Facing two quality opponents Tuesday at the Newport Spring Break Tournament, Philomath High’s baseball team ended the day with an 11-5 loss to Marist Catholic and a 5-5 tie against Henley.
The Warriors’ second game against Henley turned into a marathon with the two rivals squaring off for nine innings. Officials had to call the game because of darkness with no lights at the field.
Henley (1-0-1) scored a run in the top of the first but the Warriors (2-1-1) came back with three in the bottom half — all with two outs. Senior Grant Niemann singled, senior Kayson Olsen doubled and junior Rocco De Rosa walked to load the bases. Senior Brady Russell then delivered with a bases-clearing double to left field and a 3-1 lead.
The Hornets scored twice in the second to tie the game but Philomath again had an answer in the bottom half — again with two outs. Sophomore Jacob Hernandez got things going with a single and he came around to score on a triple by junior Caleb Babcock, who later scored himself on a passed ball.
In the top of the fourth, Henley again tied the score and neither team scored the rest of the way. The Warriors got base runners to third in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings but could not cash in. In the ninth, junior Wylie Griffith hit a two-out single but the inning ended on an infield pop-up.
Henley didn’t get much of anything going after the fourth with Griffith and Niemann on the mound. Griffith was the starter and allowed 10 hits, five runs and one walk with five strikeouts in seven innings. Niemann threw two innings and allowed one hit, no runs and one walk with two strikeouts.
Both teams finished the game with 11 hits. Hernandez, Niemann and Olsen each had two hits and Russell had those three ribbies.
For Henley, sophomore Max Price went 3 for 4 with two RBIs. Freshman Jacoby Tacchini also drove in a pair. Four pitchers saw time on the mound for Henley with Price getting the start.
In Philomath’s first game of the day, the Warriors and Marist were tied 4-4 going into the bottom of the fourth when the Spartans broke it open with seven runs.
Down 2-0 in the third, Philomath got on the scoreboard on a sacrifice fly to center field by senior Grant Niemann with junior Wylie Griffith scoring on the play. Marist countered in the bottom half of the inning with two runs for a 4-1 advantage.
In the top of the fourth, the Warriors tied the game with help from the Spartans. Philomath sent nine batters to the plate but didn’t get any hits with two hit by pitches, three drawing walks and one reaching on an error. Junior Rocco De La Rosa and sophomore AJ Altishin both scored on errors and Griffith scored again on a sac fly by Niemann.
Marist found a rhythm at the plate in the bottom of the fourth and took an 11-4 lead. Philomath’s final run in the fifth came on a solo home run by De La Rosa.
The Warriors had four hits in the game by four different players. Sophomore Jacob Hernandez and Niemann each drove in two runs. Senior Joe Barnes and sophomore Camaron Kvidt saw time on the mound.
Senior Tanner Mullens went 3 for 3 with three RBIs for the Spartans (2-0).
