Tahoma baseball coach Russ Hayden heard the story.

But the stat line seemed a bit far-fetched as though it was a play-by-play of a video game.

Tahoma sophomore Jerad Casper confirmed, however, that it was true. That, as unbelievable as it might sound, he did, in fact, launch four home runs on four consecutive at-bats this past summer playing for the Puget Sound Roxx, a select U-16 team.

“It happened,” said Casper, a second baseman with the Bears this season. “I got a bunch of crap, too, because I didn’t break a smile the entire time.”

Maybe not.

But Casper’s certainly smiling these days.

After starting the season in a mild 1 for 9 slide, Casper turned it up a notch last week, going 9 for 13 with a home run, nine RBIs and eight runs scored in Tahoma’s four games combined.

Casper started the week batting seventh in the order, but was moved up, thanks to his torrid batting stroke.

“I knew he was a good ballplayer,” Hayden said.

But Casper went from good to great in a week’s time, helping the Bears win three of four games.

“He’s been our third middle infielder, but has kind of earned a starting role,” Hayden said.

Casper’s big week helped the Bears pick up victories against Federal Way (12-1), Kent-Meridian (22-3) and Kentwood (14-4) and move into the thick of the South Puget Sound League North Division race.

“(The ball) looked bigger than usual,” Casper admitted. “Everything came easy. I just got an opportunity and I guess I took advantage of it.”

So too have the Bears (5-1, 8-3), who now have won four straight games after Wednesday’s 11-0 shutout of Decatur. And, of course, Casper did his part in that game as well, going 2 for 3 with two runs scored and an RBI.