Columbia Basin defeated Chemeketa in Game 1 of a best of 3 series to open up their playoff run 6-2. Brayden Walls went the distance on mound in the winning effort. 

Chemeketa faced off against Skagit Valley in a loser out game to get to Columbia Basin. Once there, Walls was outstanding in his start against the Storm. The sophomore lefty went all 9 innings on 131 pitches with 7 strikeouts.

CBC came ready with a good approach at the plate and it paid off early. In the bottom of the 1st, Elliott Taylor sent a drive to deep center field but an over-the-shoulder diving effort by Chemeketa saved 2 runs to end the inning. The Hawks wouldn't be deterred as they exploded for 6 in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Lance Anderson drove in 2 on a single. Alex Chamberlain was hit by a pitch that resulted in another run which was immediately followed up by a wild pitch to make it 4-0. Taylor came back up and this time he would find grass in right center field for another 2-RBI single as part of the 6 run effort.

Walls went unscathed through 6 innings but ran into a bit of hard luck in the 7th. After giving up two seeing-eye singles to lead off the inning, Walls was able to mitigate the big inning by getting out of the jam allowing just two sac flys by Chemeketa which would be their only runs of the day.

Basin was able to get runners on late but seemed to fall just one big hit away from adding on in the 7th and 8th. Chemeketa was unable to put together another rally as Walls pitched a clean 9th inning for the win and the 6-2 final.

Both teams will return Saturday at 1pm with CBC needing just 1 win to move on to the NWAC Championship tournament with 2 games to spare.