The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

Raider baseball had an up and down week as they defeated the Pateros Billygoats at Greene Field on March 25, then lost a doubleheader to the Liberty Bell Mountain Lions on Friday at home. The season win-loss record for the Raiders now stands at 4-4 overall and 4-2 in Central Washington North play.

Brady Black pitched five innings, giving up no earned runs, one hit, and four strikeouts in the no decision.

Justus DeWinkler came in to relieve in the top of the sixth, with the Raiders leading 6-0. In two innings on the mound, DeWinkler gave up one earned run and struck out four batters. But the defense did not back up DeWinkler, as the Raiders allowed five runs to score unearned in the last two innings.

With the score tied at 6, the Raiders had one last shot in the bottom of the seventh. They did not let the chance slip away and scored the game-winning run.

Black went four for four and scored four runs. Kendall Piccolo went three for three, batting in two runs. DeWinkler went two for three with a double, two stolen bases and two runs batted in. Chance Garvin went two for one, getting on base a second time by being hit by a pitch. He stole two bases and scored two runs in the Monday game.

The Raiders then had to entertain league-leading Liberty Bell Friday for a doubleheader at Greene Field.

Game one went 11 innings, with the Raiders taking out Liberty Bell’s top pitcher in the third inning. The Raiders were leading 8-5 going into the top of the seventh, when the Mt. Lions put together a three-run rally to push it into extra innings.

“Brady Black almost ended the game in the ninth with a shot that was heading over the fence, and only a fantastic play by the Mountain Lion center fielder saved the game,” Raider Head Coach Ted Piccolo said.

Liberty Bell put together another rally in the top of the 11th inning, scoring two runs to go up 10-8. LR could not answer in the bottom of the inning, giving the win to Liberty Bell.

On the mound for the Raiders in the first game, Black went six and a third innings, allowing five earned runs while striking out five batters. This was another no decision for Black as he left the game with the score knotted up at 8. DeWinkler closed out the last four and two-thirds innings, giving up two earned runs while striking out seven batters.

At the plate, Black went two for four with a double, three stolen bases and an RBI. Kendall Piccolo went three for six and also had an RBI. DeWinkler went two for six with an RBI and two steals. Tim Loch batted two for four with two doubles, two RBIs, and a stolen base.

Game two, played under the lights at Greene Field, started at 9 p.m. due to the late finish of the first.

The Raiders jumped to an early 2-0 lead before their bats went silent and the Mountain Lions put together consecutive two-run innings to win 4-2.

Tim Loch took to the mound and pitched four and a third innings. Loch did not give up a run until the fourth inning. He struck out six batters, and gave up only three earned runs in the loss. Piccolo came in to close pitching two and two-thirds innings, giving up only one hit and striking out four.

Black went one for three at the plate, scoring a run and stealing two bases in game two.

Loch batted one for two, stole three bases, and scored LR’s other run for the game.

The lack of run support sank the Raiders in the second game.

“The Raiders just did not hit under the lights at Greene Field,” Piccolo said. “I am still pleased with our pitching. I still believe we have the best pitching top to bottom of any team in the league; now if we can just eliminate the errors.”

The Raiders return to the diamond on Saturday when they travel to Davenport to take on the Gorillas in a non-league doubleheader at the baseball field north of town on McInnes Road. To get there, take a left at the Davenport IGA and continue on the road out of town, the baseball field will be on your right.