Clatskanie baseball takes advantage of errors in win

When one team has twice as many runs as it does hits, it usually spells disaster for the opposing team’s defense. During Tuesday’s home game against Nestucca, the Clatskanie varsity baseball team capitalized on six Bobcat errors, seven walks, and five hit batsmen to earn the 13-3 mercy-rule victory. Scoring once in the first and another in the fourth, Clatskanie held a slim 2-0 lead before scoring another three in the bottom of the fifth. Nestucca would counter with three runs in the top of the sixth to bring the score to 5-3, but Clatskanie would put an “eight spot” on the board in the bottom of the sixth to put the game out of reach. Junior Finn McDonnell led the Tigers at the plate with three RBI and a run scored, and senior Victor Frank and junior Bode Shulda combines for four RBI, two hits, and two runs scored. Junior Luke Andreasen knocked in a run and co-led the team, along with junior Zach Mollenhour, with three runs scored. Mollenhour and Andreasen also co-led the team in stolen bases with two apiece. McDonnell and senior Ben Blackwood also had a stolen base each in the win.

The Tigers were led from the mound by Andreasen, who struck out seven Nestucca batters over three and two thirds innings to earn the win. Mollenhour and senior Brendan Shroll would take care of the rest of the pitching duties, striking out another three Nestucca batters while allowing no earned runs over two and a third innings.

Clatskanie (8-3) will ride its season-high five-game winning streak to Nestucca Friday, April 25, before returning home Tuesday, April 29, to take on Vernonia at 3 p.m.