Kodiaks drop key doubleheader to Chelan

That Cascade Kodiaks played a big doubleheader against Chelan in Peshastin last Saturday. The Kodiaks needed to win to stay in the league chase, but unfortunately, they lost both ends, 12-4 and 13-11.
“I feel like we can win any games. No doubt, these were a couple big games if we wanted to stay in the hunt for an opportunity to compete for the league title. It is what it is and now we just have to continue to try and getter, despite the scoreboard. We really are getting better with our minds set on the playoffs,” said Cascade Head Coach Mike Kelly.
In the first game, Kelly went with TJ Thompson on the mound, who has been statistically his best pitcher this season. It was a close game until the fourth when Chelan scored eight runs. The big inning has been an issue all season for the Kodiaks.
“I think that’s been the plagued over the past couple years. We just anticipate or expect it to come. When that is your main focus, it tends to happen,” Kelly said.
Kelly said Thompson was hurt by activity the week prior.
“He’s been battling a sore back, sore shoulder, so he took a lot of the week off from throwing. You could tell in the first couple innings, he was walking guys, which I chalked up to not working bullpens,” Kelly said. “In that inning when we gave up eight, things did fall apart. When you have a pitcher competing, you have to buckle down and make plays. We had some opportunities to get out of the inning, but just didn’t. It’s tough to come back from that. We were able to put up three more runs.”
The Kodiaks went with southpaw Conrad Hasse on the mound in the second. The Kodiaks built a 10-3, but things unraveled in the fifth. Hasse walked a batter, then hit a batter. Kelly pulled him and inserted his son, sophomore Mason Kelly, who has been a top player for the Kodiaks, not necessarily from the mound.
He struggled mightily as did the defense. Six Goats scored in the fifth to cut the lead to 10-9. Chelan took an 11-10 lead in the sixth, but Cascade tied it 11-11 in the bottom of the sixth. The Goats would score twice more in the seventh, which Cascade couldn’t match.
“I thought Conrad did okay. He was doing enough to stay ahead. We turned a couple double plays. That is always helpful. He only gave up three hits, but five walks. We had a seven run lead. I was expecting him to go the distance and attack hitters. Unfortunately it didn’t happen. Conrad has struggled to find consistency. I’m confident he can do it. We have to solve the puzzle,” Kelly said.
Kelly went to his son Mason in game feeling he could shut down the Goats.
“You get to point when you’re trying to find somebody to get up there and compete. It’s been awhile since Mason has been in that position. He’s been putting it a lot of time throwing. With more work, he’ll do fine. We just have to pitch without fear,” Kelly said. “We had opportunities to win that game. Our pitching wasn’t the highlight, but it wasn’t what cost us the game.”
Cascade is 1-5 in league and 5-9 overall. The only win in league is due to an Omak forfeit on April 18. Cascade hosted Okanogan on April 24. Results were not available before press time. Cascade has doubleheader at Cashmere on Saturday.
“We opened the league season with a doubleheader up there in Okanogan. Two good games. We were dominating for 12-of-14 innings, but we had two loose innings. We can play clean baseball. This crew works really hard,” Kelly said of Okanogan.
Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.