Cardinals overpower Pirates, fall to Crimson Hawks

MEDICAL LAKE – The Cardinals dominated both games of a double-header against Rogers High School on March 22. Medical Lake took game one by a score of 11-1, and then shut out the Pirates 10-0 in game two.

Luke Dickey got the win for the Cardinals, striking out nine batters in just over five innings pitched. Dickey threw 88 pitches allowing one run and two walks in the game. According to Coach Austin Sharp, sticking to the game plan allowed the team to dominate both games without too much trouble.

"We wanted to work on some bunting- some small ball stuff," Sharp said. "I had a plan where they had to get seven bunts down before I just let them start swinging the bats."

Medical Lake put up 21 quality at-bats with Kaleb Cain leading the team with three RBI. Four batters hit doubles on the night, and runners stole seven bases keeping players in scoring position throughout the game.

"We hit the ball well and ran the bases well," Sharp said. "It gave us the opportunity to really focus on those things without too much pressure."

Medical Lake scored 11 runs on 12 hits. Cameron Comer got things going early with a double in the bottom of the first inning.

After Andrew Roberts was hit by a pitch, the Cardinals had runners on first and second. When Joe Griffey was at the plate, his teammates stole second and third bases, and then Griffey reached first on a base hit.

With the bases loaded, Joe Oliver knocked a ground ball RBI to the shortstop allowing Comer to make it home.

Taylor Oliver brought Roberts in following that giving Medical Lake a 2-0 lead after the first. The game progressed in similar fashion until the sixth inning when the Cardinals scored five runs bringing the lead to 11-1 and stopping the game as per the 10-run rule.

Griffey earned the win in game two and gave up no runs on two hits over five innings, striking out 12 batters and walking one.

Medical Lake scored 10 runs on 10 hits with seven RBI. Cardinal runners also had six stolen bases in the game.

While everything seemed to go right for the Cardinals during this series, the following series against Colville on March 26 had different results.

Medical Lake was shut out in both games against the Crimson Hawks, and unforced errors were problematic for the Cardinals. According to Sharp, some of the errors may have been due to nerves and anxiety.

"I think our kids put too much pressure on themselves, and came into the series a little tight, and they felt like they had to win those games," Sharp said. "Our pitcher Luke Dickey did a fantastic job. He had six strikeouts throwing 88 pitches in six innings. We had some unforced errors behind him that allowed Colville to get on base."

According to the coach a couple of Cardinal players can shake the nerves easier than others. He pointed out Eugene Haas as one of those players.

"He was probably our player of the day Saturday, and the nerves didn't really seem to get to him," Sharp said. "He pitched the last inning of the first game, and the last three innings of the second game. He had five strikeouts, and it's good he is staying healthy this year so he can play at his level."

Sharp said they faced Colville last season, and the team always presents a tough match up. According to Sharp, the team is doing well offensively. The guys were able to get hits, but Colville's defense had an answer for every one of them.

"On the offensive side we only struck out four times that game, but we didn't hit the ball real hard," he said. "Colville was just able to make the necessary plays in the infield."

Medical Lake drops to 5-2 on the season, but looks to rebound from the losses .