Seniors power Huskies to quarterfinals
LAKE OSWEGO — The North Marion baseball team only needed one hit off of La Grande pitcher Zach Nice to get the job done.
North Marion capitalized on a single by senior Kaj Pearson and eight walks allowed by Nice to defeat La Grande 2-0 in the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs on Wednesday at Lake Oswego High School.
Nice, who recently signed a letter of intent to pitch for the University of Portland, was overpowering, with 12 strikeouts in the game; however, his wildness proved to be his downfall.
Meanwhile, his counterpart, North Marion senior Joe Piercey threw a complete game shutout, while strikout out eight and scattering four hits and two walks.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Pearson busted up Nice’s no-hit bid and the scoreless tie with a clutch, two-out single.
“We knew it was going to be a low-scoring game, low hits,” Pearson said. “We just needed to have good at-bats to make him work and get some runs.”
The win advances North Marion to the Class 4A quarterfinals and a date with top-ranked Astoria at home on Friday at 5 p.m.
Astoria knocked North Marion out of the playoffs last year and went on to win the state title.
For the full story on Wednesday's game, see the Saturday, May 29 issue of the Woodburn Independent.