Badgers one game short of state

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.