The Trail U18 Orioles were an out away from earning a split in a four-game set with the COMBA Sun Devils at Jason Bay Field at Butler Park on Saturday and Sunday, May 27-28.
The Orioles led 3-2 heading into the top of the seventh inning of the first game, but a hit batter, followed by two singles tied it at three. The Orioles then managed an out on a fielder’s choice and fly out to centre field. But with two out and the bases loaded, Trail walked in the go-ahead run for a 4-3 Sun Devils lead heading into the bottom half of the inning and Trail’s last bat.
Kullen Benbow doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh for Trail, but the Sun Devils’ reliever followed that up with three straight Ks for the victory.
Scott McLaren had two hits for the Os, including a double, while Kyle Zoobkoff started the game giving up six hits and four runs, with two strikeouts over six innings.
In Game 2, the tables turned and the Orioles came out on top in a thrilling 4-3 extra-inning victory over COMBA.
The game went to extra innings with the score tied at 2-2, but in the top of eight, with two on and nobody out, the Sun Devils doubled in a run to make it 3-2.
The Orioles, however, mustered a two-out rally in the bottom half of the inning. Raiden Dobie singled, and Zoobkoff walked, setting up a game tying double from McLaren.
Landen Gustafson then grounded to short, but an error by the infielder plated Zoobkoff for the winning run and a 4-3 walkoff Orioles’ victory.
Dobie earned the win, coming on in the seventh allowing three hits and one run, while striking out one and walking one batter. Julien Knelson started for Trail, and went six and one-third, giving up four hits, and one earned run, with five strikeouts and five walks.
In Game 3 on Sunday, May 28, the Orioles bats went quiet as the Sun Devils eked out a 2-0 win, followed by a 15-2 pounding by COMBA in Game 4.
Logan Bradford went the distance in Game 3 for Trail, giving up just two runs on three hits, with two strikeouts and one walk. Owen Dickson had two of the Orioles three hits on the day.
COMBA is one of the top teams in the College Prep League this season, currently in third place, so the win and two close losses bode well for a young but improving U18 Orioles team.
The Orioles will look to improve on their 3-13 record when they hit the road this Sunday (June 4) for a doubleheader against the 13-3 North Fraser Nationals.
Read: Strong defence and pitching lead to split with Cougars