(Longview, WA) – The Lower Columbia College Red Devils are back in familiar territory as a sweep over Grays Harbor and help from Pierce has LCC back on top of the West Region standings.
The Red Devils outscored Grays Harbor 39-5 in the four game weekend series at Story Field. Sunday Pierce took two from Tacoma to tighten things up in the standing. Lower Columbia and Tacoma are identical 17-4 in league and 32-9 overall with a huge series coming up this weekend to decide the West.
On Saturday May 7
th, the Devils got the weekend off to a good start with a 12-0 victory over the Chokers.
Michael Schwarz got the victory as he threw six innings of two hit ball. His no-hit attempt was lost in the fifth, but Schwarz was dominant with 12 strikeouts and two walks.
Braeden Munger pitched a scoreless 7
th inning as the game ended early due to the 10-run rule.
Kyle Parkman led the offense by going 4 for 5 with an RBI.
Daniel Gernon was 3 for 4 with three RBI's.
Matthew Schwarz drove in three runs and
Matthew Lewis had two RBI's.
In Saturday's nightcap, the Devils had to come from behind to register a 7-4 victory. The Chokers scored four runs in the bottom of the first (GH was the home team in the visiting park on Saturday) off LCC starter
Ryan Pitts despite not having a hit.
Aaron Robertson came in and shut down the Harbor the rest of the way. Robertson went 6 2/3 allowing just one hit with nine strikeouts.
Justin Stransky and
Tyler Peterson led the offense by each collecting two hits with an RBI.
On Sunday May 8
th, the Devils scored six runs in the bottom of the first and went on to a 10-0 victory shortened to seven frames.
Camdem Oram scattered six hits in a complete game victory. Oram walked two and struck out five.
Matthew Schwarz had a big game going 2 for 4 with three RBI's. Schwarz hit a home run in the game.
Eric Luchies went 3 for 4 with an RBI. Stransky also went 3 for 4. Lewis had two hits and two RBI's.
Tyler Peterson drove in two.
In the series finale, Grays Harbor took an early 1-0 lead over starter
Brayden Marcum but the Devils rallied to take a 10-1 victory.
Marcum settled in and went 5 1/3 innings to get the victory. He allowed just three hits. His ERA is now at a team-leading 1.13.
Mac Elske closed it out with 1 1/3 innings of shutout ball.
Eight Red Devil players drove in at least one run. Stransky had two RBI's to lead the way. Parkman and Peterson were both 2 for 3 with a ribbie.
The Devils will host a special game on Monday May 9
th. Former LCC head coach Eddie Smith brings his Utah Valley Wolverines to Story Field for a single game at 5 pm. Smith spent four successful years as the Red Devil head coach and brings his team to town towards the end of a nine-game road trip. UVU dropped three games at Washington State over the weekend. They will close out roadie Wednesday at Portland.
Not only will coach Smith be back in Longview, but so will assistant coaches Kade Kryszko and Michael Forgione. Kryszko and Forgione played at LCC under coach Smith.
Gates open up at 4 pm and first pitch is slated for 5 pm.
