Bulldogs overpower Sanders County teams
The Whitefish Bulldogs baseball team continued its impressive early-season run with a pair of dominant road victories last week, improving to 4-1 behind an explosive offense and reliable pitching.
On Thursday, the Bulldogs traveled to face the Noxon/Thompson Falls co-op and rolled to a 15-5 win in five innings. The next day, they followed that up with a 23-0 rout of Plains-Hot Springs, ending the game in three innings and allowing just one hit in the shutout.
After falling behind 2-0 through the first inning, Whitefish broke open the game with a nine-run third inning to take full control. The Bulldogs racked up 12 hits in the contest and were led by Tait Orme, who launched a home run and drove in three runs. Drew Queen added a 2-for-3 performance at the plate with a double and two RBIs, while Christian Schwaderer and Carter Godsey each drove in two runs.
Reed Boyer got the start for Whitefish, tossing three innings and striking out five while allowing three earned runs. Max Barone took over in relief and kept the co-op squad in check, striking out four over two innings without allowing a hit.
Whitefish padded its lead with four more runs in the fourth inning, capitalizing on three defensive errors by Noxon/Thompson Falls.
Whitefish’s bats remained red-hot on Friday in Plains, where the Bulldogs exploded for 12 runs in the first inning and never looked back. The team pounded out 15 hits and held Plains-Hot Springs to a single hit, completing the mercy-rule victory in three innings.
Max Barone and Avery Caton each went 2-for-2 at the plate, with Barone adding a double and three RBIs. Ryan Conklin also went 2-for-2 with a triple and an RBI, while Reyd Hobert, Ashtyn Mintz, and Drew Queen all added multi-hit games.
Tait Orme started on the mound, striking out six in two innings of work and allowing just one hit. Bear Barker pitched the final inning, striking out three and sealing the shutout.
In total, 11 different Bulldogs recorded hits, and 13 different players notched RBIs in the win. The team played flawless defense, committing no errors across both games.
With the two lopsided victories, Whitefish now stands at 4-0 and is showing strength in all facets of the game. The Bulldogs have outscored opponents 66-6 through their first four contests and have posted eight or more hits in each game.
Thursday, April 10
At Noxon/Thompson Falls
WHITEFISH 15, NOXON/T-FALLS 5
Whitefish - 02940 - 15 - 12 - 1
NoxTFalls - 21002 - 5 - 3 - 3
WHITEFISH HITTING: Ryan Conklin 1-3, Bear Barker 1-1, Luke Dalen 0-3, Sam Akey 0-1, Tait Orme 1-2, Christian Schwaderer 1-3, Carter Godsey 1-2, Reed Boyer 1-2, Max Barone 0-1, Avery Caton 1-3, Collison Lewis 1-1, Drew Queen 2-3, Finn Ryan 0-1, Calvin Eisenbarth 1-3, Reyd Hobart 1-1; RBI: Orme 3, Schaderer 2, Godsey 2, Boyer, Caton, Queen 2, Eisenbarth; 2B: Queen; HR: Orme
WHITEFISH PITCHING: Reed Boyer (3IP, 3H, 3R, 3ER, 2BB, 5SO), Max Barone (2IP, 0H, 2R, 2ER, 2BB, 4SO)
Friday, April 11
At Plains-Hot Springs
Whitefish - (12)65 - 23 - 15 - 0
PlainsHS - 000 - 0 - 1 - 1
WHITEFISH HITTING: Ryan Conklin 2-2, Max Barone 2-2, Luke Dalen 0-1, Reyd Hobert 2-2, Tait Orme 1-1, Sam Akey 0-1, Bear Barker 1-1, Christian Schwaderer 0-1, Finn Ryan 1-1, Logan Stewart 0-1; Collison Lewis 0-1, Carter Godsey 0-1, Avery Caton 2-2, Ashtyn Mintz 1-1, Drew Queen 2-2, Wyatt Hanchet 1-1, Calvin Eisenbarth 0-3; RBI:Conklin, Barone 3, Hobert 2, Orme, Barker, Schwaderer, Godsey, Caton, Queen, Eisenbarth; 2B: Barone; 3B: Conklin
WHITEFISH PITCHING: Tait Orme (2IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 6SO), Bear Barket (1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 3SO)