Columiba Basin defeated Big Bend in the opening DH of East Region play by scores of 2-0 and 14-0 (7 inn.). Brayden Walls and Ambrose Driver delivered 15 of the 16 shutout innings with Dylan Schlenger getting the save in Game 1.

GAME 1

After a preseason guantlet including #1 Lower Columbia and #2 Everett, the Hawks looked to rebound into region play against #8 Big Bend. Walls was wildly effective in his start holding the Vikings scoreless across 8 innings. Big Bend left 11 runners on base but Walls averted danger at every turn. His counterpart in gray also held the CBC offense in check for 6 of his 7 innings pitched. 

In the bottom of the 4th, Ethan Stewart tripled into the right center gap with 1 out but Basin was unable to scratch the run across. In the 5th, Diego Escandon hit a sharp groundball to 3rd that carrumed off the glove of the 3rd baseman giving Escandon enough time to leg out the infield single. After stealing second base and advancing to 3rd on a groundball, Caleb Eisenhower brought him home with an RBI double to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

Once the Vikings went to the bullpen in the 8th, CBC loaded the bases with 1 out and Alex Chamberlain connected on a sac fly to left good for one more insurance run. Walls would give way to Schlenger due to a rising pitch count despite Walls lobbying to finish the game out. Schlenger closed the door in a timely fashion while avoiding any danger giving CBC the 2-0 win.

GAME 2

If Game 1 was a pitchers duel, Game 2 was a hitting display by Basin. Starter Ambrose Driver was outstanding in his start and following a clean 1st, Basin immediately broke it open for him. The Hawks plated 7 runs in the first inning. Big Bend's starter did not make it through the inning as the Hawks attacked from all fronts including hits, walks and hit-by-pitches. With 1 out and the bases loaded, Braiden Bond doubled into the left-center gap bringing home all 3 runners for a 5-0 lead. Cole Rohlmeier and Lance Anderson each had hits in successive at-bats pushing the lead to 7-0.

From there, Driver was in full command allowing just 1 hit in his 7-inning complete game. Escandon and Jacob Reece singled in the 2nd on the way to 3 more runs and a 10-0 lead after the second. A Chamberlain single in the 3rd gave Basin 11.

In the 6th, Anderson and Stewart put the cap on it with RBI's on the way to a 14-0 lead and eventual final. All Hawk hitters that stepped to the plate in Game 2 came away with at least one hit lead by Anderson's 3-4 game with 4 RBIs. 

CBC moves to 12-10 and 2-0 in East Region play. They will travel to Moses Lake on Saturday to finish the second leg of the 4-game series against the Vikings starting at 1pm.