San Rafael Ace Can't Get Enough of Lincecum

The top pitcher on the baseball team got an unusual present for his 18th birthday recently: A free pass to miss his game April 13.

won’t be with the Bulldogs when they host Auburn Christian in a non-league game that day. Rather, he’ll be on hand to witness – if the schedule holds – Tim Lincecum pitch for the Giants against the Dodgers.

“I’m a major Giants fan,” the San Rafael senior declared. “Tim Lincecum is my idol. I pretty much watch every game he pitches.”

Usually that’s been on television. But when the rotation was announced for the Giants’ first homestand of the 2011 season and it coincided with Spring Break at school … well, thank goodness Bulldogs coach is understanding.

Hamilton, who began the season as no more than a competitor for the No. 2 spot on the San Rafael staff, has been downright Lincecum-like in a couple of his early season starts. He surrendered just one run in five innings in a 4-3 win over Piedmont, and later held Redwood to just three hits over five innings in a 1-0 loss in Marin County Athletic League play.

Any similarity to Lincecum, Hamilton assures, is strictly mental, not physical.

“It’s not like I try to copy him,” he noted. “I just try to take command on the mound like he does. Mix up pitches. Take control over the hitters like he does. Try to shut them all down.”

Hamilton, who attended the World Series victory parade in San Francisco, considers the Giants – San Francisco, not Redwood – a solid choice to repeat as champions. In the meantime, he’d like to see the Bulldogs celebrate a few more victories themselves.

Their chances improve when Hamilton is on the mound. He’s not overpowering, just effective.

“He’s been dialing -- throwing strikes, not walking guys, having the other team put the ball in play,” Switala observed. “He’s been a big surprise. I always expected him being a big part of our pitching staff. But he’s the main guy right now.

“Not that the other guys have pitched poorly. We have three really good arms right now. I just have confidence in him right now to give him the ball in big games.”

Switala admits his team’s hitting and defense hasn’t kept pace with the pitching, which is reflected in the club’s record (2-3 overall, 0-3 in the MCAL). When those aspects of the Bulldogs’ game improve, Hamilton’s win total should follow suit.

Hamilton, who used to play basketball but now focuses on baseball, credits his coach for his improvement.

“He’s given me a lot of confidence on and off the mound,” Hamilton said. “Throughout each game, he’s always keeping my game face on. He’s really supportive and helps me out in tough situations, always helps me do the right things.

“Stan taught me the curve ball at the beginning of my sophomore year. I really have perfected it over the past couple of years. I can throw it on 3-and-2 and still feel confident I can get the out.”

Hamilton hopes to pitch for College of Marin next season, and why not?

It’s another couple of miles closer to where Tim Lincecum hangs out.

SAN RAFAEL BASEBALL UPDATE

Recent results: Lost to Redwood, 1-0; tied with Drake 3-3 through three innings (rain).

San Rafael’s record: 0-3 in MCAL, 2-3 overall.

Highlights: Ryan Hamilton pitched five strong innings in the loss to Redwood … pitched a scoreless sixth … McIntyre-Bader and led off the Drake game with back-to-back liners off the left-field fence at Drake.

Coach Stan Switala’s comments: “(Ryan) Hamilton kept us in the Redwood game. He threw strikes, made them put the ball in play … We’re not hitting the ball right now. Been the story of our season."

Upcoming schedule: Friday at Justin-Siena, 4:30 p.m.; Saturday at Tam, 1 p.m.; Tuesday at home vs. San Marin, 4:30 p.m.