British Columbia eliminated Lewis-Clark State, and Arizona Christian won the bracket.
Daniel Orfaly – photo by Rich Lam, UBC Athletics
At Lewiston, ID. British Columbia 8, Lewis-Clark State 3. After ten losses to the Warriors this season, the Thunderbirds finally got a win, and this was a big one. It took the Warriors out of the Lewiston Bracket, and they will not be going to the NAIA Baseball National Championship for the first time since 1998.
The Thunderbirds got an early lead with a two-run home run by Mitchell Middlemiss in the top of the second inning. They put it away with five runs in the fourth inning. The inning started with a single by Trent Lenihan. Warrior starter Decker Stedman walked the next two batters, and was relieved by Jake Green. Green hit a batter to score the first run of the inning. He recorded an out on a foul popup, then Aidan Rose hit a two-RBI single. Green threw a wild pitch, moving the baserunners to second and third, and he was replaced by Landon Webb. He was greeted with an RBI single by Kaden Zarowny. He struck out the next batter, then Aaron Marsh hit an RBI single. Lenihan flied out to finally end the inning.
Thunderbird starter Daniel Orfaly walked in a run in the bottom of the fourth to end the shutout, but the Warriors left the bases loaded. They left the bases loaded again in the sixth inning. They loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth inning. The Thunderbirds brought in Ryan Heppner to relieve Will Anderson, who took over from Orfaly in the sixth inning. Heppner proceeded to strike out the first two batters he faced. He walked Nick Seamons to score the second run of the game, then gave up a single by Leo Rivera the score the third run. However, a fly out ended the inning, again with the bases loaded. Aaron Marsh hit a solo home run in the top of the ninth. Brandon Cabrera hit a single with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but the next batter, Pu’ukani De Sa, hit into a double play to end the game and the Warriors’ season.
The Warriors left 13 runners on base. Orfaly pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowed five hits, walked six, threw 96 pitches, got the win. Stedman, who allowed only three hits, and walked two, got the loss. Rose finished 2-for-4 with two RBI. Bulla Ephan got on base every time he came to bat; three walks, and one hit. recap
The Warriors finished the season 38-13.
Marques Titialii – photo by Tucker House
Arizona Christian 8, British Columbia 7. Jared Anderson hit a walkoff home run in the bottom of the ninth to give the Firestorm a dramatic come-from-behind win.
The Thunderbirds led most of the way. They took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with a two-RBI double by Trent Lenihan and an RBI double by Jonny McGill. They added three more runs in the second inning with an RBI single by Russell Young and a two-run home run by Aaron Marsh. Thunderbird starter James Brock kept the Firestorm scoreless until the fifth inning, when Kane Kiaunis hit an RBI double. The score was 6-1 at that point, and it stayed that way until the seventh inning, when the Firestorm got three runs on an RBI single by Marques Titialii, who then scored on a fielding error, and an RBI on a ground out by Kiaunis. The Thunderbirds answered with an RBI single by Marsh in the top of the eighth. The Firestorm then tied it 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth with a three-run home run by Titialii, setting up the dramatic finish.
Jackson Hohensee, who pitched the top of the ninth inning, and retired all three batters he faced, and struck out two of them, got the win. Chay Esqueda played a key role for the Firestorm; he pitched the third through fifth innings, allowed zero runs on two hits, struck out three. Oliver Duthie, who gave up both home runs, got the loss. Trey Tarver finished 4-for-5 for the Firestorm, scored one run. Marsh finished 4-for-5 with three RBI.
The Thunderbirds finished the season 34-21.
