Medical Lake errors counter team's suddenly hot bats

The Medical Lake bats certainly came alive last week in American Legion play.

But a problem with their gloves - the catching ones - helped turn the potential of an undefeated week into one where the AA National Division team finished 1-3.

Medical Lake opened the week with losses, 9-8 and 20-15 at home to West Valley on June 14. They split a doubleheader with East Valley, June 17, winning 6-3 before dropping another wild slugfest 17-11.

Odessa's Theron Schlomer got the start for ML and worked four innings. "He hadn't pitched for us all year and he did a great job," co-head coach Austin Sharp said.

Sam Gollehon had a pair of doubles. "He kind of carried us in both games at the plate," Sharp said. "

After Medical Lake rallied to lead 3-2 after four innings in game one, late errors allowed West Valley to score runs. "Defense cost us a little bit," Sharp said.

Medical Lake, on the other hand, left runners on with the potential tying and winning runs in both the sixth and seventh innings. "We just couldn't get them in," Sharp said.

Ben Evans started the second game, but thanks to errors, found himself down 7-1 before the Medical Lake bats got hot.

Redemption was the order of the day versus East Valley, who hammered ML 22-5 in their other meeting. "We knew we were a lot better than that," Sharp said.

Gollehon was impressive in his first mound duty in two or three years, Sharp said. The sophomore delivered with a complete game victory, giving up just one run, recording four strikeouts on 90 pitches while surrendering just three hits.

Gavin O'Brien went 2 for 4 with three RBIs to pace the offense.

Lakeside's Cale Swanson got the start in game-two. He too left for the dugout with his team trailing 8-4, but Medical Lake rallied to lead 9-8 only to string together five walks and a pair of errors as East Valley took the lead for good.

Swanson and Gollehon each went 3 for 4 with six runs scored while eighth grader Brent Keith's lone hit was a double into the gap that scored two.

Next up for ML, 3-8, are home games June 26 when they face University in a 5 p.m. doubleheader. They follow that with a June 28 pair of games at home against Central Valley, also a 5 p.m. start. Medical Lake also hosts a pod in the Wood Bat Tournament beginning Friday, June 30.

Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].