Monday, March 18, 2024

Young Kodiak baseball team continues to battle

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It was a busy spring break week for the Cascade Kodiak baseball team with non-league games against Colton, Meridian and Blaine. 

Cascade played at Colton on April 4, losing 12-2 in five innings. Conrad Hasse pitched 2.1 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 1 hit, 5 strikeouts and 5 walks. Justin Hall pitched 2 innings, giving up 2 earned runs on 3 hits with 2 strikeouts and 3 walks. Dane Williams pitched a third of an inning, giving up 2 earned runs. 

Dillon Samuel was 2-for-3 with a run. 

On April 6, Cascade hosted Meridian, losing by a close 3-1 score. With Max Gilbert on the hill, Meridian took a 1-0 in the top of the second on an error and single. Meridian went up 2-0 in the top of the third on an error and single. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Cascade cut the lead to 2-1 as Dane Williams doubled and scored on a Hasse double. It remained 2-1 into the top of the seventh as Meridian went up 3-1 on a double and single. The Kodiaks had the tying run on the base in the seventh on a double by Hasse and single by Gilbert, but they could not drive in the runs. 

“It was a good pitching matchup. They had a good velocity guy, which was good for us. We’re going to see that against Cashmere. I thought the young kids came in and battled. It was a defensive battle,” said Cascade Head Coach Mike Kelly. “We were right in it. They are a very experienced team. It was a fun ball game. It gives us character and builds experience. I hate losing, but we have to keep things in perspective and know this is going to take some time, maybe this year, maybe next year.”

Gilbert pitched 7 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 6 hits with 3 strikeouts and no walks. Hasse was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Williams was 1-for-3 with an RBI. Samuel was 1-for-3. 

With Hasse on the mound, Cascade faced Blaine last Saturday in Peshastin. Cascade jumped out to a 2-0 in the bottom on the first as Samuel walked, then scored on a Williams double. A Gilbert single scored Williams. 

Blaine rallied to tie the score in the fourth on back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. In the bottom of the fifth, the Kodiaks rallied for two runs as Nate McMahon and TJ Thompson walked and scored on Samuel single. Mason Kelly’s fly ball appeared to score Samuel from third but the umpire said Samuel did not tag. Kelly saw the play but did not argue. 

“We’ve had some base running miscues at the third base. I thought he tagged up. I was watching the play. Maybe those things will happen in our favor in the future,” Kelly said. 

Cascade led 4-2 heading into the top of the sixth. Things started to go south early as two batters reached on error. Five consecutive singles forced Hasse from the game as four runs came in to score. 

Hunter Reinhart came in to pitch. He was able to retire the side, but Meridian led 7-4. Cascade could not rally to come back. 

“It has kind of gone that way in a vast majority of our games. We have a half inning that separates. I’m proud of the way these guys came in and battled. This is a 10-0 Blaine team that is dominating their division,” Kelly said. “I thought were competitive. We got ahead early. Conrad was better than he had been as far as pitch count, so he was able to go deeper into the game. We just have to try and do the best we can of not giving up anything easy.”

Hasse pitched 5.2 innings, giving up 1 earned run on 10 hits with 2 walks. Reinhart pitched 1.1 innings, giving up no runs with 1 strikeout and 1 walk. 

Samuel was 1-for-2 with a run and 2 RBIs.  Gilbert was 1-for-2 with an RBI. 

Cascade dropped to 3-7 overall. They are 2-3 in league. On April 11, Cascade played at league leader Cashmere (9-2, 4-0). Results were not available before press time. The Kodiaks play at LaSalle on Thursday. Next Tuesday, they are at winless Omak. 

“These games are all tough. We haven’t had a day off. We are tested and challenged every baseball game. I like that. It will help to fast forward these young guys with confidence,” Kelly said. “Our older guys...Dane Williams has been solid in the infield. Max has been good on the mound. Wyatt (Guthrie) will come around swinging it.”

 

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