The Philomath High School baseball team won its second straight game with a 6-2 victory Monday at home against Newport.
The Warriors are now tied with Cascade for second place in the Oregon West Conference standings at 6-4 and chasing first-place Stayton, which is sitting at 8-2. Overall, Philomath is now one game under .500 at 10-11.
Newport (8-12 overall, 4-6 Oregon West) scored in the top of the first in Monday’s game to take a quick lead. Junior Matt Colton singled and junior Collin Fierro doubled to set up senior Ryder Hockema, who was able to get one run home with a groundout to the shortstop.
Philomath tied the game in the second inning on a one-run single by junior Jacob Hernandez. Junior Gavin Bennett, who opened the frame with a walk, scored on the hit.
The Warriors then scored four runs in the third to go up 5-1, which could be considered a safe lead with PHS senior Caleb Babcock on the mound. As it happened, Babcock hit a two-run double to break the tie. Junior CK Kvidt and junior Rustan Woosley followed with one-run singles.
Philomath added another run to the lead in the fourth when sophomore Sammy Hernandez scored on a wild pitch.
Newport scored its second run in the seventh inning on a PHS miscue in the field.
Babcock pitched six innings and allowed six hits, one run and one walk with 14 strikeouts. Kvidt and junior AJ Altishin made appearances in the seventh with the latter credited with a save.
At the plate, Woosley went 2 for 3. Five other players had hits and the Warriors reached base five times on walks.
Newport starter Jordan Ingalls, a senior, was tagged with the loss. Senior Aiden Brown and sophomore Quinn Barber also took the mound. Colton went 2 for 2 for the Cubs on offense.
Philomath will travel to Newport for the second game of the series on Wednesday. The first pitch at Frank Wade Memorial Field is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Philomath 6, Newport 2
Monday, May 11, at Terry Stephenson Field, Philomath HS
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Newport (8-12, 4-6) 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 6 0 Philomath (10-11, 6-4) 0 1 4 1 0 0 x 6 7 3
Babcock, Kvidt (7), Altishin (7) and Herbert; Ingalls, Brown (3), Barber (6) and Wagner. W — Babcock. L — Ingalls. S — Altishin. 2B — Fierro (N), Babcock (P).
Junior varsity: Philomath 11, Newport 4.