Cardinals top Reardan, fall to Deer Park

MEDICAL LAKE – The Cardinal baseball team took both games in an April 6 double header against Reardan High School, but had their wings clipped against Deer Park on April 11.

Game one of the twin bill started with Medical Lake scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kaleb Cain smacked a fly ball to right field allowing him to reach second base. Cameron Comer followed his double with a ground ball single that moved Cain to third base.

Head Coach Austin Sharp said his batters were able to find success against Reardan's ace.

"Their pitching is what will keep them in most games," Sharp said. "But we figured him out after a little bit and scored five runs on their starter. They pulled him after five innings, so it was an added win knowing we beat their best and starting pitcher."

Andrew Roberts who has 16 RBI's on the season stepped up to the plate next. An error by Reardan allowed Cain to score the first run of the game, and Comer was able to steal second as well.

"In our lineup, batters one through four really hit the ball well that day," Sharp said. "Between those four batters we had seven doubles and a triple on the day-they really carried the offense on that day."

Roberts sent the ball to deep center field on a double, and it brought in Comer to bring the score to 2-0 at the bottom of the first.

The scored remained until Reardan fought back in the third inning to tie it a 2-all. Medical Lake slipped up and committed two errors the third, allowing Reardan's Dylan Finch to score.

Finch initially reached on an error, but Cardinal pitcher Luke Dickey was called for a balk allowing the runner to advance to second. Finch then advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored when Abe Nelson hit a ground ball.

Nelson then reached second on a single from Tyler Clouse, and Caden Day brought Nelson home on a ground ball hit to the shortstop.

Medical Lake didn't take long to regain the lead when the Cardinals posted three on the board in the bottom of the fourth behind the bats of Roberts and Joe Griffey.

Eugene Haas and Kaleb Cain were both hit by pitches and reached base. Comer stepped up to the plate and thumped a line drive single to center field allowing both runners to advance.

Roberts battled the Reardan pitcher taking him to a 3-2 count and then blasted a double to deep left field allowing both Haas and Cain to score. Griffey followed that with a ground ball that brought Comer across the plate putting the score at 5-2 in favor of the Cardinals.

"Luke Dickey pitched a good complete game," Sharp said. "And the guys were able to make the defensive stops they needed to."

Dickey earned the win for Medical Lake throwing 99 pitches in seven innings. He allowed two runs on seven hits and had six strikeouts to his name.

The Cardinals took the second game 7-3.Griffey got the win on the bump.

He threw 72 pitches in four innings striking out seven and allowed three runs on four hits.

The Cardinals traveled to Deer Park on April 11 to continue their series that had been postponed.

Medical Lake dropped the first game 9-4. Six runs were unearned. Dickey got the start for Medical Lake tosssing 117 pitches in six innings and allowing 10 hits and striking out three batters.

Head Coach Austin Sharp said the Cardinal defense couldn't make the plays that needed to be made and that allowed Deer Park to pull away with the win.

Putting points on the board in the second, third, and fourth innings actually had Medical Lake up 3-2, but that lead didn't last long.

Deer Park came out scoring four runs in the bottom of the fourth, and sealed the lead for the rest of the first game.

The Cardinals were blown out 17-1 in the nightcap. Shoddy defense was a major factor once again according to coach Sharpe.

"We tried to force plays," Sharp said. "The kids would try forcing a throw to the wrong base, and some of the throws went wild allowing their runners to advance and score."

Sharp said several defensive errors were made in the field too, and that contributed to the losses.

"Our defense just didn't show up or play well against Deer Park," Sharp said. "And we absolutely need to do better in future games."