Heavy graduation losses and a season-ending injury to a key returner has forced an inexperienced Ripon Christian team — the youngest under 15th-year coach John de Visser — to grow up in a hurry.
The Knights needed one of their few seniors to step up in a big way, and Luisi has answered the call. Last week, he made big contributions in every phase, as Ripon Christian got two much-needed Trans Valley League wins — its first two of the season — in a series sweep of rival Ripon.
“We’ve been pushing for him to take on an expanded role this year” de Visser said. “Last year, he had some really good games for us and showed flashes of it. This year, we’ve asked him to take on a lead-dog role after we graduated Luke (Crivello), Grant (Sonke) and (Dustin) Hoekstra, and his numbers have been phenomenal this year. In conference play, he has had some very good games against very good teams.”
Luisi was an offensive spark in the opener last Wednesday, April 2, and he secured the win 6-2 home from the mound with a 1 2/3-inning save. On Friday, in a mercy-shortened 10-0 blowout at Mistlin Park, he pitched all five innings and struck out seven in a two-hitter.
In total for the week, Luisi went 3-for-5 with four runs and four stolen bases. He also fired eight strikeouts against two hits and six walks over 6 2/3 innings.
“He’s our No. 1 (pitcher),” de Visser said. “To come in and close it out in a tough situation on Wednesday to guarantee the win, and come back to be able to pitch five scoreless on Friday is very impressive. That’s a good hitting team, but he’s tough to square up and has good command of the running game. That’s why I like to close him on Wednesday and start him the next (game).”
Luisi shows off his defensive prowess as both center fielder and pitcher. In game 2 last week, he picked off Ripon’s first base runner of the game and then got the final out by covering home plate on a wild pitch.
Offensively, he’s an on-base machine and a menace on the basepaths. His 11 RBIs, six doubles, 13 hit by pitches and 18 steals are all team-highs. He is hitting for a .386 average with an 0.571 on-base percentage.
On the mound, Luisi sports a 0.91 earned run average with 56 strikeouts, 21 hits scattered and 18 walks given up over 38 1/3 innings.
“We knew coming into the year that guys like him would have to step up for us to have a shot,” de Visser said. “He didn’t hit the Mendoza (line) last year, and he’s leading off for us now. Now, he hits darn near .400, and not only that, gets on base. He’s 18-for-18 (on steal attempts), so it’s not just the ability to take the extra 90 feet, but to not get thrown out. He’s also the best bunter on my team.
“Jordan really stepped it up from last year to this year. No one has made a bigger jump from year to year as he has.”
Now 2-5 in TVL play and 8-9 overall, the Knights — who are idle this week — next take on former Southern League foe Orestimba starting April 16 in Newman.
