The Grays Harbor College baseball team opened its season with a dramatic victory over Centralia as we take a look at the local sports action from Easter weekend.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Grays Harbor 6, Centralia 5
Nolan Baugher's double in extra innings gave the Grays Harbor Chokers a dramatic come-from-behind, walk-off victory in the opening game of a doubleheader against Centralia on Saturday at Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam. Baugher drove Centralia right-hander Colby Knutzen's 2-0 pitch the the left-center field gap with the bases loaded. After Preston Vine and Aiden McMurdo crossed the plate with the Chokers' fourth and fifth runs, Grays Harbor second baseman Chase Cleveringa slid home to beat the relay throw to the plate, giving the Chokers the 6-5 victory and setting off a celebration on the infield as Baugher was surrounded by his teammates.
The play ended what was a wild 10th inning, as Centralia scored two in the top half of the frame to take a seemingly-safe 5-3 lead into bottom of the 10th. Grays Harbor (1-1 overall) opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning on Caleb Berry's two-run double. Centralia (1-1) responded with two runs in the top of the third and took a 3-2 lead the following inning on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Dalton.
Grays Harbor catcher Peyton Brock's solo home run in the bottom of the sixth tied the game at 3-3, where it remained until the 10th inning. Grays Harbor's Cameron Denny (2-3, R) and Caleb Berry (2-4, 2B, 2RBI) had multi-hit games for the Chokers, which had eight hits as a team. Chokers relief pitcher Colin Hoover earned the win, pitching 2-3 of an inning in the top of the 10th. Trevor Barth started for Grays Harbor and took a no decision, allowing three earned runs on two hits, eight strikeouts and three walks in six innings pitched.
Centralia 002 100 000 2 — 5 3 3
Grays Harbor 020 001 000 3 — 6 8 1
Centralia at Grays Harbor - April 3, 2021 - 1:00 PM - Box Score - Northwest Athletic Conference Athletics (nwacsports.com)
Centralia 9, Grays Harbor 1
Grays Harbor fell behind early and never recovered in a 9-1 seven-inning loss to Centralia in the night cap of a double header on Saturday in Hoquiam. Centralia scored four runs in the first inning off Chokers starter Luke Stutesman, who also got into trouble in the fourth. Stutesman allowed seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks while striking out four.
Grays Harbor's lone run came on a Caleb Berry sac fly in the bottom of the fourth inning, cutting Centralia's lead to 7-1. Centralia scratched across insurance runs in both the top of the eighth and ninth innings to secure the victory. Trent Jackson went 3-for-5 with a double and four RBI to lead Centralia. Centralia starter Ayden Ruminski allowed one earned run on three hits over five innings of work to pick up the victory.
Centralia 400 301 1 — 9 10 0
Grays Harbor 000 100 0 — 1 4 1
Centralia at Grays Harbor - April 3, 2021 - 4:00 PM - Box Score - Northwest Athletic Conference Athletics (nwacsports.com)
