It all came together for the Lower Columbia College baseball team as they swept a very good Pierce team in an key NWAC West Region four game series April 21 and 22.
The series began in Longview on Friday to take advantage of a rare sunny weather day. And the sun shined bright on the Devils as they won the first two games 4-1 and 6-2.
Taylor Davis was masterful in the first game as he went nine innings giving up just one run and four hits. Davis was on his game as he did not walk a batter and struck out four.
LCC jumped on the Raiders with three runs in the first inning and then turned it over to Davis after that.
Kyle Sandstrom had a two-run single in the fateful first frame.
Jordan Barchus added an RBI single and had two hits in the game.
Trevor Huddleston and
Chase Hodkinson also had two hits each.
Tyler Parsons was also outstanding on the hill in the second game. He went the distance in the seven inning game giving up just two runs and six hits. Parsons, like Davis, did not walk a batter.
Barchus went 2 for 3 in that game with two RBI's.
JT Strickler and Huddleston each went 2 for 3. T-Hud also had an RBI.
Todd Reese hit a two-run homer, his second of the season.
The scene shifted to Mt. Tahoma High School on Saturday.
Nick Tabura was on cruise control through five innings before he ran into some trouble in the sixth. He left after six frames, giving up four runs.
Anthony Garcia came on and gave up three runs in two innings of work as the Raiders rallied from down 6-0 to make a game of it. Garcia got the win in relief. Huddleston shut down the Raiders in the 9th with a perfect inning for the save.
JT Strickler hit a homer as part of his 2 for 4 game. Sandstrom had three hits and an RBI. Huddleston also had two hits and two RBI's.
Ricky Muzzy also had an RBI triple.
In the series finale, the Red Devils and Raiders were locked up in a tight one. Pierce had a 2-1 lead heading into the 7th and final inning when LCC exploded for six runs. The key hits were two-run triples by Huddleston and Barchus
Steve Robinson also added an RBI single in the big frame.
The Devils nailed it shut with Huddleston going the final two innings of two hit relief to get the victory.
Jared Akin went five innings allowing just two runs.
The Devils were playing the series without one of their top hitters in
Cameron Campbell who suffered a gash in his hand during practice. His teammates picked him up big time, outhitting the Raiders 41-26 in the four game set.
LCC is now 12-1 in league, tied with Tacoma for the top spot in the West. The Raiders drop to 8-5 in the West.
Next up in league is a four game series with Centralia this upcoming weekend. The Devils will try and mix in a non-league double header with the Linfield JV's Tuesday April 25th at 4 pm, weather permitting.
