Mount Baker 6, Blaine 4
Borderite senior pitcher Ben Wallen came in to Tuesday’s game with the Whatcom County’s best ERA, 0.32. The Mountaineers’ starting pitcher on Tuesday was sophomore Marques Brown, and his 13.08 ERA. But, it’s high school baseball, and you just never know what’s going to happen. The Mountie bats came alive early when sophomore left fielder Toby Jefferson led off the game by getting hit by a pitch, and promptly stealing second base. Senior shortstop Isaac Gomes then singled, which scored Jefferson. Senior second baseman Kaleb Bass then hit a double to the right-center gap, but it looked like the throw would nail him as he was trying to advance to third base. Instead, the ball bounced off of Hayden Dohner’s glove, and Bass was able to score. Just like that, it was 3-0. Blaine scored a run in the bottom of the first when sophomore shortstop Kyle Turnberg drove in senior Nick Gunderson. But it was Jefferson, Gomes and Bass that drove in runs in the top of the second inning. Brown settled in nicely after that, and pitched the best game of his young varsity career. He got into a little trouble in the bottom of the sixth when Turnberg and Dohner had back-to-back hits to lead off the inning. Senior designated hitter Hudson Reid followed with an RBI single, and senior Ryan Turnbgerg also knocked in a run. Mountie senior Carter Backstrom entered the game with the bases loaded to face leadoff hitter, Colby Knutzen. He walked Knutzen, to make the score 6-4, but was able to get the next two batters out. Baker then held on to win the closely contested game. Borderite junior Tyler Haggith pitched extremely well in relief, striking out nine batters in the final four innings, while allowing just one hit.
W: Brown (2-3)
L: Wallen (4-1)
MB: Jefferson 2-3, 2 R, 2 SB, HBP; Gomes 1-4, 2 RBI, R; Bass 2-3, 2B, 2 RBI, R; Backstrom 1-3, R, SB.
BLA: K. Turnberg 2-4, RBI, R; Dohner 1-2, 2B, R, 2 BB; Reid 1-3, RBI, R, HBP, SB; R. Turnberg 1-3, RBI.
Lynden Christian 10, Bellingham 6
The Lyncs got the bats rolling, and scored in every possible inning against the Red Raiders on Tuesday. Sophomore shortstop Cole Moorlag led the way with three hits, while junior Zach Sipma, sophomore Luke Johnson and freshman Jamison Hintz each knocked in a pair of runs. Johnson was also in control on the mound, striking out 10 batters over 4 and 2/3 innings. Jake Terpstra struck out four batters to get the save for LC. Everett Simpson, Nick Posey and Lucas Bogaards each collected two hits and stole a base for Bellingham, and Simpson also knocked in two runs.
W: Johnson (4-1)
L: Kerzman (0-1)
S: Terpstra (1)
BELL: Simpson 2-4, 2 RBI, R, SB; DePalma 1-3, BB; Posey 2-3, RBI, R, BB, SB; Bogaards 2-4, RBI, SB; Giese 1-2, RBI, R, HBP.
LC: Zylstra 1-3, R, BB, SB; Moorlag 3-4, 2 R, RBI, 2 SB; Whittern 2-3, 2B, 2 R, RBI, HBP, 4 SB; Sipma 2-3, 2 RBI, SB; Dykstra 1-4, RBI, R, 2 SB; Terpstra 1-4, R; Johnson 1-2, 2 RBI, R, BB.
Lynden 12, Nooksack Valley 0
Speed, pitching, power and defense. It was all on display for the Lions on Tuesday. Senior shortstop Brendan Kleindel had a monster game with two doubles, a home run, five runs batted in and he stole home. Senior Devin Holmstrom also belted a home run for Lynden. Preston King scored a game-high three runs, while also collecting a pair of hits. Holmstrom and freshman Cade Slayton combined for the shut out on the mound. Pioneer senior Evan Neitling had two hits, and fellow senior Devin Lackey hit a double.
W: Holmstrom (1-0)
L: Johnson (0-3)
LYN: Kleindel 3-3, HR, 2 2B, 5 RBI, 2 R, BB, SB; Libolt 1-3, RBI, BB, SB; Marsh 1-2, RBI, R, BB, HBP, SB; Doolittle 1-4, 2B, RBI, R; Holmstrom 1-2, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB, HBP; King 2-3, 3 R, BB; White 1-2, 2 R, BB, SB.
NV: Neitling 2-3; Eshuis 1-2; Lackey 1-2, 2B.
