Pilgrims show off some socks in win
Harris, York go back-to-back in 6-0 victory
By: Argus Observer Sports Staff
Wednesday, April 8, 2009 10:14 AM PDT
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| RAY RODRIGUEZ | ARGUS OBSERVER
New Plymouth’s Casey Pfeifer (front) and teammate Tyler Hooten converge on a foul popup during their Western Idaho Conference matchup against Parma Tuesday in New Plymouth. The Pilgrims won the game, 6-0. |
New Plymouth—Brady Harris pitched a complete game gem as he struck out 13 and led the Pilgrims to the 6-0 win over the Parma Panthers in Western Idaho Conference action Tuesday.
Harris gave up two hits over seven innings of work and walked only two Panther hitters. Harris shut down the Parma hitters by striking out the side in the second, third, fifth and seventh innings.
“I can’t say enough about Brady (Harris) tonight. He threw very well,” Pilgrim coach Darin Gray said.
New Plymouth jumped out in front early with a three-run bottom of the first inning.
Kyle King singled. Then, two outs later, Harris doubled followed by Matt York’s two-run home run to deep center field for the 3-0 lead.
The Pilgrims fed off the blast by York, and in the bottom of the third inning, the Pilgrims did some more yard work.
This time, Jake Mellenthin reached base on an error, and Harris cleaned the bases with a two-run home run to left off Parma’s Mike Condie.
Up next was York, and he followed suit and went deep for the second time in as many at-bats, giving New Plymouth a 6-0 lead and the eventual win.
New Plymouth (4-6 overall, 1-1 WIC) hosts Marsing at 5 p.m. Friday.
Fruitland ................................8
Columbia ................................2
In Fruitland, the Grizzlies out-slugged Columbia on their way to an 8-2 win to improve their record to 11-2 on the year in non-conference action Tuesday.
Despite Columbia going yard twice in the game, it was not enough motivation for them to overcome the Fruitland nine.
The Grizzlies scored their first run of the contest in the bottom of the first inning, only to watch that lead disappear when Columbia went deep twice in the fourth inning of starting Grizzly pitcher Nick Varriale.
Varriale went five innings and picked up the win. Fruitland added three in the fourth to re-take the lead, 4-2.
Varriale gave up two hits while striking out five and walking two.
Miguel Rios came on in relief and closed out the game giving up one hit and one walk.
Fruitland ended its scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning with four more runs.
Leading the Griz on offense was Kyle Blackwell, who finished with two hits in four tries and an RBI.
Fruitland knocked off Emmett Monday, 1-0 in nine innings, behind the strong pitching of Tyson Flannery, who pitched a complete game, recording 11 strikeouts and one walk.
Fruitland will next host Snake River Valley Conference foe Homedale at 6 p.m. Friday.
Payette ..................................3
Homedale ..............................1
In Homedale, Travis Blackwell led the Pirates to a 3-1 victory with a 16-strikeout performance, over the Homedale Trojans in Snake River Valley Conference action Tuesday.
Blackwell went the distance giving up two hits and walking only one Trojan batter.
“Blackwell threw great once again. He went out and challenged hitters,” Payette head coach Tracy Bratcher said. “Having 16 strikeouts and one walk, those are the numbers that jump out at me.”
Homedale pushed its lone run across the plate in the bottom of first inning for the early 1-0 lead.
Payette struggled at the plate early and found itself unable to score any runs until the top of the sixth inning when Blackwell led off with a double, followed by a sacrifice by Jordan Schultz that moved Blackwell to third.
Tobby White then hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Blackwell and tie the game at one.
In the top of the seventh inning, Payette quickly picked up its first two outs of the inning.
Then things went their way.
Cody Peterson reached base by being hit by the pitch, and with the game on the line, Bratcher opted for a pinch runner in Brennan Serrano.
Next up was Brad Pollock, who delivered a double, scoring Serrano and Pollock reached third base on a throwing error, setting the table for Brad Huddleston to be the hero.
Huddleston did not let his team down as he reached safely on an infield single to plate Pollock, giving the Pirates a two run cushion, 3-1.
Homedale tried to make a comeback in the home half of the seventh inning, but those efforts ended on a pop-up bunt resulting in a double play.
Payette (9-5 overall, 2-1 SRV) hosts Nampa Christian 5 p.m. Friday at Killebrew Field.
