All-Decade Team: Starting Pitcher

During the Wild Things' first spring training, back in 2002, I asked manager Jeff Isom what kind of pitcher has a track record of success in the Frontier League. It didn't take him long to come up with an answer. Isom said that left-handers who throw strikes on a consistent basis usually dominate the league.

Maybe Isom was saying that because he was a former left-handed pitcher in the Pirates' system. But, Isom did sign two left-handed starting pitchers for the Wild Things' inaugural season. One was Jason Hickman, a former 8th-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who was Washington's No. 5 starter, had a 6-6 record and threw a no-hitter.

The other lefty was a player who spent one season as a reliever in the Cincinnati Reds' system. Jared Howton had signed with the Reds as a free agent after being a fifth-year senior at Texas-San Antonio.

Howton made only one start for Billings (Mont.) of the rookie-level Pioneer League, but he flourished in the rotation for the Wild Things. Howton was the Frontier League's 2002 Pitcher of the Year after posting an 11-3 record and amazing 1.89 ERA. The latter remains the record for a Washington starting pitcher.

Only one of Howton's first three appearances for the Wild Things was as a starter, but once inserted into the rotation for good on June 7, Howton dominated. His ERA from June 7 on was only 1.45. Only twice in Howton's final 13 starts did he give up more than two runs.

Perhaps Howton's best outing for Washington came in an August game at home against Johnstown when he tossed a three-hit shutout, did not walk a batter and struck out a team-record 13 batters. He retired 16 of the first 17 hitters.

Howton also pitched a five-hit complete game at Kalamazoo to beat the Kings in the first playoff game in Wild Things history.

In Game 1 of the 2002 championship series against Richmond, Howton pitched four effective innings before rain forced the game to be suspended. He never pitched again in the series.

Injuries were the other story with Howton. Bothered by a shoulder impingement that eventually ended his 2003 season at midseason, Howton was limited to 11 starts. He still managed to pitch through the pain and post a 7-2 record.

For two seasons, Howton was 18-5 in the regular season, 1-0 in the playoffs and the 2002 Frontier League Pitcher of the Year. That was more than enough to earn a spot on the all-decade team.

All-Decade Team Starting Pitcher: Jared Howton (2002-03)