Huskies need 7th inning to sink Estacada, 7-6

AURORA, Ore. - On the hottest day of the 2012 Calendar Year to date, the Estacada Rangers headed to Bob Brack Stadium for yet another Tri-Valley Conference matchup on Monday night. Quite a bit of offense was on display at the ballpark as the two clubs combined for 19 hits. North Marion held their biggest lead at 6-3 heading into the seventh inning, when Estacada struck for three runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game. However, the Huskies recovered from the Rangers surprising comeback to defeat Estacada 7-6.

In the top of the first, the Rangers advanced a runner all the way to third before North Marion starting pitcher Wyatt Moore recorded the third out. The Huskies did not take long to get on the board hit-wise or run-wise. Kyle Williamson led off the game for North Marion with a double to deep left-center field. Zach Williamson followed up behind him, and got the bunt sign from Coach Brack. Zach did not only get the bunt down, he also used his breakout speed to reach first safely on a perfectly executed bunt play. Wyatt Moore - who had a decent day on the mound but an outstanding day from the plate - put his first at bat of the game to good use, as Kyle Williamson scored on the suicide squeeze bunt play, plating North Marion's first run.

The Huskies' offense continued in the bottom of the third, where the game was tied 1-1. Brandan Hopper began North Marion's offense when he belted a ball to the warning track in deep left field, advancing two bases on the double. With Hopper on third after a steal, Moore picked up his first hit of the day with an RBI-single through the hole at shortstop. A few batters later, Danny Robles followed up with a base hit to the same location, scoring Moore. The two runs off of three hits put the Huskies in front 3-1.

Another noteworthy offensive inning came in the fifth. Zach Williamson started off the inning with a single, and worked his way around the bases on stolen bases. When Zach was on third, Hopper singled to left-center to drive home Zach, and give the 'good guys' a 4-3 lead. A steal and a balk, respectively, advanced Hopper around the bases. And then on a play which is beginning to be Wyatt's signature, he sent home Hopper off of yet another suicide squeeze bunt, giving North Marion a 5-3 lead. The Huskies, who struck for four hits in the fifth, added another run in the sixth when Moore placed a ball perfectly down the left field line, staying just fair and scoring Hopper - who had reached on a single himself. Through six innings, the Huskies held a 6-3 lead.

Spencer Beachy - who was on the mound in relief of Moore - mowed through the Estacada lineup in his first inning, the sixth, when it took him just four pitches to retire the side. The top of the seventh was looking to be reminiscent of that sixth when the first two Rangers' were sat down with ease. But in a Rangers' two-out rally which consisted of three hits along with the help of two critical Husky errors, Estacada came back to tie the game at six.

The shocking turn of events left the Huskies disheartened because of the fact that they couldn't close out the game, but that meant even more motivation to pull it out in the seventh. North Marion did not need a seventh-inning hit to win the game, as the Rangers helped the Huskies throughout the entire inning. Robles was walked and behind him came Nat Barrell, who attempted to sacrifice bunt Danny over to second, but reached base himself on a wild throw. This lone Estacada error propelled Robles all the way to third. A major passed ball allowed Robles to score from third - even after a little hesitation - and the Huskies came away as 7-6 victors.

An overall "good" day offensively by the team was highlighted by Zach Williamson, Hopper, and Moore. Brandan recorded three hits on the day and was accountable for touching home three of the seven times for North Marion. Wyatt Moore had a solid day, not only recording two hits but suicide bunting two runners home also. Moore finished with four RBIs. Zach also had two hits to round out the multi-hit Husky performances. Single-hit stat lines came from Kyle Williamson, Beachy, Roles, and Barrell. As a team, North Marion used eleven hits to tally the seven runs.

Wyatt also got the nod on the mound for North Marion, and he went five full innings. Moore was replaced after throwing 86 pitches due to the amount of work he has seen in his last two starts in addition to the busy upcoming schedule. Wyatt allowed five hits, two earned runs, and four walks while striking out two. Beachy - in relief - pitched two innings and allowed three hits. Three runs scored during his tenure on the mound; none of which were earned. Spencer also struck out two batters on his 24-pitch day. Even though the pitching was solid, the defense had trouble backing them up. Wyatt was in a position to win, but the tie of the game in the seventh inning and the Huskies' reclaiming of the lead granted Beachy the win on the mound. Five North Marion errors - the highest of the season yet - greatly contributed to Estacada's offense throughout the entire game.

North Marion heads to Estacada to play these same Rangers on Wednesday afternoon. As has been the case so far in the league season, the Huskies seem to have played better on the road, and the team obviously hopes that continues. First pitch Wednesday is scheduled for 5 p.m. Follow all the action live via the Twitter feed (@nmbaseball) or on the website (www.nmbaseball.webs.com).

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