Versatile Shields Boosts Hart With Unlikely Weapon

Jamie Shields, the hitter, is challenging Jamie Shields, the pitcher, for most valuable player honors at Hart High.

Shields raised his batting average to .475 with a home run, double, single and four runs batted in to help the Indians defeat Canyon, 14-6, in a Foothill League game Friday at Hart.

Hart (12-2, 6-1 in league play) avenged a 5-3 loss on Thursday to Canyon (6-6, 4-3) by collecting 17 hits and opening a 9-1 lead after two innings.

Ryan Haag had three hits and Tim Hutting, Brandon Montemayor, Tim Baresi and Jason Goss each added two hits.

Shields, a junior right-hander, struck out four in 2 2/3 innings of relief to pick up his second save. He is 3-0 with 46 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings.

But few envisioned him making an impact with his bat.

“I was kind of surprised,” Coach Bud Murray of Hart said. “That kid works pretty hard in whatever he does.”

Shields decided to try hitting this season to have more “fun.” The Indians certainly have benefited. Hitting in the No. 5 spot, he has 19 hits in 40 at-bats with a team-leading 22 RBIs.

Adam Rondou, Mike Kennedy, Garret Behnke, Mike Munn and Matt Bench each had two hits for Canyon.