Prep Baseball Roundup: Opening Week around the diamond
Start and Stop – Rainouts, reschedules, rallies, and running out of time
Jordan Nailon / blastzonenews@gmail.com
Castle Rock outlasts Toutle Lake, runs out of time at Elma
The North Cowlitz County high school baseball season got started last Thursday, but the game between Castle Rock and Toutle Lake didn’t take place anywhere near Exit 49. Instead, the Rockets and Fightings Ducks took took over Story Field for a long evening in Longview that featured 36 bases on balls and ended in a 15-14 win for Castle Rock in the non-league tilt.
The Rockets scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in order to take over the lead for good.
Jack Kerker picked up the win in relief by tossing three inning with two strikeouts, one hit and three earned runs to his name. Kerker helped what became his own cause with three hits, including a triple, and four runs batted in.
Trevor Rogen added a double and drove in a pair of runs, while Brady Hamer posted a hit and two RBIs in the win. Jacob Lafever added a hit, drove in a run, and scored four times, while Owen Erickson, JJ Soden and Landon Fulton each added hits for the Rockets.
Toutle Lake was led at the plate by Ryan Kilponen, who posted two hits and two RBIs. Easton White and Josh Hanson each added a hit and drove in a run.
Toutle Lake had better luck on Monday when it defeated Kalama 12-10 at home. Check BZM soon for full details on the Fighting Ducks’ win over the ‘Nooks.
On Friday the Rockets were right back in action with a non-league contest at Elma where they were happy to settle for an 8-8 tie after running out of daylight.
Castle Rock was held scoreless over the first five innings before busting through with four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.
"For the first four innings we faced a left-handed pitcher (Brody Palmer) who’s signed to play at Tacoma CC and he dominated us,” Castle Rock head coach Joe Bair said. “But once they went to their bullpen our offense got going.”
Palmer struck out 11 batter over four innings, allowing just one hit.
Jacob Lafever led the Rockets at the dish with three hits and a pair of RBIs. Trevor Rogen and Tristan Honey each posted a pair of hits and drove in a run, while Jack Kerker, Noxx Worrell, and Evan Chisholm each added hits in the Rockets’ comeback.
“We ran out of daylight so the game ended in a tie but it felt like a victory to us,” Bair added
Erickson pitched three innings with four strikeouts while allowing just one earned run. Evan Chisholm struck out three batters over 1 ⅔ scoreless and hitless innings, while Worrell notched one strikeout over two hitless and scoreless innings of relief out of the bullpen.
“Evan Chisholm and Noxx Worrell pitched great in relief,” Bair noted.
Jack Alexander and Palmer each posted a pair of hits and rove in a run for the Eagles.
Castle Rock (1-0-1) will is scheduled to host Stevenson for a league doubleheader on Tuesday starting at 3 p.m.
R.A. Long collects wins over Orting, Colville
The Lumberjacks headed east in order to avoid the wet weather whipping across The Lumberyard last week, picking up a 5-3 win over Orting and an 11-3 win against Colville on Saturday.
In the season opener R.A. Long posted four runs in the scond inning and tacked on an insurance run in the fifth frame. Riley Young led the Jacks with a base knock and an RBI. Jeff Rooklidge, Nick Niday and Evan Hart also tallied hits in the win.
Hunter Brewer earned the win for the Jacks with one hit and one earned run allowed over three innings of work. Evan Hart talliled one punch out in a one scoreless inning of work.
On Saturday the Jacks fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first and didn’t stop chopping until they’d picked up an 11-3 victory over Colville.
Riley Young led R.A. Long at the plate with four hits and a run batted in out of the leadoff spot. The southpaw also picked up the win on the mound with seven strikeouts and one earned run allowed on four hits over four innings.
Jeff Rooklidge pitched the final three scoreless frames with four punch-outs and one hit allowed.
Ethan Redberg led Colville with two hits and a run batted in.
The Jacks saw Carson Libby chip in two hits, including a triple, with a run batted in.. Meanwhile, Rooklidge and Kamble Johns each tallied hits and drove in runs in the win.
R.A. Long (2-0) is set to play at Centralia on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Kelso rips River Ridge, splits at jamboree
The Hilanders opened their season on Friday wtih a big win at home over River Ridge, then hit the road for a jamboree in Clark County and wound up splitting a pair abbreviated affairs with Columbia River and Battle Ground.
In its season opener Kelso fell behind 1-0 and then scored in every other inning to piece together a 12-2 win in five innings over the Hawks. The Scots pounded out 10 hits in the contest.
Bryce Collins posted a pair of hits and drove in three runs to lead the Hilanders at the plate. Blake Larwick added two hits and drove in a pair of runs, while Elliot Hegdahl, Adam Swanson, Miles Franett, and Sosefa Logotaea all added hits and drove in runs in the win. Franett, Logotaea and Brady Snaza all notched extra base hits.
Larwick picked up the win on the bump with six strikeouts and one unearned run allowed over three innings of relief work.
Ryan Vanzueyt led River Ridge with one hit and one RBI. Kaisee Kopp had the only other hit for the Hawks. Conner Kramer took the loss on the mound with six earned runs allowed over 3 1/3 innings.
On Saturday the Hilanders opened the day with an 8-5 loss to Columbia River in Ridgefield.
The Rapids dropped seven runs in the second inning in order to take a 7-1 lead and tacked on an extra run in the third frame. Luke Sheron led River at the plate with a grad slam, while Luke Jenisch added two hits and three runs batted in.
Kellen Bashaw picked up the win for the Rapids with two earned runs allowed over two innings.
Kelso saw leadoff man Brady Snaza post two hits, including a double, while driving in a run. Franett added one hit with two runs batted in.
Elliot Hegdahl took the loss on the mound after allowing four earned runs, while striking out two batters over 1 ⅔ innings of the three frame affair.
Kelso was able to get back on track with a 1-0 win over 4A/3A Greater St. Helens League foe Battle Ground in their follow-up affair. The Scots scored their lone run in the bottom of the third inning in order to walk-off as winners.
Collins posted two hits and the game-winning RBI to lead Kelso. He also picked up the win on the hill by striking out nine batters and allowing just one hit over three scoreless innings.
Cole Bochart and Franett each added a hit for the Hilanders.
Kelso (1-0) is scheduled to return to action on Tuesday afternoon at Camas.
Toledo takes out Ony, RSB to open season
The Riverhawks opened their season on the road last Wednesday with a non-league win over Raymond-South Bend, and then got right back to work with a lopsided victory over Onalaska in Central 2B League play at home on Friday.
Toledo dropped the hammer on the Ravens in South Bend by a score of 17-2 in just three innings. The Cheese Town Nine scored 14 runs in the first inning.
Austin Reed led the Riverhawks at the plate with two hits and three runs driven in. Brady Weeks added two hits and two runs batted in, while Nico Acosta and Ryker Sorenson each added a hit and drove in a pair of runs.
Sorensen picked up the win with with one scoreless inning of relief work, striking out one batter while not allowing a hit. Rohan Feigenbaum started on the bump for Toledo, striking out two batters in a scoreless and hitless frame.
On Friday the Riverhawks kept their foot on the pedal with a 14-1 win over Onalaska at Bowen Field.
Brady Weeks led Toledo’s offense with two hits and three runs scored. Joaquin Acosta and Ryker Sorenson each tallied a hit and drove in two runs in the win.
Sorenson picked up the win on the hill with four strikeouts over three hitless and scoreless innings. Brady Weeks weeks struck out a pair of batters in his 1-2-3 inning of work.
“Brady Weeks looked pretty good on the bump and hitting,” Toledo head coach Mack Gaul said of the first week’s returns.
Blaze Underhill led the Loggers at the plate with one hit and one run batted in.
On Monday the Riverhawks defeated Onalaska 20-2 on the road in Grittville, USA. Check back to BZM soon for full details on that C2BL contest. Toledo (3-0) is set to play at Mark Morris on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.
Wahkiakum puts the whammy on Winlock
The Mules opened the season with a decisive victory over their former C2BL foes from Winlock last Wednesday, downing the Cardinals 15-6 at home on the hill in Cathlamet.
Wahkiakum tallied six runs in the first inning and adde four more in the second in order to take control of the season opener.
Rusty Morrison led the Mules with four hits and four runs batted in. Aiden Scott added two hits and drove in two runs, while Josh Moon, Luke Johnston and Hank Wilson each posted one hit with on RBI. Scott and Morrison each notched doubles in the win.
Emory Fillkowski earned the win for the Mules with six strikeouts over three innings, while allowing just two hits and one earned run. Wilson pitched three innings in relief, striking out three batters and allowing one earned run.
Kyrin Meehan posted two hits to lead the Cardinals.
Carter Svenson took the loss on the mound for Winlock after earning the start. He allowed six runs, two of which were earned, while walking four batters and surrendering one hit.
In the nightcap, Wahkiakum posted three runs in the first inning before the game was halted. Wilson posted a hit and drove in a run for the Mules in the top of the first.
The Cardinals did not get a chance to hit.
Winlock lost to Napavine 22-0 on the road on Friday, and lost 28-2 at home agains the Tigers on Monday. Stats for those game were not available.
On Monday the Mules defeated Raymond-South Bend 13-3 in South Bend in a non-league affair. Check back to BZM soon for full details on that contest.
Woodland falls to White Salmon on Opening Day
The Beavers saw a big lead disappear in a hurry on Thursday in a 6-5 loss at home to White Salmon in a non-league contest on Opening Day.
Woodland led 4-0 entering the sixth inning, but allowed six runs in the frame and couldn’t get all the way back to even.
Mike Belvin got the start on the mound for the Beavers and struck out six batters over two scoreless innings. Deuce Merritt and Jackson Andrews also tossed scoreless frames for Woodland, while Gavin Beckley tossed a pair of scoreless frames in the loss.
Austen Woody and Andrews each tallied a hit and drove in a run for Woodland. Merritt and Belvin also added hits for the hosts.
Wyatt Stelma picked up the win for the Bruins with nine strikeouts and just two earned runs allowed on two hits over four innings. Kai Brasuell posted two hits and scored a run for the visitors.
Woodland (1-0) is scheduled to play at Rochester on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Kalama no-hit by Skyview in Schmidt’s debut
The Chinooks dropped their season opener last Tuesday by a score of 11-0 in a non-league contest at 4A Skyview, and were unable to muster a hit in the non-league contest.
Isaak Ketzbeau earned his way on base for Kalama with a walk and stole a base while he was out there.
It was a disappointing debut for first-year Kalama head coach Avery Schmidt, who is a Skyview alum. Schmidt was hired in the offseason after former skipper Brandon Walker resigned the position in order to become athletic director for the Chinooks.
Kalama fell 12-10 at Toutle Lake on Monday. Check BZM soon for full details from that game.
Editor’s Note: Reports during the first week of spring sports were delayed due to a confluence of factors including, but not limited to, a spring fever that could not even be cured by more cowbell. Readers can expect frequent updates from the diamond going forward.
