Santa Fe baseball gets key district win over Williston

<p>WILLISTON — Brian Thomas' fastball is good enough to get by quite a few hitters, but even when it doesn't, the Santa Fe senior usually is pretty effective.</p><p>The reason?</p><p>“We've got an excellent defense behind him,” Raiders coach Ron Brooks said.</p><p>In a 5-1 win at District 5-3A rival Williston (10-3, 4-1 in the district) on Friday night, Thomas did what he does best, getting ahead in the count, getting movement on his pitches and, most importantly, getting the Red Devils to put the ball on the ground. While improving to 4-0, Thomas, who entered the game with a 2.58 ERA, struck out five and allowed five hits and one earned run.</p><p>“He did well,” Williston coach Jim Smith said. “He got a lot of run on his fastball and spotted it well. We put the ball in play, but give them credit. They made plays.”</p><p>Santa Fe (11-1, 4-0) also was effective at the plate, producing nine hits. Center fielder Ryan Rodriguez was 2 for 3 with an RBI double to right field in the second. Catcher Lee Hart also had two hits, including a sixth-inning double that brought home two.</p><p>Thomas and his defense, however, were the story.</p><p>Aside from one error, the Raiders were sharp throughout the game, making every routine play and a few that weren‘t so routine.</p><p>“We love playing defense (behind Thomas),” Santa Fe third baseman Bryan Evans said. “We know he's going to get us some ground balls. We have all the confidence in the world in him. We all trust him.”</p><p>NOTE: Williston will play host to Newberry at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Tiffany Poupard Memorial Game. A Williston graduate whose brother (Andrew) plays third base for the Red Devils, Poupard died in a car accident last year at age 29, leaving behind an infant daughter, Madelynn. Proceeds from the game will benefit Poupard's child, Smith said.</p>