San Diego High School Player of the Week : His Turnaround Is More Than Fair Play

Earlier this season, Tom Stilinovich experienced some tough times. After hitting .350 last season, he began this season by getting only one hit in his first 24 at-bats. As a pitcher, Stilinovich--the top starter for University of San Diego High School--lost three of his first five decisions.

“I had three in a row where I’d give up a few bloopers, a walk, an error and then a guy would hit it out,” Stilinovich said. “A lot of it was just mechanics--trying to overthrow and getting the ball up.”

But last week, Stilinovich, The Times’ Player of the Week, caused the Dons’ opponents some tough times. Tuesday, he pitched a no-hitter in a 12-0 victory over Kearny. Two days later, he was 2 for 3 with four RBIs to lead the Dons to a 12-7 victory over La Jolla.

“In the second inning, I started thinking about it,” Stilinovich said. “I got (Scot) Welish and (Lupe) Ford out and I figured if I could get those guys out another time, I could pitch a no-hitter.”

Baseball superstition dictates that no-hitters are to be ignored until they have been achieved. Stilinovich’s teammates did not mention he had a no-hitter going, though the pitcher isn’t sure they were being superstitious.

“I don’t think anybody knew it was a no-hitter,” Stilinovich said. “Only my shortstop, Pete Hawes, mentioned it to me. Before the last inning, he told me to just throw strikes because they’d play good defense behind me.”

Stilinovich said the key to the success that had eluded him earlier in the season has been a more-relaxed pitching motion.

“I try to throw it slower and keep it down,” he said. “I’m not trying to overthrow it. A lot of the trouble I’ve had is when I throw hard, I tend to get the ball up at waist level.”

Pitching, Stilinovich is 5-3. Since his 1-for-24 slump, he has hit .395 to raise his season average to .290. His team, ranked No. 5 in the county, is tied for first place in the City Western League and appears headed for the playoffs.

However, Stilinovich will not be satisfied until he pitches at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium in the section’s 3-A championship game. USDHS appeared to be headed there last season. The Dons were leading San Marcos, 1-0, in a semifinal when things turned sour for Stilinovich.

“I balked in the tying run,” Stilinovich said. In the eighth inning of that game, After a three-base error, Stilinovich’s successor, Mike Eggleton, intentionally walked the next two batters to load the bases, then issued another walk that cost the Dons a chance at the section title.

“It was just like the Angels last year,” Stilinovich said. “We had one out to go. I thought we should have played in the stadium. . . . That’s our goal this year--to make it to the stadium and win it.”