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Westside Christian powers past host Gold Beach
By Scott J. Adams, Sports Writer
Wednesday, May 23, 2007 | No comments posted.
GOLD BEACH - Through one full inning, it looked like Gold Beach was writing the script for Tuesday's game.
The Panthers stole an early 2-1 lead. Westside Christian's Zach Renicker couldn't find the strike zone and Mitch McDonald pitched a flawless first inning - save for a solo shot given up to Chris Mueller.
It was a perfect start indeed - just not perfect enough.
“We didn't get enough guys across early,” said Gold Beach coach Greg Brown, whose Panthers lost 18-8 to visiting Westside Christian in the first round of the OSAA Class 3A state playoffs. “They did what they had to do to win, and we didn't do enough.”
The eighth-ranked Eagles (16-6 overall) from the West Valley League recovered from near-collapse after the first, then punched their ticket to the second round with 11 hits, three homers, two doubles and a better-than-average day of pitching.
Mueller helped showcase Westside Christian's offense with a pair of home runs - the second, a two-run blast in the sixth off a 2-and-1 offering from Herbie Smith. Mueller went 3-for-3 on the day with two walks and five RBIs. He smacked a two-run double in the second as part of a seven-run inning.
“We needed something big from him today,” Eagles coach Adam Sarancik said. “He's been one of our best hitters this year and gave us a huge lift against a very good ball club.”
Mueller's big swings helped give Renicker an early cushion that would prove pivotal. Renicker (1-0), a sophomore right-hander, looked shaky through the first two innings but pitched steadily enough to earn his first career postseason victory. He struck out four, walked eight and gave up five hits and four earned runs in 3 2-3 innings.
Renicker walked in two of those runs in the bottom of the first after Gold Beach's first three batters loaded the bases. He was quick to recover, however, striking out the side on his next 14 pitches.
“That was a key for us in that first inning - only giving up two,” Sarancik said. “We just weren't throwing many strikes, and we don't have a good defense when we pitch like that.”
Gold Beach, which placed second in the Sunset Six a year after posting a 1-16 record in 2006, trailed 8-2 midway through the second but cut into the Eagles' lead with two runs in the bottom half. Brodey Carpenter drew a lead-off walk and crossed home on an RBI ground out by Travis Moore three at-bats later. MacKenzie Burdett made it an 8-4 game by stealing home during a run-down at second.
Burdett, a .426 hitter, finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base, two runs and two singles. His teammate Tim Smith went 2-for-2 with an RBI and reached base on all four of his plate appearances.
“We could have played them a lot tougher today. We know we could,” said Burdett, the Panthers' junior utility player. “They're a good team, but honestly, it shouldn't have been that bad. Our hitting was decent, but our pitching could have been better.”
McDonald, who showed promise after striking out his first two batters, lasted only 1 1-3 innings before being lifted for Herbie Smith in the second. McDonald threw 48 pitches, allowing five hits, three walks and eight runs - all earned.
“I just didn't have it today,” said McDonald, who went 2-for-2 with two walks. “I couldn't find my release point, and they were hitting me bad. Finding control was tough a little bit.”
Smith also struggled at times, giving up seven earned runs on six hits in 4-plus innings. He threw a lofty 84 pitches in relief and managed two strikeouts.
“It's hard when your starter gets roughed up, but Hebie came in and did all he could,” Brown said.
Smith appeared to stop the bleeding in the third after trading two outs for one run. Westside Christian mounted a crushing two-out rally, however, tacking on four more runs to push the Eagles' lead to 13-4. Three of those runs were unearned.
“Defensively, I think we could have done a lot more,” Brown said. “The guys didn't give up though. I couldn't be more proud of these kids.”
Staring at a 10-run deficit with their season dwindling to its final three innings, McDonald and Smith gave the Panthers new life in the fourth with a two-out rally of their own. McDonald singled in Tim Smith, and Herbie Smith brought home two on a soft fly ball that got between outfielders Ryan Herd and Ryan Baugus, who collided in center. That cut Westside Christian's lead to 14-7, but the Eagles answered with two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Gold Beach drew its final salvo on Carpenter's single in the seventh, scoring Aaron Cervantes.
The loss ended the Panthers' season at 13-13, complete with the program's first playoff berth since 1986.
Gold Beach will return its entire roster from 2007, leading Brown to think that next year could be even more special.
“These guys had an incredible year,” he said. “We're going to be even better. The next season starts tomorrow.”
Notes: The Eagles, who took second in the West Valley, advance to play Clatskanie on Friday.
The Panthers stole an early 2-1 lead. Westside Christian's Zach Renicker couldn't find the strike zone and Mitch McDonald pitched a flawless first inning - save for a solo shot given up to Chris Mueller.
It was a perfect start indeed - just not perfect enough.
“We didn't get enough guys across early,” said Gold Beach coach Greg Brown, whose Panthers lost 18-8 to visiting Westside Christian in the first round of the OSAA Class 3A state playoffs. “They did what they had to do to win, and we didn't do enough.”
The eighth-ranked Eagles (16-6 overall) from the West Valley League recovered from near-collapse after the first, then punched their ticket to the second round with 11 hits, three homers, two doubles and a better-than-average day of pitching.
Mueller helped showcase Westside Christian's offense with a pair of home runs - the second, a two-run blast in the sixth off a 2-and-1 offering from Herbie Smith. Mueller went 3-for-3 on the day with two walks and five RBIs. He smacked a two-run double in the second as part of a seven-run inning.
“We needed something big from him today,” Eagles coach Adam Sarancik said. “He's been one of our best hitters this year and gave us a huge lift against a very good ball club.”
Mueller's big swings helped give Renicker an early cushion that would prove pivotal. Renicker (1-0), a sophomore right-hander, looked shaky through the first two innings but pitched steadily enough to earn his first career postseason victory. He struck out four, walked eight and gave up five hits and four earned runs in 3 2-3 innings.
Renicker walked in two of those runs in the bottom of the first after Gold Beach's first three batters loaded the bases. He was quick to recover, however, striking out the side on his next 14 pitches.
“That was a key for us in that first inning - only giving up two,” Sarancik said. “We just weren't throwing many strikes, and we don't have a good defense when we pitch like that.”
Gold Beach, which placed second in the Sunset Six a year after posting a 1-16 record in 2006, trailed 8-2 midway through the second but cut into the Eagles' lead with two runs in the bottom half. Brodey Carpenter drew a lead-off walk and crossed home on an RBI ground out by Travis Moore three at-bats later. MacKenzie Burdett made it an 8-4 game by stealing home during a run-down at second.
Burdett, a .426 hitter, finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, a stolen base, two runs and two singles. His teammate Tim Smith went 2-for-2 with an RBI and reached base on all four of his plate appearances.
“We could have played them a lot tougher today. We know we could,” said Burdett, the Panthers' junior utility player. “They're a good team, but honestly, it shouldn't have been that bad. Our hitting was decent, but our pitching could have been better.”
McDonald, who showed promise after striking out his first two batters, lasted only 1 1-3 innings before being lifted for Herbie Smith in the second. McDonald threw 48 pitches, allowing five hits, three walks and eight runs - all earned.
“I just didn't have it today,” said McDonald, who went 2-for-2 with two walks. “I couldn't find my release point, and they were hitting me bad. Finding control was tough a little bit.”
Smith also struggled at times, giving up seven earned runs on six hits in 4-plus innings. He threw a lofty 84 pitches in relief and managed two strikeouts.
“It's hard when your starter gets roughed up, but Hebie came in and did all he could,” Brown said.
Smith appeared to stop the bleeding in the third after trading two outs for one run. Westside Christian mounted a crushing two-out rally, however, tacking on four more runs to push the Eagles' lead to 13-4. Three of those runs were unearned.
“Defensively, I think we could have done a lot more,” Brown said. “The guys didn't give up though. I couldn't be more proud of these kids.”
Staring at a 10-run deficit with their season dwindling to its final three innings, McDonald and Smith gave the Panthers new life in the fourth with a two-out rally of their own. McDonald singled in Tim Smith, and Herbie Smith brought home two on a soft fly ball that got between outfielders Ryan Herd and Ryan Baugus, who collided in center. That cut Westside Christian's lead to 14-7, but the Eagles answered with two more runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Gold Beach drew its final salvo on Carpenter's single in the seventh, scoring Aaron Cervantes.
The loss ended the Panthers' season at 13-13, complete with the program's first playoff berth since 1986.
Gold Beach will return its entire roster from 2007, leading Brown to think that next year could be even more special.
“These guys had an incredible year,” he said. “We're going to be even better. The next season starts tomorrow.”
Notes: The Eagles, who took second in the West Valley, advance to play Clatskanie on Friday.
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