By: Jermaine Williams (Puget Sound Athletics)
TACOMA, Wash. - The Puget Sound Loggers took advantage of the
beautiful spring day to take the final two games and the series
from the Lewis & Clark Pioneers 2-1 and 9-8 in a Northwest
Conference doubleheader on Sunday.
It was a battle of the pitchers in game one as Cameron Duvall
(Lakewood, Wash./Lakes) and David La Douceur each threw great
games. The Pioneers (5-14/5-19 NWC) took an early 1-0 lead in the
third. The Loggers (6-9/9-14 NWC) would finally strike in the sixth
inning as Mark Rockey (Montlake Terrace, Wash/Univ. of New Mexico)
sent a 2-0 pitch over the right-center fence to tie the game at
one.
In the seventh, Andrew Grady (Cave Creek, Ariz./Phoenix Country
Day) led off the inning with a single to left-center. Both Travis
Hernandez (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) and Rockey were
intentionally walked setting up Will Mentor (Seattle, Wash./Seattle
Prep) to win the game on a RBI single to right field. Mentor's
walk-off hit gave the Loggers the 2-1 win.
Duvall improved to 2-4 on the season, throwing a complete game.
Duvall allowed one run on six hits and struck out three. Roland
Greene drew the loss for the Pios as he came in and allowed the
game winning run.
In the final game of the series, the Loggers took advantage of
the Pios early, taking a 5-0 lead after the first frame. After a
pair of singles for the Loggers, Matt Cox (Salem, Ore./South Salem)
crushed a two-run homerun to the deepest part of the park.
Following Gregg Ringold (Los Altos Hills, Calif./Harker School)
legging out a bunt single, Casey Coberly hit a RBI double to right
center.
After allowing a run in the top of the fourth, the Loggers added
one in the bottom of the frame and three in the fifth. In that
fifth, Ringold and Coberly both hit singles to begin the inning.
Jason Powell (Redwood City, Calif./Sacred Heart Prep) hit a sac
bunt to set up Grady's two-run single out to left. The Loggers led
9-1 heading into the sixth.
Roland Greene added a run in the sixth off a sac fly to left. In
the seventh, the Pioneers wouldn't go away quietly as a pair of
runs scored on a errant throw and a double. Following a pair of
walks, Tucker Laurence hit a grand slam cutting the Logger lead to
9-8. Spencer Crace (Wilsonville, Ore./Wilsonville) then used three
strikes to close out the game and the win for the Loggers.
Jarvis Nohara (Honolulu, Hawaii/Iolani), now 2-1, pitched 5.0
inning in the win. Nohara struck out three and allowed one run in
the win. Crace picked the save for the Loggers. Evan Fairmont
lasted only 0.2 innings, allowing all five of the early runs in the
loss.
The Loggers now head to Salem, Ore. to battle with the Bearcats
of Willamette. The series opener is Friday at Roy S. Keene Stadium,
teeing off at noon PDT.
Box Scores: Game
1 / Game
2
