The Philomath High School baseball team ended its appearance in Newport Tuesday with losses of 10-5 to St. Helens and 18-10 to Henley — a pair of teams with a combined 12-2 record.
In the game against St. Helens, the game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the third when the Lions put up four runs. St. Helens added two more in the fourth and three in the fifth to put the game away.
Philomath’s first run came in the third on a one-run single by Caleb Babcock. In the fifth, Logan Matthews doubled and stretched to third on an error. He then scored on a grounder put in play by Grant Niemann.
Philomath’s other three runs came in the sixth. Rocco De La Rosa walked and Kash Lindsey doubled to set up a scoring opportunity. AJ Altishin delivered with a one-run single. Lindsey later scored when Niemann reached on an error. Stearns drove in Altishin with a single.
Joe Barnes threw five innings and Wylie Griffith contributed with an inning in relief. Stearns and Lindsey each went 2 for 3 at the plate.
Nate Nowak hit a two-run homer for the Lions (7-2).
Henley, which is off to a perfect start this season at 5-0, followed with an 18-10 victory over the Warriors. The Hornets stuck for seven runs in the top of the first and third innings to build a significant early advantage over PHS.
The Warriors (1-4) sent 11 batters to the plate and scored four runs in the second inning. Altishin had a one-run single to right, Stearns drove in two more on a single to center and Lindsey connected on a one-run single to left.
Philomath added two more in the third with two outs. Matthews scored when Niemann reached on an error and Stearns had a one-run single.
In the fourth, the Warriors scored another four runs. De La Rosa hit a one-run single, two more runs came in when Altishin put a ball in play and reached on an error and the 10th run was scored by Griffith on a wild pitch.
Babcock and Matthews each threw three innings and combined for nine strikeouts. Stearns went 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Altishin also drove in three.
Philomath will next play on April 1 at home against Crook County.
