McNary pitcher Alex Simpson went four innings in the Celtics 10-loss to West Albany (KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings).
McNary could only muster one hit on the evening as the Celtics D1 summer ball team team fell to West Albany 10-0 in six innings on Wednesday, July 3.
Despite the offensive woes throughout the contest, McNary still had great opportunities in almost every inning.
After one-out walks from Alex Simpson and Eric Olsen, the Celtics couldn’t cash in as Griffen Hubbard fanned and Erik Sorenson grounded to the pitcher to end the top of the first.
Simpson, who got the start on the mound for McNary, gave up a early run but retired the next three hitters to get out of trouble.
Even with a pair of errors in the frame, Simpson was on the verge of getting out of trouble again. But with two outs and the bases loaded, Simpson beamed a West Albany hitter with an 0-2 change-up to bring in a run. He would also issue free passes to the next two hitters, putting the Bulldogs on top 4-0.
The Celtics string of missed opportunities continued in the top of the third as, for the third consecutive frame, McNary had a runner in scoring position but couldn’t cash in.
West Albany took advantage in the bottom half of the frame with a two-out, RBI-single, extending their lead to 5-0. Simpson, however, was able to throw a scoreless fourth frame, which ended up being his final inning of work.
Simpson was replaced on the mound by Logan Ready, who threw a scoreless inning in the bottom of the fifth.
McNary’s best chance to push one across came in the top of the sixth when Olsen legged out an infield single for the Celtics only hit of the game. Olsen advanced to third when the throw to try and get him at first sailed into right field.
But with a runner 90 feet away, both Hubbard and Sorenson struck out. Mayer then flew out to right field as the Celtics were turned away once again.
The Bulldogs struck for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game early via run-rule.
McNary’s D1 team plays in the McMinnville Tournament this weekend. Their next summer league game will be at North Salem at 5 p.m.
