For the first time in 13 months I got to go out and cover two NWAC teams playing against each other. This is the longest spread since I started covering the NWAC in 2015. It was an absolutely perfect day and I made sure to get there early and stay until the last pitch. I wanted to soak everything in and even though I was a little tired afterwards it was simply an amazing day.
A few of these recaps will be longer than others, thanks to a few of the amazing coaches in the NWAC sending me write ups on their games. Getting first hand knowledge of the game is always the best.
South Region
Mt Hood vs Clackamas – Mt Hood swept the 4-game series from Clackamas with 8-5 and 6-0 victories at home on Friday, and an 11-1 run rule victory followed by a 5-3 win in 12 innings to complete the sweep at Clackamas on Saturday.
Ezra Samperi led the offense with 7 hits and 8 runs scored. Rikuu Nishida and Adam Stevens both had 5 hits each. Saige Keep and Jacob Dukart finished the series with 4 hits and 4 RBI each. Jacob Cobb had the clutch RBI in the 12th inning of game 4 to break the tie with an RBI single. He finished the weekend with 3 hits and a pair of RBIs.
The Saints starting pitching was strong this weekend, limiting the Cougars to 3 runs in 19 innings pitched. Jeffrey Nelson (5 IP) and Eli Takalo (2 IP) combined for the shutout in game 2. Saturday started with Jacob Biesterfeld tossing 5 scoreless innings. Toma Murase picked up a save in game 1 and the win in game 4, throwing 2 1/3 innings with 7 strikeouts on the weekend.
Clackamas was led offensively by Damon Manasa, who tallied 5 hits in the series. Zach Montero had a pair of hits and drove in 3 runs. Tatsuki Ueno had the big hit in the series, a 2-run HR to tie the game in the 7th inning of game 4. Kyle Larsen went 8 innings on the mound, striking out 7.
Umpqua vs Lane – Road warriors would be the theme for this weekend as each team would take a double header playing on the road. Umpqua would start the series going to Lane and winning both games 4-1. Lane would return the favor the next day going to Umpqua and winning 3-2 and 2-0.
Blake Crippen (Lane) would have an outstanding outing pitching a complete game (7 IP) only allowing 2 hits and shutting out Umpqua.
Drake Aboud and Preston Johnson (Umpqua) would both have great relief outings as both would throw 4 innings, not giving up a run and both earning saves.
Linn Benton vs SWOCC – Linn Benton would have a solid all around weekend to earn a series sweep. Jake Hoskins (LB) would set the tone all weekend long in the leadoff spot. Hoskins would collect 6 hits over the four games scoring 6 times.
Ian McIntyre (LB) would homer twice over the weekend.
For SWOCC Noah Montoya and Jordan Crawford would both homer.
West Region
Pierce vs Tacoma – Pierce and Tacoma would face off in a double header on Saturday and Tacoma would come away with the sweep of the day. Tacoma would have four different players drive in at least 3 runs in a game over the double header; Donovan Yelle 3, Zach Smith 3, Josh Trujillo 3 and Will Mulflur 4. Smith, Trujillo, Yelle and Hunter Jenkins would all homer for the Titans.
Kevin Varner would homer for Pierce.
Lower Columbia vs Green River – On a nearly perfect day weather wise, Lower Columbia opened the season winning both ends of the double header. Spencer Andersen and Sam Stuhr would combine for a 3 hit shutout to open the season. The offense would roll, scoring 29 total runs.
You can read over my game reviews by clicking on the links.
Centralia vs Grays Harbor – In a double header both Centralia and Grays Harbor would get their first wins of the year. Grays Harbor would get their first win in an extra inning game. Nolan Baugher would lead the Chokers with 3 RBIs.
Centralia’s first win would come from an offensive surge early in the game coupled with a solid outing from their pitchers. Kobe Matsen would pitch 5 innings, only allowing 3 hits and 1 earned run.
North Region
Skagit vs Edmonds – The Cardinals and Tritons would face off in a four game series that would end in a 2-2 split. Matt Erickson (Edmonds) would collect 5 hits, including a home run over the weekend and drive in 5 runs. Taylo Derouin would pitch 6 innings, only allowing 1 run and would pick up one of Edmonds 2 wins.
For Skagit James Anderson would drive in 3 runs on the weekend and hit a home run. Jack Erdman would pitch 6 innings only allowing 2 hits and 1 run.
Olympic vs Everett – Everett would come out of the gate rolling offensively as they would win the first two games of the series 12-2 and 12-1, and would end up sweeping the 4 games series with some outstanding pitching performances.
All four Everett starters, Zach Boswell, Kenji Miller, Luke VonGoedert, and Alec Schuldt, would earn wins on the weekend only allowing a combined 4 earned runs in 24 innings.
Offensively Aaron Barber would tally 8 hits, score 6 runs and drive in 4 runs for Everett.
East Region
Spokane vs Columbia Basin – Spokane would put together a solid all around weekend to earn the sweep of Columbia Basin. In Thursday’s double header McKabe Cottrell would start the series off by pitching 8 innings, striking out 16 and only allowing 2 hits. Offensively Brock Bozett would start the series going 3-5 with a double, triple and 3 RBI’s, then follow that up with a 2 run home run in the 2nd game.
Chase Nett and Carson Lundmark would both add home runs on the first day.
On the second day of the series Ryun Cross would come up big for Spokane going 5 innings in relief not allowing a hit and earning the win in the 10th inning.
For Columbia Basin Nick Grade and Isaac Haws would both hit home runs on the weekend.