Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Late rally gives Legion home sweep, second seed

Hailey batters knock off Pocatello 13-3, 12-11


By JEFF CORDES
Express Staff Writer

Pictured here running the Founders Field bases Wednesday against Bear Lake, Wood River’s Juan Martinez had a couple of big hits in Hailey’s rally against the Pocatello Razorbacks Saturday. Photo by David N. Seelig

It was a satisfying feeling for Wood River American Legion baseball players on a hot Saturday afternoon in Hailey.

They won their final Founders Field home games and earned the second seed for this week's 12-team Area C "A" district tournament in Twin Falls. Wood River's first game is Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

But to earn that match-up, Wood River had to take care of business. And the Hailey boys handled that job effectively.

Wood River (25-9, 11-3 home, 22-8 league) rallied from a 10-6 deficit in Saturday's nightcap against the Pocatello Razorbacks and grabbed a 12-11 victory. The Razorbacks out-hit Wood River 15-11 but the home team turned it around with a five-run fifth inning.

First baseman Juan Martinez ripped a two-out RBI single in the home sixth for a 12-10 lead and Greg Wakefield earned the clutch save in the seventh, in relief of winning pitcher Jake Freeman (3-1).

It was the eighth doubleheader sweep this summer for coach Matt Nelson's squad.

That's because college-bound righthander Pat Patterson (9-2) tossed a 90-pitch six-hitter as Wood River easily won Saturday's opener 13-3—out-hitting Pocatello 18-6.

Nelson said, "We came back big time and took the second seed just one game behind Upper Valley, who lost two of their last four games. Our young pitchers really came through for us in the last few games, a good sign going into the tournament.

"We'll be emphasizing a positive attitude and finishing games. If we cut down on early errors and continue pitching well, we're looking at being pretty solid in the district."

Nelson will start Patterson in Thursday's first tournament game, just as he has in every big Wood River game since May. In this summer's major starts Patterson has beaten Blackfoot 5-4, Nampa 3-0, Kuna 6-2, Marsh Falls 2-1, Upper Valley 11-1, Highland 12-3, Bear Lake 12-2 and Pocatello 13-3.

Patterson wasn't bulletproof against Pocatello Saturday.

He didn't need to be because of his team's 18-hit attack that included Patterson's first-ever Founders Field home run—a laser-like liner over the left field fence for a solo shot that capped Hailey's six-run third.

On the hill Patterson benefited from a fine diving catch by right fielder Jimmy Hague in the second and struck out the side in the fourth. He finished with eight whiffs and three walks. Meanwhile, Hailey batters chewed up the offerings of Pocatello's Kash Hieb.

It was 4-1 after two innings, then a one-out double by catcher Sean Bunce (2 hits) sparked the six-run third that sent 12 batters to the plate.

Martinez (3 hits, 2 runs) had an RBI hit-and-run single, Tyler Israel (3 hits) drove an RBI single to right, Trent Seamons (3 hits, 4 RBI) belted a two-run triple to center and scored on a wild pitch, and Patterson (2 hits, 3 RBI) homered for a 10-1 lead. Michale Brunker (2 hits, 2 runs) ended the game on the run rule with an RBI single in the home fifth.

In the nightcap, Pocatello touched Hailey righty Trent Seamons for nine runs and built a 9-6 lead before Freeman relieved Seamons in the fourth and put out the fire. Second baseman Wakefield made a great catch of a foul pop down the right field line or it could have been worse.

Patterson's single kicked off the fifth-inning rally and Keven Abbott (2 runs) drew a walk. Martinez (2 hits) delivered a one-out single. Wakefield (2 runs) singled. So did Israel (3 hits, double, 3 runs). Brunker (2 hits) added another single and Wood River pulled ahead 11-10.

Wood River finished the regular season with a 6-4 mark in one-run games and was a run-rule winner in eight victories. The team's offensive average was 9.0 runs per game while yielding 4.7 runs a game.

But it's a totally new season in the district tournament.

Wood River boys came to that realization last year in Pocatello. They came all the way from the seventh seed to the championship game—losing to Blackfoot 8-4. Wood River beat #10 Hillcrest 7-2, #2 Buhl 12-3 and #6 Twin Falls 2-0 to reach the district final.




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