Philomath senior Caleb Babcock hit a two-out, bases-loaded single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Warriors to an 11-10 victory Wednesday night over St. Helens on the third day of the Riverhawk Baseball Invitational at The Dalles.
Both victories for the Warriors this season have come on walk-off hits.
In a wild seventh, St. Helens (1-3) scored three runs in the top half of the inning to break a 7-7 tie. But the Warriors were able to put together a two-out rally to get the win.
Philomath loaded the bases with no outs but a strikeout and pop out that failed to get a base runner home followed. Sophomore Sammy Hernandez walked on a full count to force in a run to cut the deficit to 10-8.
Junior Cameron Herbert followed with a clutch double to drive in two more runs to tie the game. St. Helens opted to intentionally walk AJ Altishin — who had a walk-off home run last week to beat Gladstone — to load the bases. Babcock singled on the first pitch and the game was over.
The Warriors (2-3) never led in the game until the final run was scored.
Philomath scored twice in the first inning thanks to an error and a wild pitch. In the third, trailing by four runs, Babcock hit a two-run double to cut into the deficit. Two batters later, junior CK Kvidt also hit a double to drive in a run and bring Philomath to within 6-5.
The Warriors later tied the score in the fifth. Altishin, who led off the inning with a walk, scored on a sacrifice fly by Kvidt. Junior Rustan Woosley drove in the seventh run with a single to center field.
St. Helens got two batters aboard in the sixth but Philomath ended the inning on a ground ball to second baseman Wylie Griffith. Altishin singled in the bottom half but was stranded to set up the seventh.
Five players had a multi-hit game for the Warriors, led by Babcock’s 3-for-5 effort with three RBIs. Altishin, Kvidt and Woosley each went 2 for 3 and Hernandez was 2 for 4. On the mound, Altishin started and went three innings, allowing six hits, six runs and three walks with two strikeouts. Kvidt threw the final four innings and allowed three hits, one earned run and four walks with three strikeouts.
Senior Javon Holder and senior Parker Humbird each had two hits for the Lions. Holder was the pitcher of record for St. Helens, allowing three hits, four runs and three walks with four strikeouts in his two innings of work. Freshman Mason Rund started (three innings, six hits, three earned runs, one walk, five strikeouts) and Max Wheeldon had a middle-relief appearance (1-2/3 innings, three hits, two earned runs, three walks, one strikeout).
Philomath will try to knock off the tournament’s host in a game scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday. The Dalles (2-2) has split two games in the tournament so far — a 4-3 win over Sweet Home and a 7-3 loss to Tillamook.
Philomath 11, St. Helens 10
Wednesday, March 25, at Quinton Street Ball Park, The Dalles
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E St. Helens (1-3) 4 2 0 0 1 0 3 10 9 1 Philomath (2-3) 2 0 3 0 2 0 4 11 12 2
M. Rund, Wheeldon (4), Holder (5) and Gerber; Altishin, Kvidt (4) and Herbert. W — Kvidt. L — Holder. 2B — Babcock, Herbert, Kvidt, Gerber, Holder, Naes.