By Bill Poehler
Statesman Journal
April 19, 2008
The rain stopped, but the bats kept smoking.
Sprague High School's baseball team racked up 16 hits Friday as the Olympians raced to a 12-0 lead and an eventual 13-5 Central Valley Conference baseball win against North Salem at Barrick Field.
"Last time we played them we jumped out to five runs in the first inning. This time we jumped out to three, but we continually put on more and more throughout the game," said Sprague catcher Tony Wilson.
"Instead of a change where we were fighting back the first time we faced them, we had 12 runs. It was good, though, that we got some extra at-bats and had a couple other guys come in and pitch. It was a good win for us."
Sprague maintains its tie with McNary for second place in the tough CVC by improving to 6-3 in league and 10-6 overall.
North Salem drops to 4-6 in league and 7-9 overall and remains in fifth place in the CVC, 1/2-game back of fourth-place Redmond.
"We're only three or four games back, and we can still come back and get second or third," said North Salem freshman Cole Ferguson, who hit a three-run home run. "Maybe even first with the help of some losses from (first-place) South."
Sprague's hitting order was almost completely different from what it was two weeks ago. The changes are working well for the Olympians.
"We have a philosophy, produce or perish-type thing," Sprague coach Brian Champion said. "Kids are taking advantage of opportunity. Kids have been given opportunity all year long. Kids are starting to step up and take positions and take roles.
"You fiddle with the lineups at different times to put (in) kids who are swinging the bat good, feeling good, trying to put the right combination together. We'll constantly fiddle with it."
The rain let up in the first inning, but the wind and cold remained for the rest of the game.
Wilson led off the second inning with a single, Chad Coburn walked and Kody Albrecht hit into an error that scored Wilson from second.
Designated hitter Stephen Cook singled to score Coburn from second. One out after John Outland singled to load the bases, Tyson Giza reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Cook to score from third when the throw to the plate was off line, giving Sprague its 3-0 lead.
In the third, with the bases loaded and no outs, Cook and Outland hit consecutive two-run doubles to stretch the Olympians' advantage to 7-0.
In the sixth, Sprague scored five runs on five hits and a pair of sacrifice flies from Reece Gammon and Daniel Rierson and went up 12-0.
The Olympians' 16 hits came against five North Salem pitchers.
North Salem made a valiant comeback attempt in the sixth.
With Jordan Dennis and Mackie Unruh reaching base on a hit batsman and walk, Ferguson came up with two outs.
Ferguson took a pitch from Sprague starter Jensen Callaway and hit it just fair into North Salem's batting cage in left field.
It was the first home run of the high school career for the freshman, who is hitting .347, second best on the team.
"We don't give up and we go out with a lot of heart," Ferguson said.
Erik Hayworth followed with a bunt single and Kelby Harding followed with an RBI double. One batter later, Lou Carr brought Harding home with a single to close the gap to 12-5 but that was as close as the Vikings got.
Wilson finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored, Cook was 3 for 5 with three RBIs and two runs scored, Outland was 2 for 3 with three RBIs, Albrecht was 2 for 4 with two RBIs and three runs scored and Parker Miles was 2 for 5.
Callaway allowed six hits, five runs and four walks in 5fi innings of work in the win.
"Any win is a good win," Wilson said. "We got two down out of the 11 that we're looking for to sweep to get the league title. That's what we want ultimately. Any momentum's good."
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