Grays Harbor baseball faced a challenging stretch of games, starting with a tough loss to the Walla Walla Warriors in the first game of a doubleheader, which ended in an 18-5 defeat. Errors played a significant role in the outcome, as only seven of the Warriors' 18 runs were earned. Despite this, the Chokers received solid pitching performances from Andrew Wells, Kobe Frazier, Luca Fazio, and Braden Ellis, who combined to allow zero earned runs in their innings. Offensively, Grays Harbor struggled, managing just three hits while scoring five runs.
The second game of the doubleheader proved to be a heart breaker, with the Chokers falling 5-4 after losing a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning. A combination of two hits, two walks, and a hit by pitch allowed Walla Walla to score three runs and walk off with the victory. Coach Eccles was proud of his team's effort, emphasizing that it was a much better game than the first. "We showed that we can compete with good teams. I'm so proud of Diego and Skylar for getting us into the ninth with the lead! That's two weeks in a row they combined to pitch well," he said.
The Chokers then traveled to face Big Bend Vikings, where they struggled in the first game, losing 10-0. Mathew Alexander pitched a solid four innings, giving up only three runs, but the team was unable to generate much offense, collecting just two hits. The Vikings took advantage of Grays Harbor's lack of production, ultimately securing the shutout.
In the second game against Big Bend, the Chokers lost 13-3. Despite the score, there were positives to take away from the game. Kobe Frazier had a solid outing at the plate, going 2-4 with a double. Carson Anderson came in as a reliever and pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing only four hits and two earned runs while striking out four batters and walking none. Coach Eccles noted that despite the final score, the game was closer than it seemed. "We were down 8-3 in the seventh and eighth, and we left five runners on base. We were a hit or two away from tying this game up late in the game. The score didn't indicate how close this game really was," he reflected.
Despite the tough losses, the Chokers are showing growth as they compete against tough teams. With improved pitching performances and a few players stepping up, there are signs of progress. Coach Eccles remains optimistic, acknowledging the team's continued development as they look forward to future match ups.
