JUCO turns into the "World According to D.J."

By This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – You've heard of the "World According to Garp."

Well the JUCO World Series has turned into the "World According to D.J.," Western Nevada College baseball coach D.J. Whittemore that is. Whittemore has a way of making unconventional decisions and then when you ask him about those decisions after he's made them, he convinces you those were really the only rational decisions that could have made.

On Saturday, Whittemore pulled a pitcher not once, but twice when he was ahead in the count 0-2 in a 4-3 loss to Howard College of Texas in 11 innings.On Tuesday, Whittemore made two more unconventional decisions involving WNC designated hitter Jay Skilton in the Wildcats' 9-2 win over Alabama's Shelton State at Suplizio Field.

Skilton just happens to bat ninth in the order and it's likely safe to say there aren't too many coaches who bat their designated hitter ninth like Whittemore does. But Skilton relishes the role which showed on Tuesday when he went 3-for-3.

"I love it," said Skilton about hitting ninth. "I love turning the lineup over. It's great to get to the top of the lineup up. That's what I want to do."

Whittemore's first unconventional decision came with Skilton came in the first inning after WNC had taken a 1-0 lead. Whittemore gave Skilton the green light on a 3-0 count and Skilton delivered an RBI double to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead.

"I got it before and I didn't swing," said Skilton about receiving the green light on 3-0. "I was a little bit surprised but I was glad."

Not too many coaches would give a No. 9 hitter the green light on a 3-0 count, but Whittemore made it sound like it was a no-brainer.

Actually, that's what he said, it was a no-brainer. "There was a base open," Whittemore said. "It's really a no-brainer. If he walks he sets up the double play."

But doesn't the speedy Mike Stiles follow Skilton in the leadoff spot and wouldn't he be difficult to double up? In the "World According to D.J.," it doesn't matter.

The second unconventional decision came later in the game when Whittemore still called on Skilton to execute a sacrifice bunt with two strikes and Skilton executed the bunt flawlessly.

"I've done it many times," Skilton said. "I had to get the ball in play. I was confident. I knew we needed it."

Regardless of what decisions he makes, Whittemore has come to count on Skilton. "Jay has just been huge for us the last month of the season,"

Whittemore said. "He moves runners. He's really a clutch performer."