Lewis-Clark State and College of Idaho swept double-headers, and Oregon Tech and Bushnell split.
Shane Spencer – photo by Bob Broughton
At Vancouver, BC. First game: Lewis-Clark State 3, British Columbia 1. All three Warriors runs were from solo home runs; Dominic Signorelli and Charlie Updegrave in the top of the fourth, and Jake Gish in the top of the sixth. The Thunderbirds missed two good chances to score during the first eight innings. The bottom of the sixth ended when Ardan Berg hit a single to left field, and Aaron Marsh tried to score from second. He was out at the plate, the result of a perfect throw from left fielder Nick Seamons. In the bottom of the eighth, the Thunderbirds had runners at first and second with two out. Berg hit a sharp ground ball in the direction of second baseman Magnum Hofstetter, and Hofstetter made a great play to keep the ball from getting into the outfield, and threw to first to get the out and end the threat.
Both starters were still in the game in the ninth inning. Warrior starter Shane Spencer came as close as a pitcher could get to a complete game shutout without actually getting one. He struck out Kaden Zarowny for what should have been the final out of the game, but the ball got away from the catcher, and Zarowny got to first base to keep the Thunderbirds alive. Zarowny then stole second, then scored to end the shutout on a single by Jonny McGill. The Thunderbirds then had Trent Lenihan at the plate representing the tying run. The Warriors brought in their closer, Cameron Smith, who has not had a blown save this season. Lenihan worked the count to 3-and-2, and fouled off two pitches, but struck out swinging at a changeup.
Spencer’s numbers were 8 2/3 innings pitched, one run on seven hits, eight strikeouts. Thunderbird starter Daniel Orfaly pitched 8 1/3 innings, allowed three runs on seven hits, struck out three. Gish and Brandon Cabrera each had two hits for the Warriors. McGill finished 3-for-5 with two doubles.
Jonny McGill – photo by Bob Broughton
Second game: Lewis-Clark State 8, British Columbia 6. Charlie Updegrave hit a two-RBI double in the top of the first inning, and a home run in the top of the fifth for the winning run. Nick Seamons hit a three-run home run in the top of the second. The Thunderbirds tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single by Trent Lenihan and a two-RBI single by Jonny McGill. The Thunderbirds were held scoreless the rest of the way by reliever Jace Hanson, who allowed six hits, and struck out six. However, the pitching story of this game was Vicarte Domingo, who took over from starter Sean Heppner in the fifth inning, after Heppner gave up eight runs on ten hits, and struck out eight. Domingo allowed two hits, and struck out eleven of the 15 batters he faced. Russell Young and Mitchell Middlemiss both finished 3-for-5 for the Thunderbirds. recap
At Springfield, OR. First game: Oregon Tech 4, Bushnell 2. Matthew Ortiz was responsible for all four of the Hustlin’ Owls’ runs. He hit a two-RBI double in the top of the fourth inning to get the Owls on the board. He hit a triple in the top of the sixth inning to score the winning run, then came home on an error to score the insurance run. Owl starter Isaac Hill got the win, pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowed two runs on five hits, struck out five, walked six. Nate Rasmussen got the loss. Albert Jennings finished 3-for-5 with a double for the Beacons.
Matthew Ortiz
Second game: Bushnell 12, Oregon Tech 4. The Beacons put this one away with seven runs in the bottom of the third inning, led by a two-run home run by Jordan Wilson. Daniel Furman went 5-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Only three of the Beacons’ runs were earned. Austin Wolfe got the win, Cody Dubray got the loss.
The Owls and the Beacons split the series with two games each.
At Keizer, OR. First game: College of Idaho 6, Corban 1. Dawson Cummings went the distance for the Coyotes, allowed one run on four hits, struck out eight. Jack Ingraham batted in two of the Coyotes’ runs, including the winning run, an RBI on a ground out in the first inning. He hit a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning. Jordan Kelly and Ben Gaff each had two hits and an RBI for the Coyotes. Brad Pellkofer had two hits for the Warriors. Hayden Van Acker got the loss.
Second game: College of Idaho 9, Corban 1. This time, it was Oliver Massie and Jackson Cummins who combined to hold the Warriors to four hits. Massie pitched five innings, allowed no runs on one hit, struck out six. Jordan Kelly hit two home runs, and Darren Smith and Bryan Ebe hit home runs. Smith finished 3-for-4, also hit a double. Nathan Findley got the loss. recap
The Coyotes swept the four-game series.
At Ellensburg, WA: Eastern Oregon and Division II Central Washington split a double-header. The Wildcats won the first game 9-1, and the Mountaineers won the second game 11-9 (12 innings). Jonathan Garza II got the win for the Wildcats in the first game, allowed three hits, struck out ten. Jeter Larson got the win for the Mountaineers in the second game, pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowed three runs on five hits, struck out six. recap
