by Eric Francis
Chehalis catcher Colton Schoelkopf tags out Anacortes' Wyatt Hendricks in the seventh inning.
ANACORTES — The Anacortes and Chehalis American Legion baseball teams came into their Class A Regional Tournament game heading in different directions. Neither changed course in Friday’s game.
Chehalis continued its recovery from a disappointing opener with a 10-0 victory over Anacortes, eliminating the host team from the tournament. It marked the second straight day the Steamers were beaten in a game shortened to seven innings by the 10-run rule.
“They lost their first game, but they’re a pretty good team. This is a tough loser-out game,” Anacortes coach Pat Swapp said. “We hit some balls pretty well. We played a lot better than last night.”
Anacortes (17-27), which qualified for the tournament by virtue of being the host team, played its best game on the first day, coming away with a 16-5 victory over Wheatland (Wyo.).
That same day, albeit about 12 hours earlier, Chehalis was playing its worst game of the tournament, a 4-2 loss to Ashland (Ore.) that saw the Lizards strand 12 runners on base. Since then, riding the power of Robert Pehl and strong pitching, have looked like the state champions they are.
Pehl blasted his third homer in two games, and Tyler McCarty also went deep against Anacortes. McCarty’s shot with two on was the key blast in a four-run top of the first that set the tone for the game. Edgard Burgos also had the first of his three RBI singles in the frame.
Pehl’s shot was a no-doubter to left in the sixth that saw the Lizards score three runs and send seven batters to the plate, yet Anacortes pitcher Casey Lloyd threw just 11 pitches in the inning. Those gave the Lizards the 10-run margin they needed to win the game.
Pitcher Mason Witters made that stand up, tossing a five-hitter and getting plenty of help from his defense. Chehalis turned three double plays and threw two runners out at the plate trying to score.
“It gives a pitcher confidence,” Chehalis coach Bryan Bullock said. “We’ve got to keep hitting with runners in scoring position. Our pitching has been solid so far.”
Braiden Darling reached base all three trips to the plate with a pair of singles and a walk. He was on base for the Steamers’ best threat, when they loaded the bases with one out in the third off Witters. A chopper to third turned into a nicely turned home-to-first double play, ending the threat. The Steamers were also unable to capitalize on Wyatt Hendricks’ leadoff double in the seventh.
Still, the tournament provided three more games for the Seahawks, one of the youngest squads at the tournament, to build upon for next spring.
“The way we played that first night, that made the whole thing worth while,” Swapp said. “We’re a young team, and sometimes we play bad, and sometimes we play good. The first night showed where we can be.”
Vauxhall (Alberta) 6, Box Elder (Utah) 3
Starter Colton Boucane struck out nine, left fielder Zach Rhodes was 3-for-4 with a home run and cleanup hitter Brendan Miller hit a home run while being intentionally walked to help power Vauxhall over the Bees.
Vauxhall will face Chehalis (Wash.) at 7:30 p.m. today. In the early game, Ashland (Ore.) will face Box Elder at 4:30 p.m.
Victor Caruso got the save, striking out the last three batters he faced.
Miller was being intentionally walked in the top of the ninth, but jumped on the second pitch when it moved over the plate for a three-run shot.
Ashland (Ore.) 5, Wheatland (Wyo.) 1
Garrett Tygerson was the star of this one, throwing a seven-hit complete game and banging a two-run triple in the first that accounted for his team’s only runs until the ninth inning of this loser-out contest.
Ian Kendall’s two-run double was the big blow in a three-run ninth inning that gave Tygerson some breathing room. Adam Christian scored a run during both rallies.
