It is a luxury for a high school pitching staff to have a dominant left-handed starter to give the ball to on a regular basis. But when you have two, that is a coach’s dream.

And that is exactly what Holt has in Cody Hacker (‘18) and Jacob Thompson (‘18).

In their second full seasons on the varsity squad, these flamethrowing lefties have taken the GAC by storm, dominating every time out and flustering hitters left and right. They have led the Indians to a 16-5 record despite a 3-4 start.

Thompson, who posted a more than respectable 2.85 ERA in 34.3 innings his sophomore season in 2016,  has taken a giant leap forward in that respect this season, posting a 4-1 record and a 1.35 ERA in 36.3 innings to this point.

As dominant as Thompson has been, Hacker has been even better. He has gone unblemished with a 6-0 record and a .44 ERA, an even better mark than the .79 ERA to which he pitched last year, in 31.7 innings.

Thompson points to the Indians’ excellent defensive play behind him as a key contributor to his success to this point. “Our defense has played a huge role,” Thompson said. “It’s always nice when your team doesn’t make a bunch of errors behind you.” In their 21 games, the Indians have made only 31 errors, an excellent mark for a high school team.

Hacker builds off of Thompson’s statement, noting how close the team has gotten and how this comaraderie has helped him on the mound. “I think the biggest factor is how close our team is,” he said. “You play better when you feel comfortable around your teammates.

With the playoffs approaching, Thompson and Hacker will play a huge role in how far the Indians go in districts and beyond. Thompson likes their chances. “With the team we have, we have a great chance of going deep into the postseason.”

All stats and records are accurate as of 4/28. See stlhighschoolsports.com for up-to-date info.