Whitefish baseball has perfect weekend after three wins in four days

The Whitefish Bulldogs continued their red-hot start to the season, picking up three more victories in a four-day span to come to 7-1. With wins over Stevensville, Big Sky, and Noxon/Thompson Falls, Whitefish showcased their ability to win in blowouts, hold steady on the road, and gut out close contests.

Whitefish 9, Stevensville 8

In perhaps their most dramatic win of the season, the Bulldogs edged Stevensville 9-8 on Saturday at home, holding off a late rally by the Yellowjackets in a back-and-forth contest that featured 21 total hits.

Whitefish jumped out to a 3-1 lead, but Stevensville exploded for five runs in the third to take a 6-3 lead. The Bulldogs chipped away with two runs in the fourth, took the lead with two more in the fifth, and tacked on insurance in the sixth — which proved crucial after the Yellowjackets threatened again in later innings.

Christian Schwaderer led the Bulldogs at the plate with two hits and two triples, while Tait Orme went 2-for-4 with an RBI double. Carter Godsey added two hits and two RBIs, and Drew Queen continued his strong stretch with a 2-for-3 outing and an RBI. Calvin Eisenbarth and Ryan Conklin also delivered key extra-base hits.

On the mound, Schwaderer started and pitched 2 1/3 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits. Bear Barker took over in relief and gave the Bulldogs a steady middle stretch with 2 2/3 innings of two-hit, one-run ball while striking out five. After a brief appearance by Reed Boyer, Max Barone closed out the game with a scoreless seventh inning to seal the win.

Whitefish 9, Big Sky 4

The Bulldogs traveled to Missoula on Friday and used a quick start and a five-run fourth inning to build a 9-0 lead before holding off Big Sky 9-4. Whitefish scored in each of the first four innings.

Avery Caton led the way offensively with a 2-for-3 performance and an RBI, while Boyer drove in two runs and added a double. Schwaderer, Orme, and Godsey each added RBIs in a balanced attack.

On the hill, Stewart delivered four scoreless innings of one-hit ball to earn the win. Godsey threw two solid innings in relief, giving up just one hit and a run while striking out two. Orme came on in the seventh and navigated around two hits and two walks to close the game despite three Big Sky runs in the final frame.

Whitefish 15, Noxon/Thompson Falls 0

Whitefish opened the week with a dominant 15-0 win over Noxon/Thompson Falls in a shortened four-inning game at home. The Bulldogs used a six-run second and six-run third to blow the game open and end things early behind nine hits and 13 RBIs.

Ryan Conklin paced the Bulldogs with three RBIs, including a double, while Tait Orme added a 2-for-2 performance with two RBIs and a double of his own. Eisenbarth tripled and drove in a run, and Schwaderer added a triple and an RBI as well.

Eisenbarth started on the mound and delivered three scoreless innings, striking out five and allowing just one hit. Bear Baker threw a clean fourth to wrap up the one-hit shutout.

    Bulldogs sweep Noxon/Thompson Falls 15-0 at Smith Fields April 15. (Kelsey Evans/Whitefish Pilot)
  

Saturday, April 19

At Whitefish

Stevi - 015011 - 8 - 10 - 3

Wfish - 301221 - 9 - 11 - 2

WHITEFISH HITTING: Ryan Conklin 1-1, Luke Dalen 0-2, R Hob 0-2, Tait Orme 2-4, Christian Schwaderer 2-3, Carter Godsey 2-2, Reed Boyer 0-2, Bear Barker 0-1, Avery Caton 1-3, Drew Queen 2-3, Calvin Eisenbarth 1-3; RBI: Conklin, Orme, Godsey 2, Caton, Queen; 2B: Eisenbarth, Conklin, Orme; 3B: Schwaderer 2

WHITEFISH PITCHING: Christian Schwaderer (2 and 1/3IP, 7H, 6R, 4ER, 2SO), Bear Barker (2 and 2/3IP, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 5SO), Reed Boyer (0IP, 0H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB), Max Barone (1IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB)

Friday, April 18

At Missoula

WHITEFISH 9, BIG SKY 4

Whitefish - 1125000 - 9 - 8 - 4

BigSky - 0000013 - 4 - 4 - 1

WHITEFISH HITTING: Ryan Conklin 1-2, Finn Ryan 0-1, Luke Dalen 1-3, Max Barone 0-1, Tait Orme 1-4, Christian Schwaderer 1-3, Collison Lewis 0-1, Reed Boyer 1-4, Avery Caton 2-3, Drew Queen 1-2, Calvin Eisenbarth 0-3; RBI: Orme, Schwaderer, Godsey, Boyer 2, Caton; 2B: Boyer

WHITEFISH PITCHING: L Stewart (4IP, 1H, 0R, 2BB), Carter Godsey (2IP, 1H, 1R, 1BB, 2SO), Tait Orme (1IP, 2H, 3R, 2BB, 1SO)

Tuesday, April 15

At Whitefish

WHITEFISH 15, NOXON/THOMPSON FALLS 0

Nox/TFalls - 0000 - 0 - 1 - 1

Whitefish - 0662 - 15 - 9 - 1

WHITEFISH HITTING: Ryan Conklin 2-4, Luke Dalen 1-2, Finn Ryan 0-1, Tait Orme 2-2, Max Barone 0-1, Christian Schwaderer 1-2, Reed Boyer 0-1, Carter Godsey 1-1, Drew Queen 1-2, Avery Caton 0-3, Calvin Eisenbarth 1-2; RBI: Conklin 3, Dalen, Ryan, Orme 2, Schwaderer, Boyer, Godsey 2, Caton, Eisenbarth; 2B: Conklin, Orme; 3B: Eisenbarth, Schwaderer

WHITEFISH PITCHING: Calvin Eisenbarth (3IP, 1H, 0R, 4BB, 5SO), Bear Baker (1IP, 0H, 0R, 2SO)