Adamczyk Goes Out on Limp for Westlake

Never accuse Tyler Adamczyk of worrying more about money and individual glory than team success.

With the amateur draft weeks away and thousands of dollars at stake, the Westlake High senior ignored the risk of pitching with two hairline fractures in his right foot.

Adamczyk limited Royal to two hits in Westlake’s 3-0 victory Friday at Royal that gave the Warriors the Marmonte League championship.

“It’s as clutch a performance as you can have in high school sports,” pitching coach Josh Eby said.

Westlake coaches were so uncertain about what to expect from Adamczyk that they had left-hander Justin Blaine warming up in the first inning, in case Adamczyk’s right foot couldn’t handle the strain of pushing off the mound.

But he needed only 74 pitches to finish off the Highlanders (19-9, 7-5 in league play).

He struck out three, walked two and was in such dominating form that Royal batters would have splintered several bats had they been using wood instead of aluminum.

“I wanted to help the team win the Marmonte League championship,” Adamczyk said. “Even if I didn’t have it all, I wanted to give it my best.

“The doctor said [the injury] is nothing long term, just don’t let it change your motion. I just went out on adrenaline.”

The 6-foot-6 Adamczyk had not pitched since April 27.

He tested his foot during practice Thursday, making 15 pitches, then told his coaches he wanted the ball against Royal.

Westlake (21-6-1, 9-2-1) was in a scoreless tie through five innings because Derek Albeck matched Adamczyk pitch for pitch. He held the Warriors to two hits through 5 2/3 innings.

But Adamczyk drew a two-out walk in the sixth and Ryan McCarthy followed with a run-scoring double down the left-field line. Jake Brin added a run-scoring single, giving Adamczyk all the runs he would need.

McCarthy was exceptional at shortstop. Four times he turned difficult groundballs into outs.

McCarthy said of Adamczyk, “He didn’t have to come out here and play today. He basically told [the coaches], ‘I’m throwing no matter what.’ ”

After the final out, catcher Mike Nickeas gingerly tried to jump into Adamczyk’s arms.

“I had to be careful, but he showed me today he’s not really hurt,” Nickeas said.

Adamczyk’s limp proves he’s injured, but he taught teammates an important lesson about making sacrifices for the good of the team.

“That’s Tyler,” Coach Chuck Berrington said. “He’s a potential first-round [draft pick] and he wants to win for the team.”

Royal finished in third place after Moorpark lost to Thousand Oaks, 3-1.