The Philomath High School baseball team opened a two-day road trip to eastern Oregon on Friday evening with a 10-6 victory over La Grande.
The Warriors (4-3) were clinging to a 5-4 lead going into the fifth inning before adding insurance runs, including three in the top of the seventh. Junior AJ Altishin had two key run-producing hits over the final two innings — a one-run single in the sixth for a 7-4 lead and then a two-run single in the seventh for a 10-4 lead. The Tigers scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to account for the final margin.
Down 2-0 early, Philomath tied the score in the second thanks to a two-out wild pitch that ended up bringing in two runs. The Warriors took a 3-2 lead in the third on a one-run single by junior Jacob Hernandez. Philomath added two more on a single by junior Gavin Bennett.
With the lead down to a single run, Philomath scored in the fifth when senior Caleb Babcock scored while La Grande turned a double play. Altishin then had the one-run single in the sixth to extend the lead to three.
In the seventh, senior Wylie Griffith scored the team’s eighth run on a La Grande error. Altishin followed with his two-run single to center field.
Philomath had 10 hits in the victory with three batters having multi-hit games. Babcock went 3 for 4, sophomore Sammy Hernandez was 2 for 4 and Altishin finished 2 for 5.
On the mound, Babcock went four innings and allowed three hits, two earned runs, one walk and had six strikeouts. Junior CK Kvidt tossed the final three innings and allowed three hits, one earned run and one walk with two strikeouts while earning a save.
Senior Ryder McIlmoil led the Tigers (1-5-1) with three hits and three RBIs. La Grande used six pitchers in the loss.
Philomath will hit the diamond again Saturday with a 1 p.m. game at Pendleton. The Cowboys enter the contest with a 4-6 record following a Friday doubleheader sweep over Redmond, 14-2 and 18-3.
Philomath 12, The Dalles 2 (5)
Thursday, March 26, at Quinton Street Ball Park, The Dalles
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Philomath (4-3) 0 2 3 0 1 1 3 10 10 2 La Grande (1-5-1) 2 0 1 1 0 0 2 6 6 3
Babcock, Kvidt (5) and Herbert; Bonanno, D. McIlmoil (2), Ritter (3), Anderson (4), Lain (5), Hood (6) and R. McIlmoil. W — Babcock. L — Lain. S — Kvidt. 2B — Babcock. 3B — R. McIlmoil.