Thomas Crabtree shows how dominant Collierville baseball's pitching staff can be

COLLIERVILLE — Thomas Crabtree knew nine pitches into the game he was going to have a special night on the mound. In the first nine pitches he threw all strikes and had two strikeouts.  

Three innings into the game, he had six strikeouts and allowed just one hit.  

Crabtree was composed for all seven innings as he helped Collierville shut out Houston 3-0 en route to a Region 8-4A championship, the team's first since beating Houston in the 2019 season.  

“They hadn’t been able to touch me, so I just kept going after them,” said Crabtree, who finished with 12 strikeouts in the win. “That’s the best I’ve pitched all year.” 

His dominance on the mound is just another example of how powerful the Collierville pitching staff has been this season.  

Crabtree was the strong arm on the mound for most of the season with senior MLB prospect Grayson Saunier on a strict pitch-count as he was recovering from an injury. While Saunier was limited, Crabtree commanded the game from the mound.  

Through seven weeks in the regular season, he amassed 51 strikeouts and five wins. Wednesday night was reminiscent of how strong he had been this season.  

"No matter who he faces, he feels he has a chance to win,” said Collierville coach Jeff Munier. 

Along with Crabtree, Ryan Neilson and Grant Ross have filled in as strong arms as well, tossing 47 and 45 strikeouts, respectively, through the first seven weeks. They also had a 0.95 and 1.03 ERA, respectively, during that time.  

Having four arms that can control the game and get out of tough jams this time of the year is a commodity.  

"We have a very quality pitching staff,” Munier said. “We feel like anybody we put out there, we have a chance to win. It’s a luxury.” 

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In the fifth inning of Wednesday’s game, Crabtree faced his toughest challenge of the game. He had two runners on base via walks and just one out – runners on first and third. With Houston threating to get its first run across the plate, his shortstop helped turn a double play, ending the inning.  

As Crabtree jogged back to his dugout, he yelled, adjusted his hat and ignited a confident Collierville team to hold on for the win.  

It was only right he ended the game with a strikeout.  

“We knew he was going to come in and throw lights out, that’s what he does,” Saunier said.  

When you pitch your best game of the season against your rival, not much needs to be said. Winning with dominance on the mound is more than enough.  

It’s also enough to give Collierville more confidence as it’s one win away from its first state tournament appearance since 2018.  

"We’re going to be electric when that happens,” Crabtree said. “Nobody can beat us. We feel like we’re unstoppable at this point.”

Reach Wynston Wilcox at wwilcox@gannett.com and on Twitter @wynstonw__.