By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
SILVERTON, Ore.– The Silverton baseball team had to lock in down the stretch to close out Monday’s game against South Albany.
The Redhawks played a scrappy game, using solid defense to keep the Foxes’ bats in check. Offensively, South Albany capitalized on one key inning, plating four runs to take a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning.
Noah Blodgett came in during the tail-end of that inning, and after giving up a quick two-run double in his first batter faced, Blodgett settled in with back-to-back outs. And the sophomore just built from there. Those two runs were the last that he, and the Foxes, allowed as they shut out the Redhawks over the final two innings of the game.
“It was pretty important. It was really good to come in and settle it and take control, stuff like that,” Blodgett said about coming in. “It was good that we took this one, we need all the wins that we can take. To take one from them is important and win the one’s in front of us.”
Silverton responded offensively to back up their defense. They took that four-run inning that South Albany had to heart as they pulled even with the Redhawks at five going into the sixth inning. Henry Briggs and Grayson Rugg each drove in a run in that inning to help the Foxes.
The Foxes pitched their first shutout inning since the third, during the sixth inning, and in the bottom half of the sixth, they regained the lead 7-5. The two runs coming across were off an infield error that allowed Jordan Rodriguez and Noah Swartz to come home.
“It was big for us to keep it up. We got to stop giving teams free outs, that has hurt us in the past. But I’m happy with the ability to comeback and still keep playing hard and get the win,” said Colson Swartz. “Just back each other up and get the sticks hot, back-up our pitcher and go put some runs on. We knew that if we put the ball in play, they’ll struggle and we’ll find success. So just changing the approach, keeping the ball out of the air and keep it on the ground.”
Colson Swartz and Briggs each led the Foxes with two hits each. The two, plus Blodgett each drove in a run each as the two teams will meet again in Albany on Wednesday.
Kaden Eli led the Redhawks with 2RBI’s and had two hits in the defeat.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
