WSU-bound hurler shines in Jackets’ exhibition in Port Orchard

t Proceeds from game will benefit area youth baseball.

The cold weather, roster without many numbers and parent club facing its feeder team gave the game a preseason feel.

It also served as preparation for some, but pitcher Christian Scholl didn’t look like he needed it.

Scholl, a 6-foot right-hander who played at Green River Community College and signed at Washington State University, allowed just one hit and struck out 13 batters in five innings Thursday for the Kitsap BlueJackets, who lost an 8-5 exhibition game against their feeder team, Olympia, at South Kitsap High School.

“Tremendous,” said Kitsap coach Matt Acker, who coached Scholl at Green River. “He’s an outstanding pitcher. He’s going to be a force in this league if he’s around.”

He might not be as Scholl is eligible for baseball’s amateur draft, which began Thursday. The only Washington player selected in the first six rounds was Kelso pitcher Trevor May, who was selected in the fourth round by the Philadelphia Phillies.

Acker said Scholl has a place in the rotation if he doesn’t sign with a major-league team, but the team went into an evaluation process after he left the game.

That’s because some players competed in the College World Series and won’t join the team until next week. Some players, such as former Olympic High standout Nick Bankus, also pitched. Bankus, a left-handed pitcher at the University of Portland, likely will start the season with Olympia.

“We’ve got a good chance to see the players,” Acker said. “It’s important for us to see them.”

Kitsap had a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning when the A’s tied the game off Bankus.

They then took the lead with two runs in the seventh inning and added a couple more scores in the ninth.

The BlueJackets also played an exhibition game Friday in Poulsbo.

Acker said the games gave the team an opportunity to see fans in other areas of Kitsap County and also benefited local Little League teams.

Proceeds from Thursday’s game were donated to the South Kitsap Western Little League.

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