By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SALEM, Ore.– The West Salem baseball team just kept finding ways to get back into Friday’s game with South Salem
Down 2-0 going into the third inning, they pulled ahead 4-2 thanks to a four-run top half of the third inning. The Saxons pulled back ahead with six unanswered runs to take an 8-4 lead only to see West Salem cut it to an 8-7 score going into the bottom half of the fifth inning.
Carter Howard led the Titans offensively with three runs driven in and had the lone multi-hit game that included a two-run home run. Bodie Edwards also had a solo Home Run for West Salem that had both teams’ Central Valley Conference finale so close coming down the stretch.
It was the energy and their ability to feed off of it to give themselves a chance late against the Saxons.
“Just the energy with the guys in the dugout. I think that’s the biggest drive that we have when we’re in a situation like that. It’s a good feeling when all your teammates are striving to get that win and we’re pushing hard, it’s a great feeling when everyone’s working hard and the energy in the dugout, that’s the key,” said Howard.
South Salem, too, clutched up, especially when they needed to over the final two or so innings of the game. The squad scored three more runs over the course of the fifth and sixth innings to build one final cushion to complete the perfect 9-0 CVC season, their second-straight time accomplishing the feat
“We’ve come to practice every day with great intent, and we’re here every single day and striving to win every game,” said South Salem’s Noah Scharer. “I feel like most of our team is heating up here, and it’ll be great. It’ll be good competition next week to get us ready for the playoffs.”
Scharer and Sawyer Nelson each had two hits and drove in four runs for the Saxons. Nelson also hit two home runs, and Scharer hit another in the victory.
South closes out the season with Mountainside, a Wednesday doubleheader with Grants Pass, and closing out the regular season at home against South Medford.
The Titans close out the regular season at South Medford on Tuesday before hosting Lincoln on Thursday as their regular season finale.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
