Badgers one game short of state
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May 14, 2013 |
By Coach Tom Turpin
The Badger baseball team endured a rough season
all year but never gave up the fight, missing
the state tournament for a second straight year
by one game. The Badgers finished the season
11-12 overall last Saturday, losing to Priest
River in the winner to state game.
In the first game of the 3A District playoffs,
the Badgers were no hit for the first time in
league history coming up against a phenomenal
pitching performance by Priest River’s Dalton
Sommers. Sommers had been injured most of the
year due to a shoulder problem, but it wasn’t a
problem last Friday as he struck out 15 Badgers
in route to a 5–0 loss. Freshman Vince Bennett
took the loss for the Badgers but struck out
eight Spartans.
In the loser out game, winless the entire year,
Kellogg/Wallace held Bonners Ferry hitless into
the fourth inning until senior Cade Umphenhour
stroked a double into right center.
At the time, Kellogg was leading 5–0. In wasn’t
until the fifth inning that the Badger bats came
alive and staged a dramatic come from behind 8-7
win over Kellogg/Wallace in the bottom of the
seventh inning.
With the Badgers behind one run going into their
last at bats, senior pitcher Mike Clarkson
started the inning off with a walk. As he
rounded first base, he twisted his ankle and
freshman and seldom used Tristan Howell came in
to pinch run.
After Umphenhour reached base and both him and
Howell advanced to second and third, Vince
Bennett lined a shot to left center that went
over the fielders head to score both to win the
game.
In the winner to state game, the Badgers simply
ran out of pitching and succumbed to the
Spartans 15–1 in five innings.
Umphenhour finished the District tournament
going 5 for 6 with two doubles, his best hitting
performance of his career. Senior Garrett Skeen
received all league honors as he batted .484 in
league play with a broken right hand.
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