By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

SALEM, Ore.– Blanchet got the hits and runs when they needed them the most in their 4-0 win over Dayton in 3A Special District 1 Baseball action Monday afternoon at Blanchet Catholic School.

The Pirates Michael Freeborn and the Cavaliers paced another in the opening two innings before Luke Holland broke the 0-0 with two outs in the bottom of the third inning with a 2RBI single.  It was the lone RBI hit of the inning as the Dayton got Hunter Archer stealing third on a throw-down.

“I thought we did pretty good since we held them to four runs.  I think we can compete with teams like that, we just got to work a little bit more and show it a little bit more,” the Pirates Nate Arce said.  “We got to get the ball in play more and be more aggressive.

The Cavs picked up a run in the fourth inning off a bases-loaded walk and a lead-off home run by Sam Schindler to start the fifth inning to extend the lead to 4-0 as freshman Drew Bartels threw a 93-pitch complete game. 

In the sixth inning however, the Pirates got two on base with two outs, but struggle to break by the stronghold Bartels and company had on the Dayton bats Monday.

“Our defense was really great.  It was really nice to pitch to contact and know that my defense is going to help me out,” Bartels said. “Which is nice and let’s me focus on my pitching.  Our defense was great, and our hitting got better, I still think it can get better, but it was good enough to win this game.”

Bartels struck out eight in the effort as Blanchet opened the week with a win entering Tuesday’s league game with Amity on the road.  Bartels also went 2-for-3 at the plate.  Holland led the team with 2RBI’s.

Freeborn (4) and Dylan Yates (2) combined to strike out six pitching with the squad traveling to Willamina Tuesday to play the Bulldogs.  Gavin Koch, Kyle Troutman, Yates and Arce each had a hit for the Pirates in the defeat.

Photos By Jeremy McDonald