NOOKSACK – Can an engaged dugout spark a comeback? Obviously, you have to execute on the field. But, when the Nooksack Valley baseball team came to bat in the bottom on the sixth inning down 4-2, with the bottom of the lineup coming up, the boys in purple came alive in the dugout to cheer their youthful teammates along.
Freshman Dawson Kimball led the inning off getting hit by a pitch, which received a loud roar from the Pioneer dugout. Sophomore Alex Clawson then drew a walk, and freshman Collin Averill sacrificed both runners over by placing a perfect bunt down the third base line. The Lyncs quickly gave the free pass to leadoff hitter Evan Neitling, and the bases were loaded for Trey Eshuis.
The sound from the purple clad dugout grew louder, and a balk moved each base runner up, which scored Kimball. Eshuis then sharply singled a 1-and-2 pitch into left field which scored pinch runner Nick Dykstra and tied the game.
Pioneer catcher Levi DeWeber was hit by a pitch, and Zach Johnson followed that up with a sacrifice fly to left field that easily scored the speedy Neitling. Senior left fielder Devin Lackey ran out an infield hit, which loaded the bases. Kyle Long stepped in for his first at bat of the game, and drew a walk on a full count to score the fourth run of the inning.
Neitling was brought in to close the game out, and he sat the Lyncs down 1-2-3 on nine pitches.
“I thought Zach Johnson pitched really well,” Nooksack Valley coach Scott Gelwicks said. “He pitched to contact, they hit the ball and we fielded it. That’s baseball. After last weekend, this was a good pick-me-up.”
The Pioneers lost a pair of games on Saturday.
Johnson started the game on the mound for the Pioneers and cruised through the first three innings, throwing just 21 pitches. He ended up going five innings and allowed six hits and four runs. Averill pitched the sixth inning and picked up the win for Nooksack Valley.
Sophomore Shale Whittern continued his hot hitting for Lynden Christian, going 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and two runs scored. He is now 8-for-11 on the young season. Senior catcher Damyn Dykstra added three runs batted in.
The Pioneers (1-2) will travel to Sultan (0-0) today, and the Lyncs (1-2) will host Coupeville (0-0) on Friday.
W: Averill (1-1)
L: Moorlag (0-1)
S: Neitling (1)
LC: Zylstra 2 BB, R; Whittern 3-4, 3 SB, 2 R; Dykstra 1-3, 3 RBI; Terpstra 1-3; P. Vander Veen 2-3.
NV: Neitling 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB, 2 SB; Eshuis 2-3, RBI, 2 SB, R, BB; DeWeber 1-3, R; Lackey 1-3, RBI, BB; Averill 1-2, SB.
