May 22, 2008

Broncos’ season ends abruptly in the heat

Photo courtesy of Lori Olson

TOP EIGHT. Lind-Ritzville’s varsity baseball team finishes among the top eight 2B baseball teams in the state last Saturday. They picked up a win over Riverside Christian, but lost their second game to Asotin, ending their bid to play in the second round of the state tournament this weekend.

After making a strong showing throughout the regular season, the Lind-Ritzville Broncos ended their postseason baseball play in the sweltering heat of Walla Walla on Saturday when Asotin bounced them from the single elimination round of state play 11-2.

The Broncos won a 1 p.m. game on Saturday against Riverside Christian, 7-6 in seven innings despite a hard charging last inning effort by their opponent. Both teams scored three runs in the final inning of the game.

Shane Olson picked up the win from the pitcher’s mound against Riverside Christian.

Kyle Heimbigner belted a pair of doubles and Zach Maier recorded a double of his own.

The Broncos opened the game with a run in the first inning, adding three more in the sixth and three again in the seventh.

Riverside Christian scored one in the third, two more in the sixth and three in the seventh.

The Broncos finished with seven runs on 10 hits with two errors.

The second game of the day didn’t go as well for the fatigued Lind-Ritzville team.

After scoring two runs in the first inning, the Broncos were shut down in the six remaining innings while Asotin scored runs in each of the first five innings. Jamie Stevenson was the starting pitcher for the Broncos and ended up with the loss.

Lind-Ritzville scored two runs on seven hits and had three errors. Asotin finished with 11 runs on nine hits and no errors.

They earned a trip to the first round of state play after shutting out Reardan in district play on Monday, May 12, at Whitworth University. The Broncos finished second in district play behind St. George’s.