Grizzlies clinch district title

By RAY RODRIGUEZ - ARGUS OBSERVER
Friday, May 11, 2007 11:37 AM PDT

Weiser’s Hank Garrison just misses a fly ball during the Wolverines’ 3A district championship game against Fruitland Thursday at Harmon Killebrew Field in Payette. Fruitland won the game, 8-5.

PAYETTE - With the game hanging in the balance, Fruitland head coach Russ Wright went to his ace in the hole, while Weiser head coach Ted Pettet rolled the dice and came up with snake eyes.

The Grizzlies scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and Fruitland reliever Tyson Flannery worked his way out of a seventh inning jam to preserve an 8-5 Grizzly win and the 3A District III championship title Thursday at Harmon Killebrew Field in Payette.

“I really love this team,” Wright said. “In 22 years you have certain teams that stand out. I loved last year’s team, but this team is a special group. They always find a way to win.”

Weiser starter Brandon Richins pitched five solid innings and after his team scored three runs, he enjoyed a 5-4 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning.

Weiser started the sixth down 4-2, and crept closer after pinch-hitter Will Grindstaff hit an RBI double to score Hank Garrison, and two batters later, Richins helped his own cause with a two-out, two-run double that scored Grindstaff and Gavin Eisenbarth, giving the Wolverines the lead.

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Richins was six outs away from a state berth but couldn’t hold on. Richins walked Kaleo Nawahine to start the inning and Nawahine stole second base. After a ground out by Flannery, Richins walked Caleb Crim, putting two runners on with one out.

The Weiser brain trust had Eisenbarth available to pitch, but chose to replace Richins with southpaw Blaine Swain.

Fruitland’s Blayne Marples was the next batter and Swain hit him with a pitch, loading the bases.

Varriale then clubbed a two-run double off Swain and the Grizzlies retook the lead at 6-5. The Grizzlies tacked on two more runs on a botched play at the plate and never looked back.

In the top of the seventh, Weiser had some chances, but couldn’t capitalize.

Varriale walked the first two batters he faced and Wright called upon Flannery to try and close things out, with the tying run at the plate.

Flannery struck out Chris Rhew, retired Levi Bowers on a ground out and forced Brandon Eversole into a lazy pop-up for the final out.

“I knew if I threw strikes and let them put the ball in play, my defense would back me up and we would get into state,” Flannery said. “I have been brought into tough situations all my life, so I buckle down, not think about it and just pitch.”

Zack Fabricius and Nawahine each scored two runs and stole two bases, while Flannery chipped in a triple and an RBI. Weiser tallied six hits and was led by Richins, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Eisenbarth scored two runs. But the Wolverines left 10 runners on base, with at least one in every inning but the fourth.

“We knew we were capable,” Pettet said. “We came in thinking we could win and I think our kids came in believing. A lot of these guys were put into situations they were not familiar with and some little mistakes cost us.”

Weiser next takes on the winner of Payette and McCall-Donnelly Saturday at 3 p.m., while Fruitland is headed to the state tournament which starts Thursday at Elks Memorial Field in Ontario.

Payette .......................... 12

Homedale ........................ 7

The Payette baseball team kept its season alive with a 12-7 win over Homedale in consolation round action Thursday at the 3A Snake River Valley district tournament at Harmon Killebrew Field in Payette.

The Pirates were down 3-2 entering the bottom of the fourth inning and took the lead for good with some solid hitting.

In fourth inning, Payette sent nine batters to the plate, scored six runs on five hits and took advantage of four Trojan miscues.

Justin Novotny started the scoring with a two-run single that plated Hirchet and Schultz to give Payette 4-3 lead. Four batters later, KJ Morris capped the scoring with a two-run single that made the score 8-3. The Pirates scored a single run in the fifth and added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 12-4 and held off a late comeback attempt by Homedale.

Morris went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored and teammate Jordan Schultz went 2-for-2 with a walk and an RBI to lead the Pirates, who had 11 hits.

Payette pitcher Cody Peterson tossed five innings, struck out three and all three runs allowed were unearned. Reliever Nick Reedy then tossed two innings of relief and walked four, gave up two hits and four runs before he notched the final six outs of the game.

The Pirates (15-10 overall) continue action Saturday against McCall-Donnelly at noon and the winner takes on Weiser, where a berth at state will be on the line.

“We gotta win two games Saturday,” Payette head coach Tracy Bratcher said. “We definitely took the hardest route. The only thing we have to worry about is McCall at noon. We’ll take it one game at a time, leave it on the field and see what happens.”

Parma .............................. 4

New Plymouth .................. 3

The Parma baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, then had to hold on to defeat New Plymouth 4-3 in the consolation game of the Western Idaho Conference district tournament Thursday in Melba.

With the win, Parma claims the WIC’s No. 3 seed to the state tournament.

New Plymouth held a 2-1 sixth-inning lead, but Parma took advantage of two errors and one key hit to take a 4-2 lead heading into the final frame.

With two runners on base and two outs in the seventh, Wes Hooten hit an RBI single to drive in Kyle Harmon and move Matt Schlett, the potential tying run, to third.

Jacob Kurth hit a come-backer to Parma pitcher Mark Finley, who flipped it to first to seal the win.

“Errors have plagued us all season and today they ended our season,” New Plymouth head coach Darin Gray said.

Hooten finished with two RBIs for New Plymouth, and Finley earned the win on the mound, striking out five and allowing just five hits, all singles.