Steamrolling Badgers knock off 5A Post Falls in tune-up for District Tournament

Azalone hits double to clear loaded bases and give Badgers the lead in 3rd inning; Bateman goes three for four with three RBI

May 2, 2015

by Tom Turpin Head Coach, BFHS Varsity Baseball In their final regular season game before hosting the District 1-2 3A baseball tournament, the Bonners Ferry Badgers faced the 5A Post Falls Trojan varsity squad and came away with a 10-6 win. The win puts their overall record at 15-6 heading into tournament play on Monday. The Trojans scored two runs in the 2nd inning to take a 2-0 lead, but in the top of the 3rd inning, the Badgers scored four runs on two hits. With one out, Kevin Gray walked and Kaleb Stockton reached base on a fielder’s choice, then Brady Bateman hit a RBI double to right to score Gray. The next batter, Jesse Dunham, walked to load the bases. Steve Azalone then came to bat with a bases clearing double to left center scoring Stockton, Bateman and Dunham. The Badgers added one run in the 5th inning after Gray started the inning off with a single and later scored on Bateman’s RBI single to right to make the score 5-2. Bonners Ferry erupted with five runs in the 6th inning on six hits to make the score 10-2. Caleb Gering started the inning off with a single to left followed by Caleb Blackmore reaching on an error from the pitcher. After Vince Bennett walked to load the bases, Chris Sabin and Shay Garcia struck out. With two outs in the inning, Nick Sabin hit a two-run single to score Gering and Blackmore. Bateman then hit a RBI single to score Bennett. Dunham then hit a RBI single to score Sabin and Anzalone hit a single to score Bateman. The Trojans responded with two runs in the 6th inning to narrow the score to 10-4. In the bottom of the 7th inning with one out, Post Falls batters Wyatt Sectian and Quin Bennett each hit solo home runs to left for the final score of 10-6. Pitcher Steve Anzalone pitched a complete game striking out six and walking six while giving up nine hits. Brady Bateman went three for four with three RBI, Anzalone went two for four with four RBI, and Caleb Gering went two for four in the game. In all, there were 12 hits from eight players from the Badgers. The #1 seed Badgers play Monday, May 4 at home against #4 seed Priest River Spartans beginning at 2:00 p.m. The #2 seed Timberlake Tigers face #3 seed Kellogg Wildcats at 4:00 p.m. Winners of both games play for the District Title and a trip to the State Tournament on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m.