WINNEMUCCA - The Greater Nevada A team finished up its summer season with a third-place outing at the Baker City Wood Bat tournament, held July 6 - 8 in Baker City, Ore.
The Badgers opened with an 11-5 victory over Milton Freewater on July 6 and later that night defeated DeSales 16-2. Greater Nevada played Bishop Kelly twice on July 7, coming away with a split. The Badgers won the first game 1-0 in nine innings and lost the second 7-5 in 10 innings. Greater Nevada closed out the summer on July 8 with a 12-0 win over Iron Triangle.
"It was a pretty good weekend," said coach Ron Espinola. "We played about as good as we have all season. The last two tournaments we played, we were really consistent. We had good defense, pitching and hit the ball well. The two games we played on Saturday against Bishop Kelly might have been the two best games I have ever seen us play. For people that like low scoring, a lot of strategy and the defense trying to counteract the offense and vice versa, it was a game for them. It was a lot of fun to be a part of."
In the first game with Bishop Kelly, Lowry's Aaron Nelson pitched seven shutout innings and received a no decision. He struck out five and walked three, while allowing six hits. Lane Newman threw the final two innings to earn the victory. He gave up no hits with two walks and a strikeout.
The Bombers threatened against the Badgers throughout the game but could never plate a run. Bishop Kelly left 11 batters on base, including two each in the first, third and fifth innings. Greater Nevada did much of the same before scoring the winning run in the top of the ninth. Trevor Achenbach singled to lead off the frame and after Cedric Zumwalt was hit by a pitch, Newman sacrificed both runners into scoring position. With no outs, fellow Spring Creek player Levi Bliss singled home Achenbach, and Newman made the run stand up in the bottom of the ninth.
"Bishop Kelly is a solid program and that is the first time we have ever beaten them," Espinola said. "We played them earlier in the year and should have beaten them but we made some mistakes that cost us. We flopped Nelson and (Bryan) Noble, because we knew we would play them again. Nelson threw phenomenally and you have really seen him develop over the summer. He is not going to overpower you, but he can spot his pitches and just gets people out. He proves the point that you don't have to throw hard. You have to credit Lane as well; he threw two solid innings and got the win."
The second game proved to be just as exciting, as Noble faced the minimum through three innings, allowing one hit, which was erased by a caught stealing. The Lowry grad went on to throw seven innings and received a no-decision. He gave up four runs (none earned) on six hits with 12 strikeouts and no walks.
Bishop Kelly broke onto the scoreboard with two runs in the bottom of the third, with the rally starting with a passed ball on a third strike. The Bombers added two doubles from there to tie the game.
Greater Nevada answered in the bottom of the third, beginning with a one-out single by Alex Nimmick. Brandon Okuma reached on an error and after a walk to Zumwalt, Newman made the Bombers pay with a two-run single for a 2-0 advantage.
The Lowry trio of Noble, Nimmick and Okuma helped the Badgers go back in front with two runs in the fourth. Noble led off the inning with a single and after the next two batters were retired, Nimmick and Okuma followed with run-scoring singles for the 4-2 lead. Trailing by two runs going into the top of the seventh, Bishop Kelly rallied to tie the game on the strength of two base hits and a two-out error to tie the game.
Down to its final out in the eighth, Bishop Kelly tied the game once again with a two-out home run, but this time it was the Badgers' turn to keep the game open. Nimmick collected his third hit of the game and second RBI in the eighth, as he singled home Gus Duncan, who was hit by a pitch to reach base.
After a scoreless ninth, the Bombers strung together three consecutive hits to start the 10th and plated two runs. Greater Nevada then went down in order in the bottom of the 10th.
Okuma threw the final three innings and suffered the loss. He allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
"We didn't get the win and go play Baker in the championship but I felt with those two games that was our championship," Espinola said. "You can't ask much more from the kids. For them to play that long in the heat and humidity and stay in it is a testament to them. It was a lot of fun. Noble probably pitched one of his best games of his career. Brian probably walks out of that game with a 4-0 win, except for a passed ball and one error."
In the third-place game on July 8, Greater Nevada easily won 12-0 over Iron Triangle, but Espinola said the atmosphere was much different.
"It wasn't a disappointment but we kind of went out there and went through the motions," added the coach. "You could see they were dead from the day before. Considering that, they ended the season on a high note. We get a three-hit shutout and hit the ball all over the place."
Duncan, Zumwalt and Noble all singled in the first inning, leading to a three-run frame by the Badgers. Greater Nevada broke the game open in the top of the third with six runs, including a two-run double by Duncan, an RBI single by Nelson and a sacrifice fly by Achenbach. The Badgers went on to add three runs in the fourth.
Bliss picked up the win, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out six in four innings. Tanner Lecumberry threw the final inning.
In the opening day of the tournament, Greater Nevada picked up easy wins over Milton Freewater and DeSales. In the victory over Milton Freewater, the Badgers quickly jumped on the board with five runs in the top of the first, on the strength of a two-RBI single by Zumwalt that scored Okuma and Achenbach. Duncan and Austen Plank also drove in runs with their singles. The Badgers added single runs in the third and fourth innings and two each in the sixth and seventh.
Greater Nevada went through four pitchers, with Blake Pruitt getting the win. He lasted five innings and allowed no runs on four hits, with four strikeouts and three walks. The Badgers went through three pitchers in the sixth, as Milton Freewater plated all five of its runs. Duncan and Lecumberry each threw a third of an inning, while Nimmick closed the game by pitching the final 1.1 innings.
In the late game against DeSales, Greater Nevada used an 11-run third inning to pull away from a 2-1 advantage. The Badgers sent 17 batters to the plate and had eight hits. Seven different players had RBIs, with Zumwalt picking up three and Duncan and Nelson two each.
Zach Zeiler picked up the win in 4.1 innings of work, giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Okuma finished off the final two-thirds of an inning.
"When it comes to our high school season, we have plenty in the tank for next year," Espinola said. "Spring Creek and ourselves (Lowry) are looking for a lot of replacements. But I think ours are already here. They know what they have to do and this summer proved a lot to them and they improved a lot and showed what they are capable of. Having the B team this summer helped quite a bit and I think their learning curve is going to go way down with the experience they got. They played some 25 high school games."
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