(Longview, WA) – Two close wins and a pair of great pitching performances highlighted LCC's four-game sweep over the Skagit Valley Cardinals February 26-27 at Story Field.
On Saturday, Skagit Valley scored four runs in the top of the 9
th inning to tie the game 7-7. But the Devils came right back a scored the game winner in the bottom of the ninth to take an 8-7 win. In the nightcap Saturday,
Ryan Pitts and
Aaron Robertson combined on a three-hitter as the Devils beat the cards 7-1.
On Sunday, a scoreless duel got wild when the Cardinals scored four runs in the top of the 5
th to take a 4-0 lead. The Red Devils then countered with five runs in the bottom of the frame and went on to a 5-4 victory. The finale on Sunday was domination by LCC starter
Cole Bertram who went all seven innings and allowed just one run and two hits.
Saturday Game One
LCC was cruising as starter
Michael Schwarz allowed just one hit and struck out six in four innings of work. Braeden Marcum came in and provided three innings of two-hit relief. The Cardinals were down 7-1 when they plated two runs off LCC freshman
Jase Schueller in the top of the 8
th. Skagit then scored four in the top of the 9
th off Mathew Lewis.
The Devils did not panic.
Eric Luchies hit a lead off double in the bottom of the 9
th and pinch runner
Kyle Fitzgerald made it to third after an intentional walk and a hit by pitch.
Liam Kerr then got the game winning RBI with a bases loaded walk.
Matthew Schwarz had two hits and an RBI.
Nick Miller went 1 for 3 with an RBI and two walks.
Saturday Game Two
Pitts and Robertson shined on the mound in Saturday's nightcap. Pitts went five innings allowing no runs and just two hits for the victory. Robertson was equally tough with four innings of one-hit ball. After coming in in the sixth and giving up a run following a walk, error and hit batter, Robertson was outstanding the rest of the way.
The Devils methodically increased their lead by scoring in four of the first five innings.
Justin Stransky led the offense by going 2 for 4 with two RBI's.
Kyle Parkman also drove in a pair of runs.
Tyler Peterson had two hits for LCC.
Sunday Game One
Braeden Munger was cruising over Skagit Valley in the first four innings scattering four hits and working on a shutout. Then all of a sudden he gave up a hit, a run, and two walks in the fifth.
Jadon Williamson was called in to deal with a bases-loaded, no-out situation. The Cards got a sacrifice fly and a two-run single to take a 4-0 lead.
The Devils came right back and loaded the bases with a Matt Schwarz single, Parkman walk and
Daniel Gernon HBP.
Easton Amundson delivered an RBI single. A wild pitch brought home another run. Gernon scored when Luchies reached on an error by the Skagit Valley pitcher.
Drake Bird then came up clutch with an RBI base hit to tie the game. Bird then coaxed Skagit Valley to throw him out on a steal attempt as Luchies scored what turned out to be the game winner.
Williamson then shut the door with two more innings of shutout ball. Williamson got the victory.
Sunday game Two
Bertram was outstanding as he went five innings of one-hit ball with four strikeouts.
The Devils were up 6-0 when Bertram was relieved by
Brayden Wells. Wells allowed just one-hit and a run scoring sacrifice fly in two innings of relief.
Ethan Stacy had a hit and two RBI's from the leadoff spot. Matt Schwarz went 2 for 4.
Matthew Lewis and
Max Richards each had an RBI double.
Although there is plenty to work on, the Devils are pleased with an 8-0 start to the season with home sweeps over Bellevue and Skagit Valley. The team will have plenty of time to put in the work as they are off next weekend. LCC will hit the road for a four-game series at Spokane on Saturday March 12 and Sunday March 13.
