Story Photos
 LCC left fielder Nic Shadle keeps focus on the run as he snares a hot fly on a cold night against Pierce during a frigid game at Story Field. Bill Wagner / The Daily News
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LCC loses 'debacle' in 10 innings
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 6:20 AM PDT
By Rick McCorkle
Printable version
E-mail this articleAll it lacked was a tent and three rings, and it could've been a full-blown circus starring the Lower Columbia College Red Devils.
LCC stumbled, bumbled and found ways to throw away opportunities as it dropped a 7-5 decision to Pierce in a 10-inning NWAACC Western Division matchup on David Story Field.
"This was a debacle and probably the worst game we've played in a very long time," LCC coach Kelly Smith said. "We had four errors, but I think we really had more than that because we didn't tag out a runner at third base, we didn't cover bases properly and we threw the ball all over the infield. That was all bad coaching because I thought I taught them better than that."
Devils' starter Ben Rosen didn't make it out of the first inning as the Raiders converted three singles, a double and a walk into four runs. One of the singles, a blooper to right field misplayed by Richie Allen, resulted in two Pierce runs.
"We butchered the first inning," Smith said. "The second batter of the game gets a base hit, and our catcher could've thrown him out at third later in the inning but he threw it away. We could've had a 1-2-3 inning and cruised after that, but we couldn't get an out and give up a 4-spot."
The Devils countered with a run in the bottom of the first, but a dropped fly ball by Allen allowed another Pierce tally in the third as the Raiders led 5-1. LCC cut its deficit to 5-3 in the fourth when Alex Lovell lined a first-pitch double off the base of the left field fence that plated Nic Shadle and Luke Zirkle.
LCC added a solo run in the eighth when Sean Winston was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded that scored Zirkle. Allen followed and had a chance to push the Devils ahead, but struck out looking on an inside pitch to end the inning.
The Devils' offensive follies continued in the ninth when Brooks Lindsley and Shawn Peterson singled, and Zirkle hit a blooper to left field that plated Lindsley. Both runners moved up on a sacrifice bunt from Bas Nooij, and Shadle was intentionally walked to load the bases.
Instead of capitalizing on the bases-loaded situation, pinch-hitter De'Andre Wheeler hit a 2-0 check-swing infield grounder that got Peterson out at the plate, and Jett Hart followed with a fly out to center field to squash the opportunity.
"We have the game and he (Wheeler) swings on 2-0," Smith said. "All he had to do is take a ball and walk in the winning run. We're not a great team and we can't expect to roll in here and win. We gave them (the Raiders) too many outs."
The Raiders took advantage of the momentum swing in the 10th by converting two hits, a walk and two LCC infield errors into a 7-5 lead. In the bottom of the inning, the Devils milked back-to-back one-out walks and moved the runners to second and third on a passed ball, but Peterson struck out looking and Zirkle grounded out to end the threat.
"I guess we're lucky to be 2-1 after the weekend series with Pierce," Smith said. "It won't be a cakewalk for us through the league like it's been in the past, because I don't think this team is tough enough to beat its opponents into submission."
The Devils' pitiful performance overshadowed a strong outing from reliever Rye Phillips, who scattererd three hits, struck out five batters and walked three before yielding to three other relievers.
Lindsley and Peterson finished with two hits apiece.
Pierce 401 000 000 2- 7 9 2
Lower Col. 100 200 011 0- 5 9 4
Bobby Wassman, Jake Patterson (8), Ryan King (8), Austin Guilio (9), Nick Hutson (10) and Josh Serrick; Ben Rosen, Rye Phillips (1), Cody Fassold (9), Conor Spink (9), Michael Greene (10) and Bo Lybeck, Bas Nooij (5).
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