Pirate baseball downs Touchet to advance in post-season

By Loyal Baker

TOUCHET–The Pirates stayed alive in the post season with an 11-8 win over the Touchet Redhawks to break a tie for fourth place in District 9 1B baseball here Monday, May 8.

The win propels Pomeroy into another play-in game and they were slated to play District 7's fifth-place team Wellpinit at Ritzville at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9. The winner will continue this Saturday, facing District 7's No. 3 team in a game to be played at Spangle.

"It was a great baseball game today," commented Head Coach Kyler Lovgren.

Both teams battled to 0-0 until the Pirates broke the ice with four runs in the top of the third. The Redhawks answered with two runs.

In the fifth inning, Pomeroy upped the ante with a run for a 5-3 lead, which didn't last as Touchet chalked up three runs to knot the score 5-5.

The Pirates counted one run in the sixth, as did the Redhawks for a taut 6-6 score, but then Pomeroy blew five runs in in the top of the seventh, then Trace Roberts closed by holding Touchet to just two runs and the 11-8 decision.

Nick Bryson put Pomeroy in the lead when he scored the seventh run, knocked in by a Jett Slusser single. Vinny Vecchio was on base with Jett Slusser behind him when Gunner Magill smacked a two-out single scoring Vecchio and Slusser.

Trevin Kimble got on base and scored the tenth run, walked in by a Brodie Magill base on balls. Gunner Magill scored the final run, batted in by an Ollie Severs single to center field.

"Trevin Kimble and Trace Roberts teamed up again for a classic big game win," he said. "Trevin opened and took us five innings and Trace was able to come in and close the game." Kimble struck out 10, gave up six hits, and walked three. Roberts, in two innings of relief, struck out five, allowed two hits and three runs, walking three.

At the plate, Jett Slusser went four for four and used his speed to help Pomeroy get on the scoreboard in the third inning, Lovgren said.

"Overall, we played well and the difference in this game was the play at the plate and on the bases of our six through nine batters: Nick Bryson, Vinny Vecchio, Jayden Slusser and Jett Slusser," Lovgren said. "These guys kept us in the game solidly throughout.

Ollie Severs hit the ball solid today and Gunner Magill's clutch hit in the seventh to bring two runs in gave the Pirates some breathing room, Lovgren said.

Pomeroy 11, Touchet 8 (5-8)

R H E

Pom 004 011 5-11 13 2

Tou 002 031 2-8 8 2

Battery: Pomeroy-Kimble, Roberts (6) and Severs. Touchet-O. Godinez, C. Bergevin (7), S. Kolb (7) and unknown.

Hits: Pomeroy-Kimble, Magill, Roberts 2 (2b, 3b), Severs 3 (2b), Bryson, Vecchio, Jett Slusser 4 (2b). Touchet-Huntley, O. Godinez, Kolb, Mendoza, Pumphrey 3, Kincaid.

RBI: Pomeroy-G. Magill 2, Roberts 2, B. Magill, Severs 4, Jett Slusser. Touchet-Godinez, Mendoza, Pumphrey, Kincaid 2.