(Longview, WA) – The Lower Columbia baseball team is off to another hot start as the top ranked Red Devils swept three double headers February 23-25 at Story Field.
Friday February 23 – LCC 6 Lane 5; LCC 2 Lane 0
In the first game Friday, the Devils scored a run in the bottom of the 11
th inning on a Lane wild pitch to take the game 6-5.
The Devils were able to plate single runs in the second, third, fifth, sixth and ninth innings.
Royce Vandine hit an RBI groundout in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings.
Red Devil starter
Noah Imboden settled down after giving up two runs in the top of the first. The sophomore lefty went seven innings giving up just three runs and three hits, striking out six in the no-decision.
Ryan McClaskey walked two and hit another while working the 8
th.
Kaden Harris came on in the 8
th and then shut it down the rest of the way, allowing just two hits in 3 2/3 inning for the victory.
Langan Naylor had two hits.
In the Friday nightcap,
Hunter Lutman got the win with four innings of shutout ball. Lutman allowed just three hits and struck out seven.
Josh Mejia was strong in relief as he went three innings allowing just two hits and striking out eight Titans.
The Devils provided just enough offense as
Gunnar Shiotani had an RBI sacrifice fly in the third frame. LCC scored the other run on a passed ball.
Saturday February 24 – LCC 4 Bellevue 1; LCC 3 Bellevue 2
More solid pitching for LCC in the opener of the four game weekend series with Bellevue.
Hayden Morrison gave up just one run on five hits in the six innings to get the victory.
Aaron Platner came on and allowed just one hit in three shutout innings to get the save.
LCC jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning on an
Alex Hartnett RBI single followed by a
Wren Cecil sac fly. After an unearned run in the third, the Devils capped the scoring with a
Cayden Wotipka RBI double in the 8
th. Naylor, Wotipka and Hartnett each had two hits.
Saturday's second game was another low scoring affair that featured good pitching. LCC starter
Carson Kruckman went six innings and allowed just one run on five hits in the no-decision.
Aaden Anderson gave up a run in the 8
th.
Hunter Grasser came in to deal 2 2/3 innings to get the win. Grasser allowed no hits and struck out six.
Hartnett came up with another clutch hit as his RBI single in the 8
th turned out to be the game winner. Owen Cummings had two hits and an RBI for the Devils.
Sunday February 25 – LCC 10 Bellevue 4; LCC 18 Bellevue 3
The bats came alive on a rainy Sunday. Hartnett went 2 for 5 with two RBI's.
Jace Nagler had two RBI's.
Matthew Bailey also had two hits for the Devils.
Owen Luchies got the win. The sophomore went six innings and scattered six hits. He gave up four runs, but just two were earned. Luchies also struck out seven Bulldogs.
Kaden Larson closed it out with three shutout innings allowing just three base hits.
The series finale had early fireworks. After Bellevue scored three runs off Devil starter
Chayse Oxborrow, his teammates picked him up immediately. Lower Columbia scored nine runs in the bottom of the first and the rout was on. Cecil's two run double was the big hit in the first inning uprising.
Lower Columbia had another big frame as they scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth. Vandine's two-run double was the highlight hit in that inning.
Cecil was 3 for 3 with three hits, three runs and three RBI's.
Garrett Cooper had two hits including an RBI double. Vandine had three ribbies.
Brayden Oram also collected two RBI's.
Jack DeDonato got the win with three solid innings. He allowed no hits, no runs, struck out four and worked around two walks.
The Devils are now 7-0. The game scheduled with George Fox on Tuesday February 27
th was postponed due to weather. It will be made up later in the season.
LCC's next action is a four game home series with the Everett Trojans. The doubleheader on Saturday March 2
nd begins at 2 pm. The twin bill on Sunday March 3
rd begins at 12 pm.
The early season games at Story Field features free admission.
