Badger Baseball claims third straight league title with sweep of Tigers
The Badger baseball team were trailing 4 – 1 and down to their last two outs when they put up 7 runs in the top of the 7th inning to stage an 8-4 victory in game one over the Timberlake Tigers in IML play. They went on to beat the Tigers 19-3 in game two to secure their 3rd straight league title.
GAME 1
Bonners Ferry – 8 Timberlake – 4
Pinch hitter Mason Eby started the seventh inning off with a single to right and took advantage of three straight walks and two Tiger errors for the 8-4 comeback win over Timberlake.
The Badgers scored a run in the first inning on a RBI double from Shayne Walker scoring Nick Sabin. Timberlake went ahead 2 – 1 in the third inning after the leadoff hitter reached on a walk and later scored on a RBI single. The second run scored on a RBI double from Logan McDonald. Timberlake added a run in the bottom of the 4th inning on another walk and one more in the 6th inning to take the lead 4 – 1 heading into the 7th inning. The Badgers couldn’t buy a hit and the Tigers were playing to win knocking down balls and catching deep fly balls.
In the top of the 7th inning, after Eby’s single, Brady Bateman hit into a fielder’s choice and Eby was out at second. Chris Sabin hit a single and his brother reached on an error from the left fielder. Walker, Jesse Dunham and Seth Bateman all reached on walks to load the bases. Kevin Gray then hit a sacrifice fly to right field. From there, both Bateman’s and Sabin’s, Walker, Dunham and Stockton all scored to rally back for the win.
Chris Sabin came in to pitch in the 5th inning to record the victory while striking out 5 and walking two. Dunham started the game and struck out five and walked three.
GAME 2
Bonners Ferry – 18
Timberlake – 3
(5 innings)
The Badgers erupted for four runs in the first inning and 9 runs in the second inning to cruise to a 19 – 3 victory in game 2.
Bonners Ferry had 17 hits including doubles from Chris Sabin and Kevin Gray while Nick Sabin blasted his third home run of the season over the 376 foot marker in left center. Nick Sabin, Kevin Gray and Kaleb Stockton all went 3 for 3 in the game while Chris Sabin and Jesse Dunham went 2 for 3. Four Badger pitchers contributed to the win with Brady Bateman picking up his 2nd win of the season while striking out four and walking only one.
The Badgers improved their overall record to 14-2 and 7-0 in IML play.
Bonners Ferry will host the 2017 Intermountain League District Tournament Monday & Tuesday, May 8th & 9th. The Badgers will play Monday afternoon at 4:00pm with the winner advancing to the District Title game on Tuesday at 4:30pm.