Poised pitcher leads Skyline

Beyond the Athlete: Spartans' left hander gets the job done on the hill

By Shaun Scott • May 18, 2015 3:28 pm
Skyline left-handed pitcher Sam Lawrence has been a consistent player on the mound throughout the 2015 season.
Skyline left-handed pitcher Sam Lawrence has been a consistent player on the mound throughout the 2015 season.

Skyline Spartans senior left-handed pitcher Sam Lawrence performed admirably in a loss against the first place Newport Knights in late April.

Lawrence surrendered just four hits and three runs in six innings of work in Skyline’s 6-2 loss to the Knights on April 24 in Sammamish.

“This was just one bump in the road,” Lawrence said after the game. “They’re a good team. We have a couple of tough opponents in Redmond and Issaquah ahead of us that we’re looking forward to playing. It will be a good way for us to bounce back and finish off the regular season. “We’ve had some close games where things didn’t go our way. We just keep battling.”

The Spartans, who finished the regular season with an 11-10 overall record, have risen to the occasion in postseason action.

The Spartans defeated the Issaquah Eagles, Redmond Mustangs and Woodinville Falcons in the Class 4A KingCo tournament, clinching a berth in the Class 4A state tournament.

The Spartans will face Snohomish in the first round of the state tourney at 10 a.m. on May 23 at Everett Memorial Stadium in Everett.

Recently the Issaquah Reporter had an opportunity to ask Lawrence a few questions about his life away from the baseball diamond.

Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter: What is your favorite movie of all time?

Sam Lawrence: “The Sandlot.” It is the best baseball movie there is out there. It is a movie you can relate to when you’re a kid.

IR: What is your biggest pet peeve?

SL: The biggest pet peeve for me is when things don’t go as planned. That is probably the biggest thing for me. I like things to go as planned.

IR: Who is your pick to win the NBA Finals this June?

SL: The Golden State Warriors. I don’t know much about basketball but what I’ve watched of them, they seem like a very talented team.

IR: What is something unique about you that nobody would know?

SL: I really like watching “How I Met Your Mother”. It is a really good show.

IR: Who was your idol growing up?

SL: Derek Jeter. The way he carries himself is something anyone can strive for who is playing this game (baseball).

IR: What is your favorite hobby away from baseball?

SL: I like playing pickup basketball with my friends and playing some XBox. It really takes my mind off of everything else going on.

IR: How many text messages do you send per day?

SL: I probably send a couple of hundred per day.

Shaun Scott: 425-453-5045; sscott@bellevuereporter.com