Rangers Drop Four-Game Set Against Lower Columbia
The Olympic Rangers opened the weekend at home, hosting Lower Columbia for a Saturday doubleheader, but were unable to fend off the Red Devils' offense, falling in both contests. Game 1 saw the Red Devils jump out to an early lead, scoring 11 unanswered runs in the first 5 innings, but OC responded with a 4-spot in the 6th with clutch singles from sophomore David Matthew and freshman Seamus Brown. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late for the Rangers and they fell, 15-4. Matthew added a couple more hits, going 3 for 3 in the game with 2 RBI. Starting freshman, Itsuki Fukuda, the pride of Matsue, Japan, got beat around a bit, giving up 9 earned runs in 3 innings pitched.
In Game 2, the Rangers kept it close in a low-scoring affair but ultimately dropped a 3-1 decision. Hits were sparce for the Rangers, with their only run coming off an error. On the mound, sophomore ace Nicho Crowley and freshman Nathan Burke combined to allow just three hits and kept Olympic in the game until the final out.
The series shifted to Lower Columbia on Sunday, but the Rangers' bats remained quiet. In Game 3, a strong start from sophomore Silas Stenerson was not enough in a narrow 4-2 loss. Olympic threatened in the 5th, with an RBI from freshman Alex Elton, but couldn't complete the rally. Sophomore Tyler Harris's double in the 2nd scored Matthew and was the offensive highlight of the game of OC.
Game 4 was all Red Devils as the Rangers were held scoreless in a 12-0 loss. The Rangers managed just five hits in the finale, and early runs proved costly for the Ranger. Despite the weekend sweep, the Rangers showed flashes of competitive play and will look to shake off the current 6-game slide heading into the heart of league play.
Next up: Olympic heads to Tacoma for a Friday doubleheader starting at high noon, then host the Titans here at Legion Field on Saturday.
Saturday, Game 1: Rangers 4, Lower Columbia 15
Offense: 4 runs [Imai, Harris, Shaffer, Batalona], 6 hits [Matthew (3)], 4 RBI [Matthew (2)], 6 walks [Castro, Harris, Imai, Shaffer, Ahn, Hecker].
Defense: 7 IP [Fukuda (3), Nicholson (3), Sekihara (0.1), Richey (0.2)], 12 earned runs [Fukuda (9), Nicholson (1), Sekihara (2)], 10 hits allowed [Fukuda (7), Nicholson (2), Sekihara (1)], 5 strikeouts [Fukuda (1), Nicholson (3), Sekihara (1)], 7 walks allowed [Fukuda (3), Nicholson (2), Sekihara (2)], 4 errors [Imai, Shaffer, Loverink, Brown]
Saturday, Game 2: Rangers 1, Lower Columbia 3
Offense: 1 run [Hecker], 3 hits [Brown, Hecker, Imai], 1 RBI [Harris], 2 walks [Matthew, Castro]
Defense: 7 IP [Crowley (6), Burke (1)], 1 earned run [Crowley], 3 hits allowed [Crowley], 3 strikeouts [Crowley], 6 walks allowed [Crowley (5)], 2 errors [Matthew, Corpuz]
Sunday, Game 1: Rangers 2, Lower Columbia 4
Offense: 2 runs [Matthew, Shafer], 4 hits [Hecker, Harris, Elton, Shafer], 2 RBIs [Harris, Elton], 2 walks [Matthew, Elton]
Defense: 8 IP [Stenerson (7.0), Tordiffe (1.0)], 3 earned runs [Stenerson (2), Tordiffe (1)], 7 hits allowed [Stenerson (5), Tordiffe (2)], 4 strikeouts [Stenerson], 4 walks allowed [Stenerson], 1 error [Stenerson]
Sunday, Game 2: Rangers 0, Lower Columbia 12
Offense: 5 hits [Shaffer, Matthew, Loverink, Corpuz, Castro], 4 walks [Putman (2), Hecker, Angelos]
Defense: 4 IP [Spitzer (0.2), Burke (2.0), Tordiffe (0.1), Richey (1.0)], 10 earned runs [Spitzer (4), Burke (1), Tordiffe (4), Richey (1)], 7 hits allowed [Spitzer (2), Burke (1), Tordiffe (3), Richey (1)] 5 strikeouts [Spitzer (1), Burke (1), Tordiffe (1), Richey (2)], 11 walks allowed [Spitzer (4), Burke (3), Tordiffe (2), Richey (2)], 2 errors [Castro, Shaffer]
