| Zephyrs
win 1 of 4 at tourney
The Camas Prairie Zephyrs played 4 close games this past week but were able to win just 1 of them. They lost to Libby, Montana 3-4 on Friday, July 6, split a doubleheader on Saturday, July 7, losing 10-11 to Longview, Wash., then beating Nampa 5-4 and lost to Moscow 5-9 on Sunday, July 8. The games were part of the Clancy Ellis Tournament in Lewiston. Austin Blackmer opened the game with a 4-pitch walk, stole second, went to third on an error and scored on Michael Eades’ groundout to short to give the Zephyrs a 1-0 lead. Libby answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Two hit batsmen eventually came around to score. Libby made it 1-3 in the third with a run but single tallies by the Zephyrs in the 5th and 6th innings tied it. In the 5th Blackmer reached on a 1 out single and scored on an error by the right fielder on Eades’ fly ball. In the sixth Preston Hill reached on an error to lead off the inning, stole second and scored on his brother Parker’s 2-out single. In the top of the seventh Troy Lorentz singled with 1 out but consecutive fly ball outs ended the inning. In the bottom of the inning a leadoff walk, a single and another walk loaded the bases with nobody out. After a strikeout, the next hitter flew out deep enough to center to bring in the winning run. Jasper Sabatino pitched a complete game for the Zephyrs allowing 4 runs on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts, 2 hit batters and 2 walks. The Zephyrs had 4 hits, all singles, with 1 each by Blackmer, Lorentz, Isaiah Burns and Parker Hill. In the Longview game on Saturday, Longview scored in each of the first 4 innings taking a 0-11 lead after the top of the fourth. The Zephyrs finally got on the board in the bottom of the fourth and in a big way. Eades reached on a 1 out walk then Sabatino doubled, Burns walked, Preston Hill walked, Tanner Haage single and Parker Hill walked as 6 straight hitters reached base. All six came around to score with Haage’s single knocking in 2 of them. That cut the lead to 6-11. That’s where the score stood until the bottom of the sixth. Silas Whitley led off the sixth with a walk and went to second on a passed ball. Blackmer walked and after an out, Eades reached on an error with Whitley scoring. Sabatino reached on another error and Burns walked. Preston Hill singled in a run and Haage reached on a fielder’s choice on a sacrifice attempt. After Burns scored the lead was cut to 10-11 but after a walk to Parker Hill loaded the bases, a strikeout ended the Zephyrs chance to win it. Eades started the game on the mound and went 2 1/3 innings allowing 7 runs on 5 hits with 4 strikeouts and 3 walks. Burns pitched an inning allowing 1 run on 1 hits with 1 strikeouts and 3 walks. Preston Hill finished out the game allowing 3 runs on 3 hits with 3 strikeouts and 2 walks. The Zephyrs had just 4 hits with Haage collecting 2 singles while Sabatino had a double and Preston Hill a single. Against Nampa the Zephyrs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Clark Bruno and Lorentz each walked to start the inning. After an out, Eades singled to load the bases. Sabatino then doubled in 2 runs and Blackmer singled home another run. Nampa answered with 2 runs in the bottom of the third then neither side scored again until the 6th. Nampa scored a run in the 6th to tie the game at 3-3 after there were 2 outs. A walk, single and error led to the run. Lorentz was hit by a pitch to lead off the 7th inning and Parker Hill followed with a single. Lorentz scored from third on a wild pitch and Hill scored when Eades reached on an error to make it 5-3. Nampa attempted to rally in the bottom of the 7th. A one out walk was forced at second but another walk and a fielder’s choice led to a run. With the tying run at second and the winning run at first Blackmer got a game-ending strikeout. Tyler Flowers pitched 6 2/3 innings for the Zephyrs allowing 4 runs on 5 hits with 6 strikeouts and 3 walks. Blackmer pitched to the final 3 batters in the 7th after there were 2 outs, walking 1 and striking out 1. The Zephyrs had 8 hits with Blackmer picking up 2 singles and an RBI. Sabatino had a 2 run double and Parker Hill, Eades, Haage, Burns and Harris each had a single. Lorentz scored twice as he officially went 0 for 1 but reached base twice on walks and once on a hit by pitch. In Sunday’s game against Moscow the game was close until late when Moscow pulled away for the 4-run victory. Moscow scored a run without a hit in the first as a walk, sacrifice and 2 passed balls led to the run. The Zephyrs answered in the bottom of the first as Blackmer led off with a walk and advanced around to the plate on a passed ball, error and another passed ball. Moscow added 3 runs in the third to retake the lead. The Zephyrs managed to take their first lead in the bottom of the inning as they scored 3 runs. Parker Hill walked to lead off the inning and James Somerlot reached on an error. Blackmer hit a 2 run double and Lorentz followed with an RBI triple. Lorentz then scored on a passed ball to give the Zephyrs a 5-4 lead. The lead didn’t last long as Moscow scored twice in the 4th without benefit of a hit to make it 5-6. That’s where the score stood until the top of the 6th when Moscow added 3 insurance runs on a single, 2 doubles and another single. Burns pitched 4 innings allowing 6 runs on just 3 hits with 5 strikeouts and 9 walks. Preston Hill relieved him in the 5th and pitched the final 2 innings allowing 3 runs on 4 hits with 1 strikeout and no walks. The Zephyrs were limited to just 3 hits, a single and double by Blackmer and a triple by Lorentz. |
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