When rain started coming down hard in the bottom of the fourth inning at Terry Stephenson Field in a Saturday morning baseball matchup, visiting Junction City was clinging to a 2-1 lead over Philomath in an entertaining game that had seen solid pitching and good defense mixed in with a handful of timely, run-producing hits.
After play resumed, the Warriors stranded a base runner in scoring position and in the top of the fifth, the Tigers unleashed an eight-run assault to put the game out of reach. Junction City went on to an 11-5 victory to continue what has so far been an impressive season with a 10-1 record.
Philomath dropped its fourth straight and finished the nonconference portion of its schedule at 4-7. The Warriors will open Oregon West Conference play at home Monday with the first of three games against Sweet Home.
Warriors sophomore Jayce Iverson had a quality start in a four-inning appearance prior to the rain delay. Iverson allowed three hits and no walks with three strikeouts in a 57-pitch appearance.
Iverson retired the first seven batters he faced, which included 1-2-3 innings in the first and second. Meanwhile, the Warriors took a 1-0 lead with a promising start in the bottom of the first. Leadoff batter Sammy Hernandez connected on a single up the middle on Junction City starter Kaden Shafer’s first pitch, later moved to second on an errant pickoff throw, took third on an infield ground out and scored on a two-out single to right by senior Caleb Babcock.
The Warriors had a major opportunity in the second to add to their lead with the bases loaded and no outs. Junior CK Kvidt singled up the middle, junior Jacob Hernandez reached on an error at second base and junior Cameron Herbert worked a walk while showing bunt. But Junction City escaped the jam with Shafer fanning the next two batters before the inning ended on a fly out to left field.
Junction City tied the game in the third on a one-run, one-out double to left by junior Madix Waldrop. The Warriors limited the damage, however, by stranding Waldrop with back-to-back infield popouts.
The Tigers followed in the fourth with another run to take their first lead. Brayden Rauschert led off the inning with a single and made his way around the bases to eventually score on an infield ground out.
In the bottom of the fourth after the delay, Iverson connected on a two-out double but the inning ended on a ground out. The Warriors sent junior AJ Altishin to the mound, who battled control issues and walked four of the first five batters he faced. Junction City’s Rauschert had a bases-loaded triple and then scored on a wild pitch as part of the visitor’s eight-run inning.
Philomath got back three runs in the fifth. Senior Wylie Griffith and Altishin opened the inning with back-to-back singles before Babcock knocked a double into center field. Griffith scored on the hit and Altishin moved to third. The next batter, junior Gavin Bennett, then singled to left to drive in both Altishin and Babcock.
Junction City changed pitchers with Rauschert going to the mound and he retired the next three batters on a fly out, ground out and fly out to end the inning.
Philomath scored another run in the sixth on a one-run single by Altishin. The Tigers added to their lead in the seventh on a sacrifice bunt by Kevin Anderson that scored Mason Tofell. Iverson hit his second double of the game in the seventh and Sammy Hernandez took one for the team to get two base runners on board with two outs but the game ended on a strikeout.
The Warriors outhit the visitors, 14-9, and eight of the team’s nine starters had at least one hit. Iverson, Altishin and Babcock each went 3 for 4. Griffith finished the game at pitcher and over 2-2/3 innings allowed two hits, one run and one walk.
Rauschert, Tofell and Anderson each had two hits to lead the Junction City offense. Shafer went four innings and allowed nine hits, four runs and one walk with five strikeouts. Rauschert pitched the last three innings and gave up five hits, one run and no walks with two strikeouts.
Two other games scheduled for Saturday were canceled because of the wet weather. Cascade Christian had been scheduled to face Junction City and Philomath.
Junction City 11, Philomath 5
Saturday, April 11 at Terry Stephenson Field, Philomath HS
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Junction City (10-1) 0 0 1 1 8 0 1 11 9 2 Philomath (4-7) 1 0 0 0 3 1 0 5 14 2
Shafer, Rauschert (5) and Waldrop; Iverson, Altishin (5), Griffith (5) and Herbert. W — Shafer. L — Iverson. 2B — Iverson (P) 2, Babcock (P), Waldrop (JC). 3B — Rauschert (JC), Tofell (JC).