BEAVER – The sputtering Spartans seem to be in serious need of a soul searching excursion to Mt. Olympus. Whether it is to simply cleanse their hearts and minds, or to seek good favor with the Thunderbird deity and plead for some thunder in their bats, some off trail, team amalgamating measures are surely past due.
On Thursday, Apr. 10, Forks baseball dropped a home doubleheader to the league leading Hoquiam Grizzlies by scores of 3-0 and 8-0. Both contests went the full seven innings, even as sunny afternoon skies turned into a bone chattering heavy marine layer.Javier Contreras went the distance for the Spartans in game one, taking the tough luck loss with him as his reward. The junior right hander gave up just two earned runs, scattering four strikeouts and just one walk in his crisp complete game effort.
Contreras also led the sparse Spartan offense, going 2-3 in the game. Reis Lawson and Billy Palmer added one hit apiece.“Javier gave us a great chance to win the ballgame holding them to three unearned runs,” said Spartan skipper Wayne Daman. “We failed to execute offensively when we were given the chances but you gotta tip your cap to their guy. He threw a great game and came up big when he needed to.”The left handed Sammy Lowder earned the complete game victory on the hill for Hoquiam.
In game two, senior southpaw Nate “Seal Neck” Gimlin got the start on the bump for the Spartans, but managed just three innings of work, allowing three earned runs while walking one batter and striking out another, while taking the loss.Reis “Lawdog” Lawson stood tall for the Spartans at the top of their order, going 1-2 with a walk, while Contreras and Parker “Mouse Man” Browning added one hit apiece.Hoquiam’s 6’6” flame throwing righty, Kyle Standstipher, earned the victory for the Grizzlies, throwing five innings of shutout relief work.
Forks has now gone 19 innings, over three games, in between runs scored.Daman complimented the complete effort of his team’s opponent, saying, “We just flat got out hit. Hoquiam is a great team and there is a reason they are at the top. They have a good pitching staff and swing the bats pretty well.”
He added, “I am happy with our defensive play yesterday but as a team we need to get better executing on the offensive end.”Reece Hagen again anchored the Forks defense, catching every inning that he didn’t pitch, and once flattening a hefty Grizzly at home plate when the lumbering lug attempted to score from third base on a wild pitch that scooted not-far-enough away from the grizzled senior captain.
Forks (2-5, 0-5 league) will hosted Rainier on 4/15 at 4 p.m., for a league contest, and will travel to Montesano for a makeup doubleheader on 4/17.*For frequent updates and scheduling information you can follow Forks baseball online on Twitter, @ForksBaseball.
