Columbia Basin defeated Treasure Valley in a pair of games to open conference play 4-3 and 6-4.
With the East Region touting no super teams this year, the region title is up for grabs this year. Behind starter
Dylan Berry, CBC was able to pitch their way into a Game 1 win. Berry was shakey early on with his command sitting atop the the zone but despite 6 walks, the sophomore righty was able to stay out of trouble for 5 innings. Basin scored in the first inning on a broken play where
Steven Meier was able to take 2 bases in a rundown situation.
The Hawks were able to get two more in the 5th with sacs from both Meier and
Hayden Matray. After striking out 9 through 5 innings, Berry was lifted in the sixth after a hit-batsman and a walk. Reliever
Ethan Petty was unable to get out of the inning unscathed as a 2-out single brought home 2 runs for the Chukars who tied it up at 3.
Matray was able to reach third base after a 1-out double/stolen base.
Gaven Mattson was able to bring him home with a line drive sac fly in what would be the eventual game winning run.
Landon Webb was handed the ball in the 8th for the 2-inning save attempt. Webb pitched a clean 8th and allowed a 2-out double in the ninth but was able to get a punch out to end the game.
It was
Cameron Soliz in Game 2 who took his turn on the mound. Soliz was sharp for 7 innings striking out 11 in the effort. In the top of the second, Soliz whipped a pickoff throw over to third base that sailed away down the line allowing Treasure to plate 2 runs before the end of the inning.
CBC slowly worked its way back first with a
Wyatt Lizama RBI single in the bottom of the second. Then Matray drove in runs in the 3rd and the 5th helping Basin come over the top for a 5-2 lead. Soliz surrendered just one extra base hit on the day but it came with 2 runners on in the sixth helping Treasure stay in the game at 5-4.
Brooks Rasmussen was able to beat out a boxed ground ball helping convert another insurance run.
Josh Ruffner was asked to convert another 2-inning save for the Hawks and Ruffner pitched a clean 8th and 9th striking out 4 of the 6 batters he faced giving CBC the win in Game 2.
Columbia Basin improves to 15-9 on the year and starts out atop the East Region at 2-0. They will travel to Ontario on Sunday to return the double-header with Treasure. First pitch is scheduled for 2pm MST.
