The Philomath High School baseball team opened the Newport Spring Break Tournament Monday with a 4-2 victory over Molalla.
The Warriors took the lead in the second inning on a two-run home run with two outs by sophomore Jacob Hernandez. The score remained 2-0 into the sixth inning behind a strong pitching performance by junior Caleb Babock.
Through the first five innings, Babcock struck out at least one batter each inning — two in the first, second and third innings. The Indians led off the game with a single but didn’t get another hit until there were two outs in the fifth.
In the sixth, however, Molalla got something going with a single and two walks. With two outs, the Indians were able to score on a bases-loaded balk. The Warriors ended the inning with a groundout to the shortstop.
In the bottom half of the sixth, Philomath scored two important insurance runs. Senior Joe Barnes led off the inning with a walk and after two strikeouts, Babcock reached on a walk to set the stage for senior Grant Niemann, who delivered with a two-run double and a 4-1 lead.
Molalla scored another run in the seventh but Niemann, who had relieved Babcock at pitcher, ended the game with a strikeout.
Niemann went 2 for 2 with two RBIs and Hernandez was 2 for 4 with two RBIs in the win. Babcock threw six innings and allowed three hits and one run with two walks and eight strikeouts for the win. Niemann threw one inning and allowed one hit and one run with no walks and two strikeouts while earning a save.
The Warriors (2-0) will play two more games in the tournament Tuesday with contests against Marist Catholic (1-0) and Henley (1-0).
