Broncos trample Bulldogs

The Broncos are being cautious since it is early in the season, but a 4-0 start is a nice way to begin the spring baseball season. Especially when it includes a double thumping of the Colfax Bulldogs in the league openers.

The Broncos won 11-2 and 19-8 Saturday over the Bulldogs in games played in Ritzville. The contests were originally slated to be at Colfax.

Head coach Jason Aldrich was smiling as he talked about the wins, but cautious. He expects the Bulldogs to improve throughout the season and he knows the Broncos are going to face tough opponents in the coming weeks after the spring break.

Saturday, Jake Dewald took the mound for the opener, hurling four strike outs with just three walks and allowing only two hits in five innings. Aaron Hayes came on the close out the final two innings in relief.

“Our pitchers threw strikes and theirs didn’t,” Aldrich said. “Jake was pretty efficient and around the plate all day. Our offense executed really well and we were really patient hitters. We didn’t strand many guys who were in scoring position.”

The tone was set early when Dylan Hartz smacked a solo shot lead off home run on a 2-1 count.

Palmer Phillips had the loudest bat of the day. In the first outing he drilled four of five attempts including two doubles for four RBI. His second double came with the bases loaded.

Hayes went two for four with a double and two RBI. Dewald added a double and was two for four.

The second game saw Tyler Frederick take the mound. The young hurler struggled with his control and came out with one out in the fourth inning. He struck out two, walked five and gave up six hits. When he left the game, the Broncos were coasting with a 14-4 lead.

Tyler Greenwalt came in for one inning and after getting just one out, was replaced by Hayes for two innings. Johnny Hernandez closed out the game in the seventh inning.

Bryson O’Neill was three for four with an RBI and two stolen bases. Hartz was two for three with a stolen base.

Dewald finished one for four with three RBI. Phillips went one for two with a double and three more RBIs for the day.

On Tuesday, March 20, the Broncos delivered Odessa-Harrington with a pair of losses, 13-4 and 15-10.

Dewald gathered the pitching win in the first game, going four innings with three strike outs and one hit.

Frederick started the second game on the mound and Hartz came on in relief.

The OH pitchers struggled with control in both games. They gave up 15 walks in the first game and followed with 16 in the second.