KOOSKIA–The Pirate nine finished as runner-up in this year’s Southfork Slugfest here, dropping the championship game to North Star after defeating Clearwater Valley 4-3 and Clarkston JV 10-0. North Star rode big fourth and seventh innings to the 20-9 win. The Pirates split the season-opener versus Touchet, dropping the first game 6-0 and winning the second 10-0.
Play continues this week against Liberty and Prairie, wrapping up with a twin bill at Liberty Christian Saturday, April 2 and an April 5 single with Asotin.
North Star 20, Pomeroy 9
“I was really proud of our players for making it into the championship game. We played well in the first two games and actually, other than the fourth and seventh innings, where North Star scored 14 of their 20 runs, we played fairly well,” said Head Coach Kyler Lovgren.
“At the end of the day we made some youthful mistakes and our defense didn’t get the job done supporting our pitching staff, which required more pitches than we wanted to have to throw,” Lovgren said.
Pomeroy edged Clearwater Valley 4-3 in the March 25 game to advance to the championship round.
“This was a late game starting at 6 p.m. and was played under the lights for the final three innings,” Lovgren said.
“Clearwater Valley jumped out to a two-run lead in the first inning,” Lovgren said. “Pomeroy scored their first run in the top of the third with a double from Trace Roberts, scoring Jeremiah Lemont. Gunner Magill brought in Ollie Severs on a sacrifice bunt in the fourth to tie the game.
“Pomeroy scored an additional run in the fourth as well as one in the fifth to take the lead, 4-3,” he said.
“Brodie Magill started the game on the mound and Trace Roberts closed the game, coming in during he fourth,” Lovgren.
“This was a great game that was close the entire way,” he said. “The atmosphere resembled a playoff game, right down to the end where Trace had to face a great hitting team in the seventh to hold on for the win, and he was able to strike out the last batter.”
Clarkston JV fell to the Pirates 10-0 in the tournament opener. Trevin Kimble threw a no hitter through five innings and Roberts closed the game, maintaining the no-hitter.
“Trevin threw the ball extremely effectively and was able to get 10 strike outs in his five innings, which is extremely impressive,” Lovgren said. “Roberts and Severs were able to hit the ball like we knew they could, both coming up with home runs.”
North Star 20, Pomeroy 9 (3/26)
R H E
NS 032 710 7-20 16 2
Pom 300 051 0-9 121 3
Hits: Pomeroy-Magill 2, Kimble 2, Roberts 2, Vecchio 3, Severs, Cannon. NS-Mixzon 2, Corkish, Szekers 2, Folwell 2, Ineck 3, Kormylo 2, Green 2, Ables, Dow.
Pomeroy 4, Clearwater Valley 3 (3/25)
R H E
Pom 001 210 0-4 3 0
CV 200 00 0-3 3 3
Hits: Pomeroy-Robert 2, Severs. CV-Cross, Shown, Altman.
Pomeroy 10, Clarkston JV 0 (3/25)
R H E
Clk 000 000 0-0 0 1
Pom 240 260 2-10 6 1
Hits: Pomeroy-Kimble, Roberts, Vecchio, Severs 2, Bryson. Clarkston: None.
Home Runs: Roberts, Severs.