It was not the end to the season that the Crook County High School baseball team had hoped for.
Playing in raining conditions that would have canceled regular season games, Crook County pitchers struggled with control, walking 18 batters as North Bend rolled to a 14-3 win in the first round of the OSAA Class 4A state playoffs.
“I hate to blame the elements, but it was difficult out there,” Crook County head coach Steele Bailey said. “Our guys were struggling on the mound. Struggling throwing strikes. Struggling to find the zone. It was a tough one, battling the conditions.”
Crook County starting pitcher Clayton Dill struck out the first batter he faced. However, that was the last out he would get as he allowed one hit and walked four and allowing three runs in one third of an inning of work. Carson Knudtson replaced Dill on the mound and the Cowboys escaped the inning with no further damage.
Crook County responded with three runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game as Tyis Yustat walked and Dill singled, sending Yustat to third. A Hayden Forman sacrifice fly scored Yustat. Singles by Tyson and Gage Martinez scored Dill, then with two outs Ethan Lamphere reached base on an infield single scoring Tyson Martinez and tying the game.
However, North Bend took control of the game for good in the second inning, scoring four runs on four hits and a walk from Knudtson. Austin Vaughan relieved Knudtson to start the third inning. Vaughan allowed just one hit in three innings of work. However, he walked 12 batters. Vaughan gave up four runs in the third, and three more runs in the sixth, before he was replaced on the mound by Tyson Marinez, who closed out the game for the Cowboys.
Meanwhile, after giving up four hits in the first inning, North Bend starting pitcher Luke Wheeling allowed just one more hit and walked just four in his five innings of work. Aidan Nelson relieved Wheeling on the mound in the sixth inning and did not allow a baserunner as North Bend closed out the game in six innings due to the 10-run rule.
Austin Vaughan had the final hit for the Cowboys, while Crook County pitchers gave up seven hits to North Bend batters.
With the win, North Bend, 16-8, advances to the state quarterfinals where they will take on No. 1-ranked Henley in Klamath Falls on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Cowboys season ends with a 19-7 record.
“We played well all year,” Bailey said. “We battled all season and we hit really well. I’m just really proud of these guys.”
North Bend 14, Crook County 3 at Crook County, May 21
North Bend – 3 4 4 0 0 3 – 14 7 1
Crook County – 3 0 0 0 0 0 – 3 5 1
Most Popular
Comments / 0