The lineup gets written and even W.F. West’s Jesse Elam is marveled by the amount of left-handed hitters he’s got. For most games, seven of the nine spots are occupied by lefties. He had six in Thursday’s lineup.
“It is ridiculous,” the Bearcats head coach said. “Put the guys in the best position to be successful is all we’re trying to do.”
So when Rochester trotted out a left-handed reliever in Ethan Rodriguez, it was a way to potentially neutralize W.F. West’s lineup.
Elam’s message, before the season started, were three words when asked about the potential challenges of lefty-lefty matchups.
“Get over it,” he stated.
Short, sweet and to the point. Kind of like how the Bearcats took care of their former league rival during spring break.
Thanks to constant pressure on the basepaths and a five-run third inning, W.F. West ran its winning streak to eight games with an 11-1, five-inning victory over Rochester on a picture perfect afternoon at Bearcat Stadium.
Since an 8-5 setback to 4A Camas in the season-opener, the Bearcats (8-1) have put up double digit runs in six games, including three in a row. They have traditionally used spring break as a way to stay loose and play one game before the grind of the Evergreen Conference slate begins.
Elam estimated 12-to-15 players came on Monday to get live BP and tosses in.
“That’s what it takes to have a championship-type club,” he said.
The momentum train didn’t slow down on Thursday.
Gage Wiens and Hudson McCallum capped a four-run bottom of the first with RBI knocks. Rodriguez was brought in at the third inning and McCallum kickstarted the frame with a leadoff triple just over the centerfielder’s glove.
Reece Marquez, Wyatt Hoffman, Hiroto Smaciarz, Connor Coleman and Beckman Dvorak – the other lefties in the lineup – joined McCallum in reaching base versus the Idaho football recruit.
“It is tough for our lineup, it is not easy,” McCallum said. “We know we’re going to see lefties later on and got to take advantage of our opportunities now. A lot of confidence in our guys.”
W.F. West took advantage of seven Rochester errors, drew seven walks and were plunked twice. Alex Stafford had three RBIs while Hoffman and Smaciarz crossed home two times each.
“When they give it to us, we have to take it,” Elam said. “I like where we’re at right now.”
Warriors head coach Brad Quarnstrom had this contest circled as a "measuring stick” game. The bevy of defensive miscues didn’t help.
Two of the errors were pickoff attempts from catcher Wyatt Dahl to third baseman Ruger Culp that sailed into left field.
“I knew it was going to be a tough game, but I did not expect that,” Quarnstrom said. “That was as bad as we can play and hopefully it is out of our system and we never play that bad again. (Dahl) was looking for a way to get outs and we needed to get outs.”
McCallum went three innings and wiggled out of jams each time. He left runners in scoring position in the first and second, then got an unassisted double play on a Stafford diving catch at first base.
“That was one of my favorite plays,” McCallum said. “Kind of a big thing is to breathe and let the game come to you.”
Rochester loaded the bases with zero outs in the third and only scratched across one run.
“That changes the complexity of the game,” Quranstrom said. “For whatever reason the Baseball Gods, when you’re not playing well, they punish you even more. You’re not going to get those breaks.”
Rodriguez led the Warriors (6-2) with two hits and Tayden Martin had the lone RBI. They will host University Prep on Friday before returning to league play with a home doubleheader versus Elma on Tuesday.
“Tomorrow is a new day and come with the enthusiasm to get after it,” Quarnstrom said. “We need some guys to step up, their energy level and their fight. I'm not overly worried, just got to play better.”
W.F. West now transitions into three EvCo games a week, starting with Black Hills on Tuesday. It will take on Tumwater on Friday and then face Aberdeen for a two-game set next week.
“It was good to keep rolling,” McCallum said. “Big confidence booster today. We’re gonna see some tough pitching next week.”
