In the Media: Huskies sweep spring break tournament

AURORA — The North Marion baseball team tallied a pair of come-from-behind victories and a five-inning no-hitter by senior hurler Kip Pearson to earn a sweep of the Huskies’ spring break tournament on Tuesday and Wednesday at Bob Brack Field.

Pearson led the Huskies (4-1 overall) to a 10-0 win over Marshfield on the first day of action with a masterful performance on the hill, to go along with a 2 for 2 day at the plate with a double and two runs scored.

Senior catcher Ian Moore added three RBIs and two runs scored, while also going 2 for 2.

Pearson needed just 51 pitches for the no-hitter, as he recorded five strikeouts and 10 outs on ground balls.

“I like those kinds of efforts,” said North Marion coach Randy Brack, who noted Pearson’s pitch location and efficient approach as keys to the outing. “He made it fun to play behind him.”

In allowing no walks, Pearson was just one errant throw away from a five-inning perfect game, said Brack.

Meanwhile, in the morning session of the same day, senior lefty Adam Hayden picked up the win with a drastically different type of outing.

Hayden tossed six innings, while allowing just one run, to set the tone for North Marion’s 5-3 win over Yamhill-Carlton, but needed over 100 pitches to complete the feat. He struck out 10, while walking five and allowing two hits.

While Hayden got the job done, Brack said he threw far too many pitches and put many hitters in full-count situations.

“Sooner or later, you’re asking for trouble,” said Brack.

North Marion broke up the Tigers’ bid for a no-hitter in the fifth inning, as the Huskies broke out for a five-run inning that turned out to the deciding factor in the game.

Senior third baseman Chandler Willcuts continued to be North Marion’s most consistent offensive player, driving in a pair of runs with a double in the decisive fifth inning, and carried his hot streak over into Wednesday’s 9-4 win over Central.

Willcuts was 5 for 10 at the plate for the tournament with four RBIs and two stolen bases and has now hit safely in all four games he’s started.

Last season, the Huskies’ only glaring weakness was their inconsistency at the plate, with the team scoring two runs or less seven times during the year.

“I’d like to say we’re quite a bit better than we were last year, but I’d still like to be better than we are,” said Brack.

He likes seeing hitters being more aggressive at the plate, taking better swings and going up to bat with a purpose and a plan, but also said the Huskies need that from their full lineup on a more regular basis.

“Chandler Willcuts is probably swinging the bat better than anybody right now,” he said. “We’ve got to have some of the guys catch that fire that he’s burning. Other guys have been kind of hot and cold. We need some consistency.”

The Huskies fell behind the Panthers 4-0 in the first inning, but slowly worked their way back into the game and finally taking the lead on a Danny Robles double that drove in Spencer Beachy.

Meanwhile, Beachy kept Central at bay, pitching five innings of shutout ball while scattering three hits.

“Spencer Beachy did just a marvelous job for us and we played good defense behind him,” said Brack.

Brack called North Marion’s game against Central one of the team’s best complete game efforts of the season.

This week, North Marion hosts Astoria on Tuesday, in a rematch of last year’s Class 4A quarterfinals, followed by a road game against Willamette on Thursday.

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