North Marion exhibits season-defining fight in play-in loss
SCAPPOOSE, Ore. - What other ending could we have expected? All season long the North Marion baseball team has been channeling their passion and pride into placing a good product on the baseball field, and they ended the 2012 regular season in the same fashion. Although the "underdog" tag could be placed on the team in this contest for sure, the team played better than outsiders thought possible and surpassed all expectations as they have done for most of the season.
Thursday's play-in contest at Scappoose got off to a solid start on the Huskies' side of things, as Zach Williamson and Brandan Hopper - two of the biggest senior leaders on this year's squad - broke the ice with base hits to get the ball rolling for North Marion. Even though the Huskies did not score in the inning, it did ramp up the momentum early on in the game.
As the team's took the field for warmups prior to the first pitch, you could tell that the field conditions may come into play. Scappoose's uneven infield made bad, awkward hops a normality in warmups, and that translated into the game also. The Huskies were hurt by the marginal field early on, as the Indians' first run in the first inning was scored after a routine ground ball to shortstop took a nasty hop and gave Scappoose the 1-0 lead.
North Marion looked at the one run deficit and took that as a challenge to post scores of their own, and they did so. Emry Patterson - the lone freshman in the lineup - got the inning started as he singled to right field. A drawn walk by the starting pitcher, Brock Breshears, placed runners on first and second for Kyle Williamson. Kyle pulled through with arguably the most impressive hit of the day, as a ball deep down the right field line resulted in a three-bagger and the Huskies' first two runs of the game. Zach did mop-up duty as he drove in his younger brother with a single to shallow left. The three second-inning hits gave way to a 3-1 North Marion lead.
Scappoose responded with three unearned runs in the second, and an additional run in the third to take a 5-3 lead.
North Marion hit the comeback trail again in the fourth inning. With Brock Breshears at second, Kyle Williamson came through again - this time with a double to deep left-center field. Zach gained an RBI by scoring Kyle once again when he doubled to right-center field. The two runs prompted a Scappoose pitching change, but by that point the Huskies had already tied the game at five apiece.
With the bases loaded for Scappoose in the fourth, Spencer Beachy was brought in to pitch. On one of the most exciting plays of the season, a line drive was hit at Spencer. The hard-hit ball was gloved by Beachy, and he promptly turned and threw over to third to get the force out on the de facto double play to end Scappoose's threat. This outstanding play by yet another important senior led the Huskies to their first shutout inning of the game.
Both of the clubs struggled to get anything major going offensively through the next few innings, and the game moved into extras. It was a emotion-straining three innings of baseball as the ups and downs were almost unbearable for those in attendance. You're up to bat and you feel as if the momentum is on your side, and then three outs are recorded and you're holding on by a thread as you hope to live to see another inning. This cycle played itself out from the last few innings of regulation into the extra innings.
Scappoose finally broke through in the bottom of the tenth when a double followed by a single scored a run for the Indians, as they walked off 6-5 victors over the Huskies.
An image that is hard to digest in any form of high school athletics is the seniors walking off the field for the last time. Baseball being in the third and final season of the school year makes it all the more difficult. Seniors Zach Williamson, Brandan Hopper, Spencer Beachy, Danny Robles, and Brandan Hopper did a great job of setting examples for their younger teammates all season long, showing them the right way to play the game and handing off the baton to these younger athletes - who will be the heart and soul of the program in years to come.
Zach Williamson highlighted the Huskies' day offensively with his 4/5 day from the plate - a great way for Zach to end his successful high school athletic career. Brandan Hopper's final day in a North Marion uniform did not represent what he brought through his years of contribution to the baseball program, as though he only went 1/5 in this game, he will be remembered as an emotional and vocal leader which led by his actions and by his words. Spencer Beachy ended his baseball career at North Marion on a high note - pitching the final six innings of the game while only allowing one run. His resume on the day also included one of the best plays to be made all season. Danny Robles, although his numbers from the plate were not where he wanted them to be on the day, played solid at third base - making some great plays that most players would not be able to make. Brandon Royal ended his career with one at bat, but he was still happy to offer his advice and experience-related knowledge to the younger members of the team in the dugout throughout the ten-inning contest.
The future of North Marion Baseball also had a big impact on the game. Kyle Williamson had three RBIs in his leadoff role off of two extra base hits. Brock Breshears did a solid job on the mound, matching Scappoose's starter punch-by-punch in the opening three innings.
Most teams say they were better than their record, but this phrase was true to this year's team, evidenced by competing in 11 one or two run contests and taking the Cowapa League Champions to 10 innings in the final game of the season. This was the only time that the No. 3-rated Indians have been taken to extra innings all year. Despite taking in yet another disappointing, heartbreaking loss on the season, there was a feeling of satisfaction around the team, as they left all they have to offer on the diamond in the final game of the season, and for some, the final game of their career.