OA Athlete of the Week: David Holmes

OA baseball pitcher David Holmes stepped in and has helped guide the Oliver Ames baseball team to a 8-1 start thanks to superb performances on the mound.

In a 2-1 win over Mansfield on Tuesday at , Holmes put together another strong performance in a pitchers duel striking out 10 batters in seven innings of work.

On top of his pitching performance, Holmes also delivered a clutch hit to spark the OA rally in the bottom of the seventh leading to Brad Flemming’s two RBI double to walk off with the victory.

Despite allowing Mansfield’s only run earlier in the inning, Holmes felt composed leading off the bottom half of the seventh and delivered a laser to left field on a full count.

“I felt composed [at that at-bat],” Holmes said. “I felt I was hitting the ball good all day and I just went up there and tried to do my job and come through.”

Holmes’ performance Tuesday caught the eye of head coach Leo Duggan afterwards.

“David pitched great for us again,” Duggan said. “In the last inning he came up big with a big base hit on a 3-2 count and he hit it down the line [in left field]. That was big in helping us start the rally.”

Holmes felt comfortable carrying the load in the early part of the 2012 season along with fellow ace Ryan O'Shea.

“I felt comfortable out there,” Holmes said about the first few games. “I’m just trying to help the team out by stepping up and trying to get some wins.

“We’ve always pitched together and we’ve always been a good combo,” Holmes added about pitching with O’Shea. “It just makes us that much stronger.”

After two straight early exits in the state tournament in 2010 (to Plymouth North) and 2011 (to Milton), OA is hoping to turn the page and begin its quest for another Hockomock championship, while also hoping to claim its first state championship since 2007.

Despite having some great memories on those two teams, Holmes thinks that the team is due for a long tournament run in 2012.

“I think we have a strong possibility of making it far into the tournament, if not winning it this year,” Holmes said. “We are definitely motivated this year, especially after the last two exits. Hopefully this will be our year,”

Not only is Holmes having a great start to the baseball season, but he also has had a fulfilling time off the field in his final year at OA.

Holmes, whose favorite subject is math, committed to Bridgewater State University in the fall and hopes to pitch for the Bears next spring.

Holmes is also hoping to go out on a high note in the final weeks of the baseball season and academic year.

“It’s been a great four years at ” Holmes said. “I’m looking forward to finishing out the year in the classroom and on the field, and moving forward next year to Bridgewater State.”

Editor's Note: This article has been updated from its original version.