GRANGER — An eight-run sixth inning helped Woodward-Granger score a 12-2 win over host West Central Valley in WCC baseball May 27. June 16, it turned out, was a different story altogether.
Bryce Kearns struck out 11 while limiting the Hawks just one run on three hits as the Wildcats earned revenge with an 11-1 win in six innings Tuesday.
A two-out single by Jordan Pierce and a double from Tre Loge in the second was the first threat posed by the hosts, but a strikeout ended the danger. W-G scored their lone run in their next at-bat, with Race Brant reaching in a one-out single, racing to third on a wild pitch to the backstop and eventually crossing the plate on a ground out from Alex Bodermann.
By that point Kearns had received more than enough support, with a shaky Hawk defense largely responsible.
Bodermann started for the hosts and quickly recorded a ground out and a strikeout. His second strikeout should have ended the inning, but the ball eluded his catcher, allowing Logan Pruitt to reach safely. By the time Bodermann recorded another strikeout he had issued a walk and yielded two singles and a double as four unearned runs touched the plate.
Jackson Larson inherited two runners with two outs in the second in relief of Bodermann, but before he could record the third out of the frame two hits, a passed ball and another costly error had allowed four more runners — two unearned — to score as the WCV lead swelled to 8-0.
A walk, hit batsman and throwing error sent a Wildcat run home in the top of the fourth to counter the Hawk tally in the third as the score moved to 9-1.
Kearns was in command after the ground out that scored Brant as he retired the last 11 batters he faced, striking out seven along the way.
W-G senior Logan Lande pitched the sixth inning, his first varsity appearance on the bump. He walked two, allowed one hit and surrendered two runs (both earned) while striking out two.
Bodermann took the loss in his 1.2 frames on the mound. He allowed six runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out three. Larson lasted 3.1 innings, yielding three runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks. He hit one batter and struck out four.
W-G plays Panorama Thursday in Granger in a varsity-only contest at 5:30 p.m. They will host Earlham for a varsity-only make-up game at 2 p.m. Friday, with Adair-Casey coming to Granger later Friday for a junior varsity/varsity set starting at 5:30 p.m.
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WEST CENTRAL VALLEY 11, WOODWARD-GRANGER 1 (6)
at Granger, June 16
Team R H E
WCV 440 102 — 11 10 0
W-G 001 000 — 1 3 3
WCV: Kearns and Arnburg. W-G: Bodermann (1.2), Larson (3.1), Lande (1) and Pierce. WP: Kearns. LP: Bodermann. 2B — WCV: Badker, Draper. LOB — WCV: 4; W-G: 2.
