch.

“Jace is one of those guys who will do all the little things right,” said head coach Arron Kimes. “Nothing is flashy but he always seems to make the play.”

When a baseball day wraps up Washburn has a teammate he goes home with in freshman Tayden Washburn.

“It’s pretty cool,” Washburn says of playing with his sibling. “You know what he’s going to do most of the time because you know him as a person. You know his next move so you kind of prepare for it.”

While Washburn was awaiting medical clearance, his brother was in the lineup a lot. Yes, he let the freshman hear about mistakes or other issues.

“Coach Kimes told me to give him a lot of quizzes,” Washburn said.

Unfortunately, for the younger son of Amy Swint-Washburn and Tyson Washburn, a healthy older son sent the freshman to the dugout, though he does make fairly appearances as a courtesy or pinch runner.

Washburn said his family let him hear about that too.

When he is not pitching Washburn has played third base, shortstop, and first base.

As a sophomore he was also utility player who played wherever necessary depending upon who was pitching, including in center field and catching 45 innings with Rylen Ray unavailable.

Washburn has not had to catch this year but says he is willing to don the gear if that becomes necessary. He was actually prepared to take over behind the plate Monday had the Bearcats gone ahead in the sixth inning as Dax Goff would have come in to close it.

“He has played every position on the field. His knowledge of the game is unmatched by someone his age,” said Kimes.

Washburn expects no long lasting effect of the foot injury other than possibly wearing an ankle brace.

An all-around athlete, Washburn played quarterback and defensive back for a state championship football team and also qualified for the state golf tournament and had just recorded his first double digit scoring game in basketball the night he was injured.

Washburn’s school day includes Spanish II, pre-calculus/trigonometry, honors anatomy and physiology, AP Language, economics, and family science besides athletics.