Mules stay alive at district

The Wahkiakum Mules lost their opening game of district baseball play but won their nightcap to stay alive on Tuesday.

They'll play Saturday, 12 noon, in Adna.

The Mules lost their opener 13-10 to the Adna Pirates.

Ty Briscoe smashed a three-run home run and a two-run double to lead the Mule attack. Travis Bain had two hits, including a double, and scored two runs, and C.J. Bridges had two hits, too, including a two-run double.

The Mules topped Northwest Christian 11-1 in the second game of the day. Matt Willette pitched four innings and allowed no runs. Bain came in to pitch the last three innings; he struck out four batters and had three hits with two runs batted in. Josh Rongey hit a two-run triple, and Briscoe had three hits and one rbi.

The Mules stormed into district with wins in two close games Saturday in the three-team battle for the Central League's fifth and final playoff berth.

The Mules scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally and beat the Pe Ell Trojans 8-7.

The Mules scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-2 lead. The runs came on a Trojan error, a walk and singles by Rongey and Briscoe and a double from Willette.

The Trojans then held the Mules scoreless for five innings and built a 7-2 lead with a five-run fifth inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Brenden McClain led off with a walk; Bain singled; Rongey was hit by a pitch, and Briscoe singled, scoring two runs and cutting the margin to 7-6. Blake Anderson hit a sacrifice fly that scored another run, tying the game 7-7. Willette then walked, and Bridges doubled to right-center field to score Briscoe and win the game.

Briscoe was 2/3 at the plate with three runs batted in. Bain and Rongey each had one hit and scored three runs; McClain had one hit and scored one run. Willette doubled and knocked in a run, and Bridges and Ben Doumit each had a hit and knocked in a run. Anderson scored one run and knocked in two more.

"Willette had been sick all week and came back to give a good start on the mound," Rooklidge said. "Bain pitched the last 2 1/3 innings and was clutch in relief."

The win pitted the Mules against the Toutle Lake Ducks in a winner-take-all battle which the Mules won 4-3.

"This was a typical Toutle-Wahkiakum game with both teams battling to the end," Rooklidge said. "Bain pitched all seven innings and got the win with a great performance. Briscoe, Blain Fritzie and Matt Doumit were all clutch on defense."

The Mules scored in the second inning when Briscoe singled and stole second and scored on Willette's single. Toutle scored twice in the third to lead 2-1.

In the top of the fourth, Briscoe doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly from Anderson. In the fifth, with the game tied 2-2, Bain walked, advanced on Rongey's single, and scored on a Toutle error.

In the top of the seventh, the Mules added an insurance run that proved to be the winning run. McClain reached base on an error and stole second. He advanced to third on an error and scored on Rongey's single. Toutle scored once in the bottom of the frame, giving the Mules the victory.

The Mules closed the regular season with a 6-4 loss to Mossyrock on May 2.

The Mules led 3-1 after two innings, but the Vikings built a 6-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning. In the bottom of the frame, the Mules scored one run when McClain got on base and advanced on Bain's single and Briscoe's sacrifice fly.

In the first, McClain and Rongey scored on a single by Anderson. In the second inning, C. J. Bridges scored on a single and an error.

Bain pitched well, Rooklidge said, striking out six batters.

"Blake was on fire at the plate, going 3/4 with two rbi's," Rooklidge said. "McClain gave us good production from the leadoff with one hit and scoring two runs."

The Mules had eight hits and one error; the Vikings had 10 hits and four errors.