Celtics running drills during practice – Photo by Logan Turbes of Keizertimes
McNary’s baseball team took a disappointing trip to Medford Saturday, April 2, losing a double-header to South Medford High School 4-10, and 2-8, and then losing to North Medford, 4-5, on April 5. Going into that road trip, the boys baseball team had enjoyed a four-game winning streak, beating both Roseburg High School, 8-5, and North Medford, 6-4, to finish their participation in the Pendleton Tournament on April 22 and 23. They returned home for a non-league game against Reynolds, winning 11-8 on March 28, and they beat Crescent Valley High School, 9-1, on March 30.
The two big wins for the team in their non-league play were these last two games. Quinn Bach led the team offensively in the Reynolds matchup, going 2-for-3 with a double. Zane Aicher got on base – and scored – three times. Hayden Kaiser was able to get on base four times and scored four runs in the game. The team benefitted from 10 walks and two hit batters (no injuries reported).
“We did commit two errors defensively,” said McNary Head Baseball Coach Larry Keeker. “But overall we continued to play solid defense.”
Logan Ready, the team’s starting pitcher, was credited with the win. Kaiser, Carter Hawley and Eben Mayer also contributed on the mound.
The win against Crescent Valley on March 30 saw Kaiser, Mayer and Ben Allen each getting multiple hits, and pitcher Jake Allen was only two outs away from a complete game, striking out nine batters against three walks and four hits.
“That game was probably our most complete game of the year, up to that point,” said Keeker. “Strong pitching, solid defense, good base running, and a higher percentage of quality at-bats.”
