Athlete Of The Week: Mason Tomlinson

PLEASANT LAKE – There were seventeen runs scored in the first inning last Friday between Monomoy and Cape Cod Tech.

Amid that entire avalanche, senior Mason Tomlinson, the Crusaders’ cleanup-hitting first baseman, provided the most memorable swing by far.

The last game of the regular season didn’t exactly begin the way Cape Tech had intended as they entered the bottom half of the first down 15 to the Sharks. But Tomlinson still strolled up to the plate with a man on first looking to hit — and have fun.

He watched ball one. Then he found his pitch. His mechanics, and his barrel, did the rest. Tomlinson muscled the chest-high fastball over the right field fence for his fourth home run of the year. Forget the score — the bomb was a fine moment for the senior on senior night.

“Absolutely picture perfect,” Tomlinson said. “What I dreamed about doing.”

Tomlinson has had other home runs where he wasn’t sure at first if the ball was out of the park. This was different. This one was gone off the rip. Tomlinson took a righteous look at the baseball sent flying before disposing of his bat with a flourish.

“It's a really surreal feeling,” he said.

Cape Tech head coach Frank Zaino called Tomlinson one of the best hitters on the Cape. A lot of opposing teams walk him (he reached via base on balls in his second at-bat Friday).

“If I was playing against him, I wouldn't pitch to him either, but he puts the bat on the ball and hits it hard,” Zaino said. “He's going to definitely be missed next year.”

The Crusaders should be headed back to the postseason after missing out last season, so knowing Tomlinson’s power is on tap at the ready is a major boost. His teammates waited for him at home as Tomlinson returned from a trip around the bases.

“It was good to get this home run and get their spirits up for the next week,” he said.