Prep Notebook: Griffin McCormick keeps Central Kitsap unbeaten with 2-0 shutout in extra-innings win over Wilson

Griffin McCormick just kept doing what he was doing. Even in extra innings.

McCormick, a Bellevue College signee who started for the Cougars in the 3A state semifinals last season, threw 96 pitches and struck out eight to keep Central Kitsap (13-0, 8-0 3A Narrows) unbeaten.

“McCormick threw a great game,” said Wilson’s first-year coach, Derek Jennings. “Mixed in his offspeed well, kept guys off balance and threw strikes.”

Central Kitsap scored its first run on a balk in the top of the eighth. Then Eric Halvorson singled home one more run.

Ethan Denney pitched seven shutout innings for Wilson (6-6, 4-4) before being pulled because he had thrown more than 100 pitches.

The Rams fell to Central Kitsap for the second consecutive time and head to a pivotal two-game series against Capital, which is 8-0 in league play.

FLYNN SIGNS WITH WSU

Malachi Flynn received a message from Isaiah Thomas — the Boston Celtics All-Star who once starred at Curtis High School — on Wednesday, before Flynn headed to a signing day ceremony that Bellarmine Prep held for him in the private Jesuit school’s main office.

He said it contained a motivational message. Flynn said he doesn’t know yet what he hopes to major in now that he’s signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Washington State University, but his ultimate goal is to one day play in the NBA, like Thomas, who plays alongside former Bellarmine Prep standout Avery Bradley.

“Once WSU came, we didn’t rush anything,” said Flynn, who in 2015-16 passed Bradley’s school record for points scored in a season with 743. “I felt very comfortable when I went out there. And when I took the visit, I didn’t have any second thoughts.”

WSU coach Ernie Kent, in a news conference on Wednesday, compared Flynn with some of his point guards at Oregon — such as Luke Ridnour (a graduate of Blaine), Aaron Brooks (of Franklin) and Tajuan Porter.

“Malachi really reminds me of the guard play that I had when we built those really good teams at Oregon,” Kent said. “The skill set, the feel for the game, his ability to score, his motor and, more importantly, his drive to be successful.”

Flynn was named The Associated Press state player of the year for all classifications and The News Tribune’s All-Area player of the year. He averaged 29.7 points in his senior season.

OTHER SIGNINGS

Gig Harbor held a signing day ceremony Wednesday morning for all its athletes, including TNT All-Area football player of the year Davis Alexander, the quarterback who actually signed with Portland State University earlier this year.

Gig Harbor center fielder and pitcher Michael Toglia has signed with UCLA. Catcher Jon Burghardt signed with Washington State.

Ten athletes from Rogers signed, including twin wrestlers Troy and Ty Wilson. Both signed with Kansas Wesleyan University

TJ HIRES EX-HUSKY

Jamaal Williams twice made the Sweet 16 as a player on the University of Washington men’s basketball team, played professionally overseas and came back as part of the Huskies staff.

Add head coach of the Thomas Jefferson High School boys basketball team to that résumé.

The school hired Williams on Wednesday as its next coach. This is his first head-coaching job after he graduated from UW almost 10 years ago.

“We are extremely ecstatic to have him on board,” Jefferson athletic director Gracie Holden said.

Jefferson finished this past season with a record of 11-13 and reached the 4A West Central District tournament. Kyle Templeton, a 1995 graduate of Jefferson, resigned as coach about two months ago and the team will be without 12 graduating seniors next year.

One of Williams’ biggest games as a Husky came in a Sweet 16 loss to UConn. He scored three of his 27 points to give UW a 78-72 lead with 1:55 to play before the other Huskies hit a 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in regulation. UW lost in overtime.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 11:08 PM with the headline "Prep Notebook: Griffin McCormick keeps Central Kitsap unbeaten with 2-0 shutout in extra-innings win over Wilson."