Hillmen slam Cosumnes Oaks in opening-night win

Placer High School officially began its 2024 baseball campaign Wednesday night at James Field against Cosumnes Oaks. The Hillmen scored in bunches and took control early, securing the victory in five innings 11-1. "It was a good start," Placer coach Dave Thompson said. "The kids are really anxious to play and everybody's dealing with the weather but we got this one in before it got too wet and too cold so it was a good night." Any questions about Placer's offense were quickly answered. Freshman Jack Addison collected his first high school hit with an infield single to lead off the first and two batters later, Hayden Bailey put the Hillmen on the board with a two-run blast over the left-field fence. "I went up there and my mindset is just always try to get a knock. I've been swinging it well in practice lately and I couldn't ask for a better start to the season than that," Bailey said. "I got a fastball down the middle and I just put the right swing on it at the right time." Bailey's home run ignited Placer's bats, as the Hillmen scored seven runs in the first inning. Placer added four in the third inning, stringing together five hits in seven plate appearances to push the lead to double digits. "That homer really, really kick-started our offense when he hit that and everybody just kind of took off from there," Thompson said of Bailey's home run. "You could see the energy pick up in our lineup." The pitching staff was also impressive for the Hillmen, as Jack Williamson and Jayson Glatt combined to hold the Wolfpack to four hits. Williamson earned the win in three innings of work, keeping Cosumnes Oaks off the board and walking one. Glatt pitched the final two innings, striking out five and allowing one unearned run. "Jack's just so consistent for us. He's gonna get up there and he's gonna throw strikes. He just competes and he does a great job," Thompson said. Thompson also praised Glatt, saying, "Jayson's gonna be in the mix this year. He's really come along and has improved from last year on the JV team. He's really stepped up to the varsity level and he really wants it. I'm looking forward to some good stuff from him." It will be nearly a week until Placer takes the field again, as the stormy weather in the forecast forced Saturday's home game against Twelve Bridges to be rescheduled to a later date. Even with the bad weather, Thompson said the Hillmen will do all they can to stay consistent and make sure they stay focused. "We've just got to stay together as a unit," Thompson said. "We'll hit the weight room tomorrow, probably will work out in the gym Friday, and just stay cohesive with each other and stay together as a team. We just have to battle through the weather. It's something we deal with a lot of years." Said Bailey, "The best thing we can do is just stay working. Just keep doing what we've been doing and gotta make the best out of things with the weather. We can't stop." Placer is scheduled to host Sheldon on March 5 at James Field.