The Lower Columbia Red Devils capped off an extraordinary regular season with a commanding four-game sweep of the Pierce College Raiders, securing their 41st through 44th victories of the year in a weekend series contested at both their home turf, David Story Field in Longview, and at Fort Steilacoom Park. This flawless performance in their final series not only completed the sweep but also etched a new pinnacle in program history, establishing a single-season record of 44 wins, a testament to their consistent excellence in both pitching and hitting.

Game One
Longview, WA – The Lower Columbia Red Devils showcased their prowess on both sides of the ball Friday afternoon, blanking the Pierce College Raiders 10-0 in a decisive league victory at David Story Field. The Red Devils' offense exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, putting an exclamation point on a game controlled by strong pitching.

Red Devils' sophomore right-hander Chayse Oxborrow (6-2) was masterful on the mound, earning the complete-game shutout. Over eight innings, Oxborrow allowed just four hits and two walks, striking out three Raiders. He efficiently navigated the Pierce lineup, throwing 94 pitches, 69 for strikes, and inducing 10 ground ball outs and nine fly ball outs.

The Lower Columbia offense, while held somewhat in check for the majority of the game, came alive at crucial moments. They broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning when Langan Naylor (1-for-4, 2 BB, 1 RBI) drew a walk and eventually scored on a fielder's choice. Sophomore third baseman Sam Davidson (2-for-4, 2 R, 1 SH) also scored in the frame after reaching on an error and advancing on a sacrifice bunt.

The Red Devils added another run in the bottom of the fifth. Davidson reached on an error, advanced to third, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Brayden Oram (0-for-3, 1 SF, 1 RBI), who later moved to center field.

The floodgates opened in the bottom of the eighth inning. The rally began with a single by catcher Matthe Bailey (1-for-4, 1 R). Key hits in the inning included an RBI single by Naylor, an RBI single by Jace Nagler (2-for-4, 1 R, 2 RBI, 1 2B, 1 BB), and a two-RBI single left fielder Aiden Horsley (1-for-1, 2 RBI), who entered the game in the eighth. Davidson also reached on an error and scored during the outburst. Designated hitter H. Rowe (1-for-4, 1 R, 1 BB, 1 GDP) reached base twice, contributing to the offensive pressure. Overall, the Red Devils tallied 14 hits and drew nine walks against Pierce pitching.

For the Pierce Raiders, right-hander Jackson Burtis (1-2) took the loss, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing three earned runs on eight hits and four walks, striking out two. The Raiders' offense struggled to find consistency against Oxborrow, with K. Kingsbury (2-for-3, 1 2B, 1 CS, 1 GDP) collecting half of their four hits. They left six runners on base and were plagued by one error.

Game Two
Longview, WA - The roar of the David Story Field crowd was a comforting sound for the Lower Columbia Red Devils as they battled the Pierce College Raiders on a sunny May afternoon. With left-hander Wyatt Macdonald on the mound, the Red Devils felt confident. Macdonald, a steady presence all season, took the ball and delivered a gritty performance, going the full seven innings. While he didn't rack up strikeouts, he did keep the Pierce hitters off balance with a mix of grounders and fly balls. He navigated through four hits and six walks, even a hit batter, but limited the damage to just two earned runs. Each time Pierce threatened, Macdonald found a way to shut the door, his determination a clear message to the Raiders.

Offensively, the Red Devils were efficient. In the bottom of the third inning, the bats came alive. Jace Nagler managed to get on base, setting the stage for Brayden Oram. Oram stepped to the plate and delivered a clutch hit, a booming double that not only advanced Nagler but also brought him home, along with another teammate who had reached base. The two RBIs gave the Red Devils a crucial lead. Later in the game, catcher Jared Childers added another tally, his single finding its way through the Pierce defense and allowing a runner to cross the plate.
While the Red Devils only mustered four hits on the day, they were timely and impactful. They also drew two walks and were hit by three pitches, showcasing their ability to get runners on base in various ways. Even when outs were recorded, the Red Devils kept the pressure on, with one player reaching on an error and three others reaching on fielder's choices, keeping the Pierce defense on their toes.
Despite striking out five times, the Red Devils' ability to capitalize on their limited opportunities proved to be the difference. Macdonald's steady presence on the mound, coupled with the timely hits from Oram and Childers, secured a hard-fought 3-2 victory for the home team, much to the delight of the Longview faithful.

After game two the Red devils took some time to honor and recognize their outstanding sophomores and the contributions they have made to this team and program. 
Photos from the event can be found in the Devils photo gallery.

Game Three
Lakewood, WA - The Lower Columbia Red Devils arrived at Fort Steilacoom Park with a familiar confidence, their impressive season record preceding them. On the mound for the opening game of the doubleheader was sophomore right-hander Kaden Harris. He took control early, pitching a solid six innings. While Pierce managed to push across a run against him, Harris kept the damage to a minimum, allowing just four hits and four walks while striking out four. His steady presence allowed the Red Devil offense to build their lead.

At the plate, the Lower Columbia bats were active throughout the contest, racking up an impressive 13 hits. Leading the charge was freshman designated hitter Harlan Rowe, who had a standout day, collecting three hits, including a triple, and driving in three runs. Sophomore Jace Nagler also had a productive day, contributing two hits, including a double, and scoring two runs. Karsten Hansen chipped in with two hits and an RBI, including a double of his own. The offense got on the board early with a run in the first inning and then exploded for two runs in the eighth and three more in the ninth, showcasing their resilience and ability to score late in the game. They were also patient at the plate, drawing three walks and getting hit by a pitch, helping to extend innings and create scoring opportunities. While they did leave nine runners on base, their consistent hitting ultimately proved too much for the Pierce pitching staff.

As the game progressed, sophomore left-hander Aaden Anderson took over pitching duties for the Red Devils in the seventh and eighth innings. He kept Pierce off the board during his two innings of work, allowing no hits but hitting two batters and recording one strikeout. Then, in the bottom of the ninth, with the Red Devils holding a 6-1 lead, things got a little interesting. Josh Mejia entered the game but struggled with his command, issuing three walks and allowing a hit, which led to three Pierce runs scoring. However, sophomore right-hander Ryan McClaskey was called upon to close things out. Despite allowing a hit, McClaskey managed to secure the final outs, earning the save and sealing the 6-4 victory for Lower Columbia.

Game Four
Lakewood, WA - This win was historic, marking the 44th victory of the season for Lower Columbia, a new school record! Sophomore right-hander Quinn Hubbs started on the mound for the Red Devils and delivered a fantastic performance, pitching six strong innings. He allowed just two runs on four hits and one walk while striking out one. His control was excellent, allowing the offense to take charge.

And take charge they did! The Lower Columbia offense was explosive, scoring nine runs on nine hits. Shortstop Langan Naylor had an incredible game, going 3-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch, scoring two runs, and driving in three RBIs. Sophomore second baseman Jace Nagler also had a big day, going 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Freshman third baseman Sam Davidson contributed a double and an RBI, while sophomore right fielder Garrett Cooper added a hit, a run, and a stolen base. The Red Devils were relentless, scoring five runs in the fifth inning and four more in the sixth, overwhelming the Pierce pitching staff. They also showed great patience at the plate, drawing three walks and getting hit by five pitches. While they stranded six runners, their timely hitting was the story of the game.

In the seventh inning, sophomore right-hander Ryan McClaskey came in to close out the game for Lower Columbia. He pitched a scoreless inning, allowing no hits and one walk while striking out one, securing the historic victory for the Red Devils.

From the Lower Columbia perspective, this was a dominant performance and a monumental achievement. Hubbs pitched brilliantly, the offense erupted for nine runs, and McClaskey shut the door in the final inning. To set a new school record for wins in such a decisive fashion was a testament to the team's hard work and consistency throughout the season. 

The Devils will have next weekend off as they prepare for the Northwest Athletic Conference championships. Championships run Thursday, May 22nd - Monday, May 26th at David Story Field in Longview, WA. 
Game one for the Devils will be at 7:35 pm vs the winner of the East Region Super Regional. 
For more information on the tournament and to purchase tickets go to nwacsports.com/Championship_Central_Baseball