Warriors earn win over Linfield at Spring Classic
February 23, 2007
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Junior Jamie McGraw went a combined 4-for-9 at the plate in the Yamhill County Spring Baseball Classic, including one of the Warriors' two extra base hits, as Corban ended the classic with a 1-1 records thanks to a win over tournament co-host Linfield on Friday. (Photo courtesy of Charissa Bernard) |
McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Senior Ryan Heil (Medford, Ore.) and junior Jamie McGraw (Gaston, Ore.) each went 3-for-5 at the plate, as Corban's baseball team picked up their first win at the Yamhill County Spring Baseball Classic, 6-4, over the co-host Wildcats of Linfield on Friday.
The Warriors jumped on the NCAA Div. III club early as they recorded 5 runs in the opening inning. Batting fourth in the line-up, senior Jeremy Frantz (Medford, Ore.) singled to center field that drove in both McGraw (1-0) and sophomore Craig Spicer (Vancouver, Wash.) (2-0). Just two batters later, Frantz was knocked home (3-0) by junior Doug Gausepohl (Murrieta, Calif.), who reached base due to an error from the Wildcats’ third baseman Don Bard.
Still in the first inning, Gausepohl stole second base and junior Darren Johnson (Vancouver, Wash.) picked up both his lone hit and lone RBI on the outing when he brought senior Brett Timmerman (Medford, Ore.), who previously hit a double, home (4-0). Bard once again recorded an error that was deemed costly as Gausepohl was able to safely cross the home plate (5-0) after the altercation.
Though down by five runs, Linfield would not be shut out. At the bottom of the same inning, right fielder Stew Davis put the ball into center field for a single and brought in center fielder Kevin Mills on the play (5-1). Later in the fourth inning, the Wildcats continued to play catch up as they received runs from both Austin Highberger (5-2) and Bard (5-3).
At their next at bat, the Warriors stretched their lead to 6-3 when sophomore James Kilcup (Vancouver, Wash.) singled to left-center field and simultaneously allowed for Gausepohl to touch home plate for the second time of the game. Once they closed the top half of the sixth inning, the Wildcats marked their final run of the game (6-4) when Mills flied out to Kilcup in left field and gave Shannon Chung ample time to move from third base to home.
Able to hold off Linfield for the three remaining innings, the Warriors tallied their fourth win in the last six games. Timmerman was the winning pitcher as he pitched 5 innings, gave up 4 runs (3 earned) on 8 hits, and struck out three batters at the plate. Freshman Eric Bolden (Kent, Wash.) found time on the mound for 1.1 innings and senior Scott Fitchett (Sandpoint, Idaho) came on for the save as he picked up three strike outs in just two and two-thirds innings on top the hill.
The losing pitcher was the Wildcats’ Joshua Guterman who put in 6 innings with 11 hits, 6 runs (3 earned), and fanned three batters. Reese McCulley pitched the final 3 innings, gave up 4 hits, and had a 2 strike out performance for Linfield. The Warriors made 2 errors on the day, while their counterparts made 5 errors of their own.
With the win, Corban improves to 4-5 overall on the season behind first year head coach Nate Mayben. Meanwhile, Linfield drops to even at 3-3 overall. Due to inclement weather, the remainder of the Yamhill County Spring Baseball Classic has been cancelled. The Warriors will return to the field on Friday, March 2nd, when they begin conference and regional play against the Coyotes of Albertson at 1:00 p.m. in Caldwell, Idaho.
Story written by James Young, Corban Sports Information Intern
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