Aberdeen got the season off to a good start with a 10-0 mercy-rule victory over Hoquiam on Thursday at Ken Waite Field in Aberdeen.
The Bobcats (1-0 overall) got a stellar pitching performance from junior starter Hunter Eisele, who benefited from an early 4-0 lead.
After Eisele retired the side with a 1-2-3 top of the first, Aberdeen’s offense scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning. Eisele helped himself out with a fielder’s choice RBI groundout to open the scoring and was followed by a two-run single off the bat of third baseman Trevon Nichols for a 3-0 lead. After a single by first baseman Kenny Dawson loaded the bases, designated hitter Marcus Hale drove in Nichols with Aberdeen’s second fielder’s choice RBI ground out of the inning to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
“When a team gets a lead, us pitchers don’t have to worry about doing it themselves,” Eisele said. “We can trust our defense and if they make a mistake, then they make a mistake but we still have the lead.”
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen’s Trevon Nichols smacks a base hit during the Cats’ 10-0 victory over Hoquiam in the season-opener on Thursday at Pioneer Park in Aberdeen.
Eisele ran into a little trouble in the second, allowing a leadoff single to Grizzlies catcher Jake Templer followed by hitting Mick Bozich with a pitch. But the junior right-hander locked in to strike out the side and end the threat.
Hoquiam starter Todd Mefford was equally impressive in the bottom of the second, retiring the side on two ground outs and a fly out.
But the Grizzlies ran into trouble in the bottom of the third. With two outs and two on, Hale sent a liner to right for a base hit, scoring catcher Charlie Ancich and Nichols to extend the Cats’ lead to 6-0.
Aberdeen tacked on three more runs in the fourth, with second baseman Kyle Miller manufacturing a run with his feet by advancing around the horn with a steal followed by two subsequent Hoquiam throwing errors. Two batters later, Ancich singled to score Eisele and right fielder Aidan Baker for a 9-0 advantage.
The Bobcats would seal the mercy-rule victory when Jones drove in Dawson with a sharp liner to center in the fifth.
“For the first game. I thought we handled things fairly clean, which is great to see this early,” new Aberdeen head coach Layne Bruner said. “There are some things we need to clean up, like missed signs and things like that. But the thing for me it is the first game and you’re going to have jitters. I was nervous. If you’re not nervous, then (the game) doesn’t matter. … We’re going to clean it up and continue to improve.”
Eisele was sharp in the season-opener, allowing just one hit with nine strikeouts, retiring the last nine batters he faced without surrendering a walk. Eisele threw 58 pitches, 41 being strikes.
“There were a few things I can work on, like my curveball and fastball location a little bit,” Eisele said. “But it was the first game, I was getting a little bit or rust off and there is always something I can work on.”
“Hunter handles business and is just one of those guys that is just going to compete,” Bruner said. “(The early lead) definitely helps, but he’d have done his job anyway.”
RYAN SPARKS | THE DAILY WORLD Aberdeen junior pitcher Hunter Eisele allowed no runs on one hit through four innings to lead the Bobcats to a 10-0 victory over Hoquiam in the season-opener on Thursday at Pioneer Park in Aberdeen.
Nichols threw a scoreless fifth with a strikeout to close out the victory.
Hoquiam’s pitching staff of Mefford, Mick Bozich and Joe Bozich, combined to allow six earned runs on six hits with seven walks and a pair of strikeouts.
Aberdeen infielder Bubba Jones led all hitters, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI with Hale driving in three runs for the Bobcats.
Hoquiam head coach Steve Jump said he saw some positives out of his team despite the loss.
“I have a lot of faith in them,” he said. “They chatter better, they talk to one another, they support each other and that’s going to go a long way. That was a major positive,” he said. “We haven’t been outside a lot, so when you face a pitcher like (Eisele), they’ve got an advantage and they did a great job. We need to really prioritize throwing strikes and take a little pressure off our defense. … I know it sounds crazy, but overall, I was happy. … We faced a really good team and stayed positive and no one gave up. I see us getting better every game we come out.”
Aberdeen’s defense was spotless, committing no errors and appearing to be in mid-season form in the first game.
“Having no errors, that’s a confidence-booster for sure,” Eisele said. “I know I can trust them and trust myself. … It’s just a confidence-booster for me. … The more we win the more our team is going to come together and play together. … And it feels great to beat Hoquiam.”
Aberdeen faces Elma at 4 p.m. Friday in Elma.
Hoquiam hosts Spanaway Lake at noon on Saturday.
Hoquiam 000 00 – 0 1 5
Aberdeen 402 31 – 10 6 0
WP: Eisele (4 IP, 0 R, H, 9 K). LP: Mefford (2 IP, 4 R, 2 ER, 3 H, BB).
Leading hitters: Hoquiam – Templer (1-2). Aberdeen – Jones (2-4, R, RBI); Nichols (1-2, 2 R, SB, 2 RBI); Hale (1-2, 3 RBI); Ancich (1-2, R, 2 RBI); Baker (0-1, 2 R, 2 BB); Dawson (1-2, R); Eisele (0-2, R, RBI, BB).
PREP SOFTBALL
Pe Ell-Willapa Valley 10, Elma 1
Entering the season, there were many questions as to what the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley Titans would look like with a new head coach and a host of new players after losing so many to graduation from last year’s state-championship squad.
If the first three games of the season are any indication, PWV will remain a force to reckon with come playoff time.
The Titans moved to 3-0 on the season with another dominant performance in the circle and at the dish, beating previously-unbeaten Elma 10-1 on Thursday in Elma.
Though the faces may have changed, PWV did on Thursday what the program has done since becoming a state power over the past eight years – flat-out hit the ball.
The Titans had 17 hits, including six for extra-bases, highlighted by a Sophia Milanowski home run in the fourth. Four of the Titans’ five doubles in the games drove in runs.
PWV took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Lauren Matlock – aboard with a leadoff double – scored on a Payton Peterson sacrifice fly.
The game remained close as PWV starter Lauren Emery and Elma hurler Madison Monroe held opposing offenses scoreless through the next two innings.
But the Titans offense started to barrel up Elma pitches in the fourth, scoring a pair of runs on Milanowski’s solo dinger followed by an RBI bunt by Karli Phelps, scoring Lorlei Smarciaz.
In the top of the fifth, PWV’s first six batters collected base hits, taking a 5-0 lead after back-to-back RBI doubles by Peterson and Grace Huber. Milanoswki singled later in the inning for a 6-0 lead.
Elma scored a run in the bottom of the fifth, when Madison Monroe singled to drive in first baseman Callie Galligan, who was aboard with a double.
PWV put the game well out of reach with four more runs in the top of the seventh, with RBI doubles by Smarciaz and Sipp followed by RBI singles from Matlock and Jillian Hodel.
“We’re a young infield, but we’re starting to build our confidence on the dirt,” PWV head coach Eric Hopfer said. “Offensively, they swung the bat like senior veterans.”
While the PWV offense was raking, Emery was dazzling on the mound, stymieing the Eagles by allowing one earned run on three hits with seven strikeouts in earning the complete-game victory.
PWV will compete in the Auburn Mountain View Invitational beginning Friday.
Elma (2-1) plays at Shelton starting at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
PWV 100 230 4 – 10 17 2
Elma 000 010 0 – 1 3 2
WP: Emery (7 IP, ER, H, 7 K). LP: Hanson (2 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, BB).
Leading hitters: PWV – Milanowski (4-4, HR, R, 2 RBI); Matlock (3-4, 2B, R, RBI); Hodel (1-4, R, RBI); Huber (2-4, 2B, R, RBI); Peterson (2-5, 2B, R, 2 RBI); Sipp (1-4, 2B, R, RBI); Smarciaz (1-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI); Phelps (1-4, R, RBI). Elma – Galligan (1-3, 2B, R); Ma. Monroe (1-2, RBI); Mia Monroe (1-3).
Other scores
Hoquiam 4, Forks 3
Hoquiam 8, Forks 6
Raymond-South Bend 20, Naselle 2
