With the poor weather over the weekend a number of games got delayed until Monday and Tuesday. For the most part it looked like games were played and some notable programs would face off this weekend.
East
Yakima vs Spokane – In one of the biggest matchups of the weekend East Rivals Spokane and Yakima would pack the weekend with a pair of triple headers. Spokane would come out of the weekend taking 5 of the 6 games. For Spokane Bryson Vaughn would have himself a game in the 2nd game of Thursday’s triple header going 3-3 with 3 homeruns. He would end the weekend scoring 8 runs and driving in 5 runs.
Pitching for Spokane would be solid all weekend led by McKabe Cottrell going 7 innings striking out 11, Cameron Liss going 6 innings striking out 12, and Andy Evans going 5 innings only allowing 1 run.
Columbia Basin vs Treasure Valley – In another matchup of East Region teams Columbia Basin would continue their strong start to the 2021 season with a 4 game sweep of Treasure Valley. Kirby Robertson and Jase Wessels would both have solid starts for Columbia Basin, with Robertson going 5.1 innings and only allowing 1 run and Wessels going 5 innings not allowing a run.
Blue Mt vs Big Bend – Facing off in a four game series Big Bend would have a big weekend putting up 46 total runs in the series and earning the sweep of the weekend over Blue Mountain. Dominic Signorelli would have a solid weekend for Big Bend collecting 7 hits, driving in 7 runs and scoring 4 times.
South
Clackamas vs Umpqua – In a matchup headlined by solid outings from both teams starting pitchers Umpqua would end up with the series win taking 3 out of 4. Carson Angeroth and Jace Stoffal would stand out for Umpqua. Angeroth would go 7 innings only allowing 1 run, and Stoffal would go 6 innings and combine with Preston Johnson (3 innings) for a shutout. Kyle Larsen for Clackamas would go 6 innings striking out 9 and not allowing a run in his win on the weekend.
SWOCC vs Mt Hood – Mt Hood swept their Friday double header taking game 1, 6-5 on a walkoff single by Saige Keep. SWOCC jumped out to a lead when Dakari Armendariz homered in the 4th. The Saints tied the game in the bottom of the 4th with RBIs from Trevor Saire and Rikuu Nishida. SWOCC took the lead back in the 7th on a solo shot off the bat of Jeffrey Fripp. In the 9th Mt Hood got a leadoff walk to Nishida, followed by an RBI double from Ezra Samperi before Keep singled home the game winning run.
In game 2 SWOCC jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a sac fly from Damian Ovalle and RBI single from Ryan Callanan. Mt Hood got a sac fly from Keep to cut the lead to 2-1 in the 3rd, then got 4 in the 4th. Jacob Cobb scored on a wild pitch to tie the game before Nishida hit a bases loaded double to put Mt Hood on top 5-2.
Connor Nipp earned the win in game one throwing two scoreless innings of relief. Tucker Grote went 6 innings in game two to pick up the win. Toma Murase threw a scoreless 9th to earn the save.
Saire and Samperi had 3 hits each on the day. Armendariz had 3 hits for the Lakers.
Linn Benton vs Chemeketa – Two solid South Region teams would face off over the weekend, both looking to improve their standings in the region. When all was said and done Linn Benton would walk away the victor taking 3 out of 4 in the series and keeping pace with Mt Hood for lead of the South Region. Jake Hoskins (LB) would have a solid weekend at the top of the lineup getting 5 hits and scoring 3 times.
West
LCC vs Centralia – After rain stopped me from covering one double header I was able to get to the 2nd day of games in this matchup. Centralia would show signs of their noticeable improvement as a program, getting a win on Saturday but the strength of LCC would rule the weekend as they would take 3 out of 4. A pair of Canadians would hit some big flies for LCC in their wins, Eric Luchies would hit a barn shot (which in my 7 years of covering games at Story Field I’ve only seen 3 times), and Daniel Gernon would hit two home runs over the weekend, including one that nearly cleared the trees in left field.
Pierce vs Grays Harbor – In a matchup I was hoping to cover personally on Saturday, but was denied by the spring rains, they would get in a double header on Sunday that included an outstanding 1-0 pitchers duel and Pierce would sweep the double header. Parker Goin would get the win in the pitchers duel going 7 innings and not allow a run.
Pierce vs Tacoma – With Tacoma’s matchup with Green River scratched they would welcome Pierce for a double header on Monday but would not be gracious hosts as they would sweep the double header by a combined score of 21-3. Will Mulflur would get 4 hits, drive in 3 runs and score 5 times in the double header.
North
Skagit vs Bellevue – Skagit would face off against Bellevue looking to solidify their place as a North Region contender, while Bellevue looked to make a statement as to their place in the entire NWAC conference. In the end Bellevue would sweep the four game series and show once again why they are consistently in the talk for top teams across the NWAC. Nate Butcher would have a solid start for Bellevue going 6 innings, striking out 11 while only allowing 2 hits, 1 walk, and 1 earned run.
Everett vs Edmonds – Two teams that I’ve seen a lot of in my 7 years covering the NWAC, as both teams are regulars in the NWAC tournament would match up for a 4 game series. Edmonds would get a blowout win but Everett would claim the series winning 3 out of 4. Zach Boswell would have a good outing for Everett going 5 innings, only giving up 1 hit and 2 runs, neither of which were earned.