Season-high 16 hits propel Huskies to big win
AURORA - North Marion used a season high of 16 hits and 13 runs to come away with a victory over the struggling and undermanned Stayton Eagles on Monday at Bob Brack Stadium.
Monday's 13-3 win ensured that North Marion (11-11, 9-4) will keep their two-game hold of second place over Cascade in the Oregon West Conference standings. Stayton (7-14, 4-9) dropped their fourth consecutive game by a double-digit margin.
The Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two-run homer by catcher Hunter Gates. The Huskies split the deficit in half in the bottom of the first, picking up a run on back-to-back hits by Emry Patterson and Jordan Kendall.
Stayton sustained their 2-1 lead through the second inning until North Marion's offense broke the game open with six runs in the third and five runs in the fourth.
Over the course of the third and fourth innings, the Huskies recorded 11 runs on 11 hits while Stayton committed five errors. All nine North Marion batters collected a base hit in either the third or fourth inning.
Run-scoring hits in the third and fourth innings came off the bats of Dylan Doubrava twice, Nat Barrell, Colin Barrow, Josiah Ramon, Patterson, and Kendall.
Trailing 12-2 entering the fifth inning, Stayton scored a run to prolong the game one more half-inning.
The Huskies closed the door on the Eagles when Patterson doubled to score McKillip and put an end to the game via the the ten-run rule.
North Marion's 16 hits were the most since a 17-hit outburst vs. Molalla on April 30, 2013. The eight doubles were the most since stats have been archived in 2010. The Huskies also recorded season highs in runs (13) and total bases (24).
McKillip and Patterson highlighted the Huskies flashy box score with three hits and two doubles apiece. Kendall, Doubrava, and Barrell also recorded multi-hit days.
Kendall (5-2, 4.20) struck out seven, allowed five hits, and walked five Eagles.
Coupled with a Philomath loss on Monday, North Marion's victory ensured them a spot in the play-in round as they can finish no worse than third in the Oregon West Conference. The Huskies have two chances to clinch the second place spot and a home play-in game with a win on Wednesday or Friday.
Next up for the Huskies is a trip to the league-leading Newport Cubs who can clinch a conference championship with a win on Wednesday. North Marion can keep their league title hopes alive should they steal a game from the Cubs on the Oregon Coast. First pitch is set for 4:30pm from Frank Wade Field in Newport.