John Michaels
IVN Contributing Writer
The Illinois Valley High School baseball team won its only game of the week, defeating Riddle in a District 6 league road game 15-0. The doubleheader with the Irish scheduled for last Friday in Cave Junction presented a conflict for Riddle, and was rescheduled for May 3 at their request. The Cougars are now 5-1 on the year. I.V. is currently ranked No. 18 in the 2A baseball rankings by the OSAA, although their statewide Colley ranking puts them at No.10.
Illinois Valley scored three runs in the first inning, then six in each of the next two of the contest with the Irish, which was shortened to five innings by the 10-run rule.
Dylan Beals got the Cougars off to a quick start, leading the game off with a triple, then scoring on a passed ball. Talen Schaffer scored the Cougars’ second run when he walked, stole both second and third bases and scored when Jozia Williams went to first on a dropped third strike. Williams scored the final run of the inning after moving to second on a passed ball, stealing third and scoring on a wild pitch.
I.V.’s 6-run second inning was largely the result of sub-par pitching from Riddle. Bryson Gilmore led off with a walk and Mike Miller was hit by a pitch. After a strikeout, Beals and Schaffer both walked, with Gilmore scoring on a wild pitch during Schaffer’s at bat. Miller scored on a passed ball during Zack Dugas’ plate appearance, the end result of which was the fourth base on balls of the inning. Williams then reached base on an error by the Irish shortstop, allowing Beals to score. Schaffer scored when Kaiden Green received ball four with the bases loaded. Dugas came home on a passed ball, and Williams was plated when Kegan Russell singled up the middle.
The Cougars utilized three walks, three hit batsmen and three singles to put up another six-spot in the third, thereby instituting the 10-run rule.
Braedon Lapora and Beals both walked, prior to Schaffer single. Dugas singled, scoring both Lapora and Beals. After Williams was hit by the pitch, Jackson Tincher walked, forcing in Schaffer. Russell got his second RBI when he singled to left, plating Dugas and Williams took advantage of an error by the left fielder to come home on the same play. Gilmore and Lapora were both hit by a pitch, with Tincher scoring the final run when Lapora got his free pass.
Beals got the win on the hill, tossing three innings in the game, allowing no runs. Beals gave up just two hits, while walking three in the game. Beals struck out seven. Gilmore pitched the fourth inning and Dugas mopped up in the fifth.
I.V. only got 6 hits in the afternoon, but received the benefit of 18 additional baserunners courtesy of 11 total walks and 6-hit batsmen during the contest. Russell was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and 2 RBIs. Dugas was 1-for-2 with a walk and a hit by pitch and scored a pair of runs to go with his 2 RBIs. Schaffer also was 1-for-2, with three runs scored, walking three times. Beals had just the lone triple, but scored three times by way of three additional free passes. Mason Richardson collected the other hit for the Cougars.
Illinois Valley continued its league slate by hosting Lost River in a single game Tuesday. The Cougars then will then take to the road for three games, traveling to Lost River for a District 6 doubleheader this Friday, and then going to Oakridge for a non-league single game next Tuesday.