The Sweet Home High School baseball team is continuing to grind its way through a series with seventh-ranked Philomath, with one win and one loss and a third game on pause.
After beating Philomath 11-7 April 1, the Huskies traveled to Philomath Wednesday, April 3, and lost 11-5.
They started their third game, reaching the fourth inning and trailing 2-0 before it was called for rain.
In the second game, “we scored four early,” said Coach John Best. “They bounced back and scored five in the bottom of the second.”
Philomath had a lefty, junior Brian McClelland, on the mound, Best said.
“He was tough. He was good. He was on. He threw hard, striking us out seven times.”
Sweet Home got going at the plate in the top of the second, with Colton Smith walking and Aiden Tyler singling. Cole Mizsei singled on a ground ball to right field to score Smith and advance Tyler to third. Gavin Nichols knocked in Tyler and advanced Mizsei on a single. Zach Zanona reached on an error at shortstop, bringing home Mizsei. Nate Virtue scored Nichols on a fielder’s choice.
Philomath began scoring on a pair of walks and a single by Marshall Brattain, batting in McClelland.
Philomath piled on another four runs on two hits an error and a sac fly.
Smith scored on a walk by Zanona to tie the game 5-5 in the top of the third, but Philomath got ahead again, 7-5, on a walk, two singles and a sac fly in the bottom of the fourth. Philomath added another three runs in the fifth and one ore in the sixth.
Sweet Home collected five hits on the game led by Tyler who went 2-3 with a run. Smith, Mizsei and Nichols each singled, Mizsei and Nichols with an RBI and a run and Smith with two runs.
Cameron Ordway led at bat for Philomath, going 3-5 with an RBI and a run.
Virtue got the start for the Huskies, giving up seven hits, five earned runs and three walks while striking out one. In 2 2/3 innings, Tyler struck out two, giving up five walks, four earned runs and two walks.
McClelland struck out seven Huskies and gave up four hits, four earned runs and six walks in 4 2/3 innings. Brandon Vogler finished, striking out three and giving up one hit.
The two teams started their third game at Philomath although it was technically counted as a Sweet Home home game.
Philomath scored two in the top of the third to take the lead. The game ended as Nate Jeppsen was injured diving for a fly ball in the outfield. Best said he will be sidelined for a while.
As the Huskies were subbing in Dawson Armstrong, the rain started, Best said. The two teams waited 45 minutes before pausing it. Best is hoping to resume it in the top of the fourth at home Saturday.
Sweet Home was ranked sixth and Philomath seventh Monday afternoon. They are tied for second in the Oregon West Conference, each with a 4-1 record. Newport is in first place with a 6-0 record. Cascade, 3-0, is in fourth. Woodburn, Stayton and Sisters are winless in league.
Sweet Home was scheduled to begin its Stayton Series at home Monday, with games at Stayton Wednesday and at home 4 p.m. Thursday.
The Huskies have a bye next week and are scheduled for a non-league contest at Valley Catholic April 18.
Sweet Home 041 000 0 – 5 5 2
Philomath 050 231 x – 11 12 3