The Prairie Pirates won their first two game this past week then lost the next two. On Tuesday, March 22 they won a league game against Lapwai 19-4 at Lewiston. On Thursday through Saturday they played in the Southfork Slugfest at Kooskia. On Thursday, March 24, they edged Troy 15-14. On Friday, March 25, they lost to Northstar Charter of Eagle, 3-13. Finally on Saturday, March 26, they lost to Clearwater Valley 2-12.
The game against Lapwai didn’t start well for the Pirates as Prairie didn’t score in the top of the first and Lapwai got to starter Alex McElroy for 3 runs in the bottom of the first on 3 hits and 2 walks.
In the top of the second the Pirates scored 5 runs to take the lead.
McElroy gave up another run in the second inning before being lifted in favor of Noah Behler who got out of the inning.
In the top of the third Prairie exploded for 14 runs. When Behler held Lapwai scoreless in the bottom of the third, the game ended on a rule that is new to Idaho high school baseball this year, the 15-run mercy rule after 3 innings. This is a rule that has been in softball for years but the teams have to agree before the game to abide by it while in baseball it is automatic.
Prairie had 8 hits in the game. Chase Kaschmitter wound up with a double and 2 singles and 6 RBI in the game. Behler had a double and a single and scored 3 runs. Cody Kaschmitter, Alex McElroy and Colton McElroy each had a single. The McElroy brothers and Carter Shears each had 2 RBI while Owen McIntire, Jake Quintal and Dylan Uhlenkott each had 1 RBI.
Alex McElroy gave up 4 runs on 3 hits and 2 walks with 2 strikeouts in 1-plus inning pitched. None of Lapwai’s runs were earned due to errors. Behler gave up no runs on no hits with 1 walk and 5 strikeouts in 2 innings.
Prairie   0 5 14—19 8 4
Lapwai 3 1   0—  4 3 4
Prairie played in the Southfork Slugfest, a 3-day tournament held at Clearwater Valley High School in Kooskia.
On Thursday they played White Pine League opponent Troy and got off to a great start. Behler started on the mound and gave up just 2 baserunners in the first 2 innings, both on errors.
Prairie meanwhile scored 6 runs in the bottom of the first on just 1 hit. Trenton Lorentz, in his first game of the season, led off with a walk and Cody Kaschmitter followed by reaching on an error. Then came the only hit of the inning as Chase Kaschmitter hit a little dribbler up the third baseline that refused to go foul. That loaded the bases for Colton McElroy, who was hit by a pitch to score Lorentz. After an out, Shears reached on an error that scored Cody Kaschmitter. Alex McElroy then walked to score Chase Kaschmitter. Colton McElroy scored on a wild pitch. Uhlenkott was then walked to reload the bases. McIntire was walked to force home Shears. Lorentz faced a new pitcher and hit a comebacker with a forceout made at the plate but the catcher’s throw to first to try for a double play went into left filed and Uhlenkott came in to score to make it 6-0.
In the second inning Chase Kaschmitter led off with a homer to left to make it 7-0. Colton McElroy walked and Behler singled up the middle. A groundout moved up the runners and Alex McElroy walked to load the bases. Troy then got out of the inning with a double play on a lineout to the first baseman who then caught the runner off second for the inning ending out.
Behler ran into trouble in the third inning. He got an out then the next 7 Troy runners all reached base on a single, single, catcher’s interference, double, single, single and walk. After a second out a 2 run single cut the Pirates lead to 7-6 before Behler got out of the inning.
Prairie got 2 of those runs back in the bottom of the third. McIntire was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. After 2 outs were made, Chase Kaschmitter’s fly ball to left was dropped for a 2-base error with McIntire scoring. Colton McElroy then singled to right to score Kaschmitter and make it 9-6.
In the fourth Behler hit the first batter then gave up a single and double for 2 more runs. After 2 strikeouts he ran up against the tournament pitch limit of 88 pitches. Cody Kaschmitter went to the mound and gave up a walk and an infield hit to load the bases before getting out of the inning with the Pirates till up 9-8.
In the bottom of the fourth Alex McElroy and McIntire both reached via walks but were left on bases.
Cody Kaschmitter struggled in the fifth inning and he walked the first two hitters then gave up a 2 run single. Next came a run scoring double. After a walk, he finally got an out. He then gave up a walk and an infield hit which led to a 6-run inning as Troy took their first lead of the game, 9-14. After getting a second out, he was lifted in favor of Alex McElroy who needed just 2 pitches to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth Chase Kaschmitter faced a new Troy pitcher and reached on an error. Colton McElroy then followed with a double to left center to score Chase. Behler reached on an error as McElroy scored to cut the deficit to 11-14. A double play and a strikeout got Troy out of the inning with the lead.
With the time lime approaching, the 6^th inning was going to be the final inning. Alex McElroy got the Pirates back to the plate on just 4 pitches as he set Troy’s 2, 3 and 4 hitters down in order.
In the bottom of the 6^th, Uhlenkott lined out to short to lead off the inning but that was to be the only out Troy would get. McIntire was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game. Lorentz singled up the middle. Cody Kaschmitter beat out an infield hit to load the bases. Chase Kaschmitter was the winning run as he came up to the plate. He singled to score both McIntire and Lorentz. After Chase stole second, Colton McElroy doubled to left to score both Kaschmitter brothers and give Prairie a walk-off 15-14 win.
Prairie had 9 hits in the game. Chase Kaschmitter had a homer and 2 singles and 3 RBI. Colton McElroy had 2 doubles and a single and 5 RBI. Lorentz, Chase Kaschmitter and Behler each had a single. Behler, Shears, McIntire and Alex McElroy each had an RBI.
Behler pitched 3 2/3 innings allowing 8 runs on 8 hits with 1 walk, 1 hit batsman and 7 strikeouts. Cody Kaschmitter pitched 1 inning allowing 6 runs on 4 hits with 5 walks and 2 strikeouts. Alex McElroy pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing no runs and not hits on just 6 total pitches.
Troy    0 0 6 2 6 0—14 12 6
Prairie 6 1 2 0 2 4—15   9 5
On Friday the Pirates played the eventual tournament champion, North Star Charter from Eagle. They were the team that Genesee beat in the state championship game last Spring.
Chase Kaschmitter started on the mound for the Pirates and did not have his best command. He walked the first two batters and both came around to score. One on a wild pitch and the other on a single to right. Kaschmitter got out of the inning on a strike ‘em out-throw ‘em out double play.
In the bottom of the first Chase Kaschmitter was Prairie’s only baserunner with a 2 out double as the North Star pitcher struck out the other 3 batters he faced.
In the second inning, whatever command of his pitches Chase had in the first inning deserted him. The first 7 North Star batters all reached base. The first 4 via free passes on 3 walks and a hit batsman. The fifth batter hit a 2 run double to left. Another walk, 2 sacrifice flies to center and an RBI single later and North Star had 7 runs in the inning and a 0-9 lead.
North Star struck out the side in the bottom of the second.
Chase went back to the mound for the third and gave up 2 more runs on 2 walks, a hit batsman and a single before running up against the pitch count. Alex McElroy took over on the mound and got out of the inning on 2 pitches.
North Start changed pitches in the bottom of the third, saving their ace starter for later in the tournament with a 0-11 lead. The first two hitters struck out then Lorentz reached on an error. Cody Kaschmitter followed with a single and Chase Kaschmitter beat out an infield hit that scored Lorentz from third.
In the top of the fourth Alex McElroy gave up a leadoff double but the batter was thrown out trying to stretch it into a single as Uhlenkott relayed Lorentz’ throw from center to Jake Quintal at third for the out. 3 walks loaded the bases but McElroy got out of the inning with no runs scoring.
In the bottom of the fourth Uhlenkott hit a 2 out single and Jake Quintal was hit by a pitch but neither scored.
North Star added 2 runs in the top of the fifth to extend their lead to 1-13 on 2 singles and a double.
In the bottom of the fifth Prairie needed 3 runs to extend the game. Cody Kaschmitter hit a leadoff double and Chase Kaschmitter followed with a 2-run homer to right. Colton McElroy followed with a double and you started to think maybe the Pirates’ late inning magic might strike again. However a lineout into a double play followed and after Shears doubled to center, North Star got out of the inning with a strikeout. That ended the game on the 10-run mercy rule.
Prairie had 8 hits. Chase Kaschmitter had a homer, a double and a single and 3 RBI. Cody Kaschmitter had a double and a single. Colton McElroy and Shears each had a double and Uhlenkott had a single.
Chase Kaschmitter gave up 11 runs on 5 hits with 8 walks, 2 hit batsmen and 3 strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. Alex McElroy gave up 2 runs on 5 hits with 2 walks and 1 strikeout in 2 1/3 innings.
North Star 2 7 2 0 2—13 10 1
Prairie       0 0 1 0 2—  3   8 0
The third place game against C.V. featured the same starting pitching matchup as the league game played earlier, Colton McElroy vs. C.V.’s Trebor Altman.
The Pirates had trouble scoring against Altman the first time, scoring most of their runs once he was out of the game. This time was no different.
Chase Kaschmitter hit a 2-out single in the first inning but was stranded.
In the bottom of the first Colton McElroy walked the leadoff hitter on 4 pitches. The runner then stole second and third and scored on a passed ball for a 0-1 C.V. lead.
The Pirates tied it in the second when Eli Hinds, in his first game of the season, doubled to center on the first pitch he saw this season. He went to third on an error and then scored on a base hit by Shears. A double play ended the Pirate threat.
In the bottom of the second McElroy got two quick outs on strikeouts then walked the bases loaded. A 2-run single gave the Rams a 1-3 lead.
After an out in the third, Lorentz and Cody Kaschmitter both singled. Chase Kaschmitter was then walked intentionally to load the bases. Colton McElroy hit a dribbler down the third base line and Lorentz was called out for interference by the umpire. Hinds then hit a grounder to third for a force at second that ended the inning.
C.V. added 2 more in the bottom of the third. After a leadoff walk, Prairie got a forceout at second. After another walk, McElroy got the second out on a strikeout. A 2-run single then made it 1-5 in favor of the Rams.
Alex McElroy was the only Prairie baserunner in the fourth with a 2-out single.
C.V. added another run in the fourth on a walk, 2 stolen bases and an RBI groundout to second.
Prairie added a run in the fifth as Cody Kaschmitter singled up the middle. Chase Kaschmitter doubled to center to put runners on second and third. Cody scored on Colton McElroy’s groundout to second. The inning ended on a fly ball to deep right field by Hinds.
Cody Kaschmitter took over on the mound in the sixth. He walked the first 3 hitters then gave up a run on a double play ball to second. That made it 2-7 in favor of the Rams.
Prairie tried to rally against Altman in the sixth. Shears hit a 1-out double to left and Alex McElroy followed with a single to right. Shear had to hold at second as it appeared the ball had a chance to be caught. Shears was then forced at third and a strikeout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth a single, strikeout and 2 walks exhausted the pitch count for Cody Kaschmitter. Eli Hinds then made his first appearance on the mound for the PIrates and struggled to find the strike zone. He walked 4 straight hitters to allow C.V. to score the runs they needed to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule.
Prairie had 10 hits in the game. Shears had a double and single and an RBI. Chase Kaschmitter had a double and a single. Cody Kaschmitter had 2 singles. Alex McElroy had 2 singles. Hinds had a double. Lorentz had a single. Colton McElroy had an RBI.
Colton McElroy pitched 4 innings allowing 6 runs on 3 hits with 6 walks and 7 strikeouts. Cody Kaschmitter pitched 1 1/3 innings allowing 4 runs on 1 hit with 6 walks and 2 strikeouts. Hinds faced 4 batters with 4 walks and gave up 2 runs.
Prairie is now 4-3 on the season and 3-1 in league play.
Prairie 0 1 0 0 1 0—  2 10 0
C.V.   1 2 2 1 1 5—12   4 2