(Longview, WA) – The Lower Columbia College baseball team stayed in the thick of the West Region championship race by taking all four games in a weekend series with the Centralia Trailblazers.
Saturday April 23
rd at Wheeler Field, LCC won by scores of 15-2 and 10-6. Sunday's games at Story Field saw the Devils win 16-6 (8) and 1-0 (7).
In game one on Saturday, Red Devil starter
Michael Schwarz went six innings allowing just one hit. On the day of the game, the scorekeeper had ruled it a no-hitter, but the decision was properly adjusted. Schwarz walked two and struck out six.
Braeden Munger went two innings and gave up no hits, but three walks contributed to two runs on the board.
Austin Sheldon then pitched a perfect ninth.
The Devils jumped on Centralia starter Derek Beairsto for four runs in the top of the first inning. Ahead 8-2 after eight innings, the Devils blew the game wide open with seven runs in the top of the 9
th.
Eric Luchies went deep for Lower Columbia. He walked twice and drove in three runs.
Ethan Stacy had three hits and scored three runs.
Justin Stransky had two hits and three RBI's.
Daniel Gernon drove in a pair.
Kyle Parkman also had two RBI's.
In Saturday's second game, a seven inning affair, the Red Devil offense continued to shine. LCC took a 6-3 lead after three innings but the Blazers closed the gap to 6-5 after six. That's when Lower Columbia scored four times in the top of the 7
th to regain control and go on to the victory.
Tyler Peterson had three hits and scored two runs.
Nick Miller had a productive ballgame with two hits and four RBI's.
Matthew Lewis had two hits and three ribbies.
Stacy made it a five hit day by collecting two base hits in the second tilt.
Ryan Pitts gave up three runs in two innings, although the runs were all unearned.
Jase Schueller gave up two earned runs in four frames.
Mac Elske had a flawless inning to close it out.
The series shifted to sunny Story Field on Sunday and the two games were a stark contrast. Ball were flying out of the park in the first game as the Devils pounded the Blazers 16-6. The series finale was a masterpiece by
Brayden Marcum has he spun a three hit shutout in a 1-0 victory.
In Sunday's first game, LCC had 19 hits including three home runs but it took awhile to get going. Centralia had a 5-2 lead going into the bottom of the 4
th when LCC exploded for five runs. The big blow was a grand slam homer for Matt Schwarz. Parkman also parked one, a solo shot in the big inning.
The Devils stayed after it in the 5
th when they plated four more. Stacy hit a three run shot. Stacy had a great game going 3 for 5 with five RBI's.
Luchies went 4 for 5 with three singles and a double. Peterson had a three hit day and made a spectacular diving snare of a line drive he turned into a double play.
Jadon Williamson came on in relief and was solid over four innings allowing just four hits and a run.
Brayden Wells went 1 2/3 innings of hitless relief.
The series finale was a pitching duel. LCC starter
Brayden Marcum went all seven innings allowing just three singles. Centralia starter Matthew Obst gave up just four hits in the loss. Marcum walked just one and struck out five.
The lone run came in the first inning when Stacy and Matt Schwarz started off with singles. After a line out and a fielder choice, Stacy came home when the ball went through the Centralia catcher legs.
Stacy had two of the Devils four hits and completed a great weekend by going 10 for 18 with six RBI's and six runs scored.
With the sweep, the Devils stay two games out of first place in the loss column. Tacoma and Pierce are both 11-2 in the West with the Devils at 9-4.
The 24-9 Devils take on the Green River Gators in what will be the final meetings of the long time West Region series. Green River has announced they will discontinue the program after this season. LCC hosts two games on Saturday April 30
th at 12 noon. The teams then meet for a 12 noon double header on Sunday Mat 1
st at Hogan Park in Puyallup.
