Rally Killer : El Dorado’s Jamieson Has Knack for Escaping From the Toughest Pitching Jams

Iran Novick can remember it as if it happened yesterday.

Four years ago, Novick, El Dorado’s pitching coach, was reviewing the freshman pitching hopefuls when a nondescript teen-ager with an average build threw his first ball. It sailed over the backstop, bouncing off the bullpen gate.

“I thought to myself, ‘Hoo-boy, it’s going to be a fun three years,’ ” Novick said.

Novick had no idea how right he was.

Don Jamieson did not suddenly turn into Nolan Ryan. But during the next three years, the young right-hander with the memorable heave became one of the winningest pitchers the school has produced.

In fact, since a 1-1 sophomore season, Jamieson--who is 10-2 this season and will start today’s first-round Southern Section Division I playoff game against Capistrano Valley--has been nearly unbeatable.

Jamieson was 11-0 as a junior. He had nine consecutive victories this season before losing to Century, 3-2, on April 19. It took three unearned runs to do it. An unearned run made the difference in his other loss, 1-0, to Katella on April 26.

The 20 consecutive victories is the longest streak in school history and the fourth longest in Southern Section history.

“Every game he amazes me,” El Dorado Coach Steve Gullotti said.

“We’ve had pitchers that, when they went out there, they knew they could dominate a team. But Don just has a knack of getting a hitter to hit his pitch, and making the right pitch in crucial situations. They have two on and no outs, and he gets a double play. Or men on second and third with no outs and he gets the popup.

“I keep telling him after the season to go with me to Las Vegas because Lady Luck is with him all the time. He’s a good pitcher, but things go his way. If he gives up four runs, we score five. If we score one, he shuts them out.”

Something works. This season Jamieson has pitched 72 2/3 innings, given up 69 hits and walked 28. He has only 31 strikeouts. But opponents have scored only 32 runs against him--21 of them earned.

That’s one way to keep winning, which Jamieson has done better than most county pitchers the last two seasons. Gullotti doesn’t have complete records but believes Jamieson’s 22 career victories are the most by a Golden Hawk.

“The only one with possibly more would be Dan Petry,” said Gullotti, referring to the former Detroit Tiger and Angel pitcher.

Jamieson, 18, only smiles when you ask the secret of his success.

“I try to take things one step at a time, not do anything extra,” Jamieson said. “When I’m on the mound I don’t look at myself as some kind of dominating pitcher who’s going to strike out everybody. Coach Novick has helped me with my control. I try to hit my spots and I’ve been able to make good pitches when the time counts.

“I give up hits. But when the pressure is on, I get even more focused. Other pitchers can get distracted, but I seem to be able to make good pitches when the time comes. I think that comes from preparation and a lot of practice.”

That simple premise has kept El Dorado’s Empire League foes baffled.

“We were at the all-league meeting on Monday,” Novick said. “We asked everybody what they thought of Don [who was voted first team all-league for the second year]. A lot of coaches said they couldn’t figure why he’s so successful. He doesn’t throw real hard, doesn’t have that one great pitch.

“But he throws strikes and forces guys to swing the bat. That’s our philosophy--we want teams to hit every pitch we throw. Trouble is, the hitters don’t see the same pitch twice in row.

“His fastball starts out straight, then dips or goes left or right. Same with the changeup. He can throw the ball down the middle of the plate, but the ball is always moving and is hard to hit solidly.”

Gullotti and Novick point to another factor--Jamieson’s intelligence. Both say he is the smartest pitcher they have coached, and that Jamieson, who has a 3.95 grade-point average, uses his mind to compensate for what he might lack in physical talent.

Last summer, Jamieson was invited to an all-star baseball camp at Stanford. At the camp he was spotted by representatives from Harvard.

“When I got home there was a message on the answering machine that they wanted me to come out,” Jamieson said. “Just the name ‘Harvard’ brought smiles to my parents’ faces.”

Not to mention the university’s willingness to provide the bulk of financial aid needed to attend there.

The offer has made Jamieson re-evaluate his priorities.

“My dream had been to get drafted and play major league baseball,” Jamieson said. “It’s not that I don’t dream that anymore, but I’m trying to get my education out of baseball because I realize I can do that.

“In football and some other sports you have to be out of the ordinary, really big or something. But the combination of grades and some talent can get you ahead with baseball.”

So can a knack for winning.