Whitefish baseball bounces back with explosive win

After a mixed week on the diamond, the Whitefish Bulldogs baseball team capped things off with a dominant 21-1 victory over Browning on Monday, improving their season record to 9-2.

Whitefish unleashed an offensive barrage in Browning, plating 13 runs in the first inning alone and collecting 18 hits in the shortened three-inning contest. Avery Caton led the way with a home run, six RBIs and a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Reyd Hobart was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, while Carter Godsey went 2-for-2 with a double, a triple, and two driven in.

Finn Ryan also shined with a 2-for-2 day, including two doubles and three RBIs. Cullen Wallace, Luke Dalen, Reed Boyer, Max Barone, Sam Akey, and Ryan Conklin each chipped in hits as every spot in the order contributed.

Caton earned the win on the mound, allowing just one run on one hit in two innings of work while striking out three. Ryan closed out the final frame with a scoreless inning, striking out two and walking one.

The blowout followed a tough 8-1 loss to Florence-Carlton on Saturday in Missoula, where the Bulldogs were limited to five hits and gave up eight runs on eight hits and four errors. Florence capitalized early, scoring five runs in the first three innings and keeping Whitefish off balance for the rest of the contest.

Ryan Conklin, Luke Dalen, Carter Godsey, Drew Queen and Caton each had hits in the loss. Schwaderer drove in the Bulldogs’ lone run.

On Thursday, Whitefish scored a convincing 11-1 home win over Troy. The Bulldogs scored early and often, putting up five runs in the third inning and adding four more over the next two frames.

Caton continued his strong week with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate and one RBI. Queen also had a standout showing, going 2-for-3 with four RBIs. Ryan Conklin chipped in two hits and an RBI, while Finn Ryan had a double and drove in a run.

Whitefish’s pitching was efficient and dominant. Starter Reed Boyer struck out five in two innings, allowing one unearned run. Max Barone and Conklin combined for three innings of shutout relief.

Earlier in the week, Whitefish suffered a narrow 4-3 home loss to Bigfork on April 22. Despite outhitting the Vikings 8-5, defensive miscues proved costly as the Bulldogs committed three errors.

Calvin Eisenbarth led the offense with a 3-for-3 performance, including two doubles. Schwaderer, Dalen, Orme, and Queen also contributed hits. Schwaderer and Godsey each had RBIs.

Pitchers Logan Stewart and Bear Barker combined for 12 strikeouts while allowing just four earned runs over seven innings, keeping the Bulldogs within striking distance throughout.

Monday, April 28

At Browning

WHITEFISH 21, BROWNING 1

Whitefish - (13)62 - 21 - 18 - 0

Browning - 100 - 1 - 1 - 2

WHITEFISH HITTING: Drew Queen 0-1, L Steve 1-1, Cullen Wallace 1-1, Max Barone 1-3, Ryan Conklin 1-1, Avery Caton 2-3, Reyd Hobart 3-4, Sam Akey 1-3, Tait Orme 2-2, Finn Ryan 2-2, Carter Goodsey 2-2, Luke Dalen 1-1, Reed Boyer 1-3; RBI: Wall, Conklin, Caton 6, Hobart 2, Orme 3, Ryan 3, Godsey 2, Boyer; 2B: Ryan 2, Caton, Godsey, Wallace, Boyer, Hobart; 3B: Godsey, Orme; HR: Caton

WHITEFISH PITCHING: Avery Caton (2IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 3SO), Finn Ryan (1IP, 0H, 0R, 1BB, 2SO)

Saturday, April 26

At Missoula

FLORENCE-CARLTON 8, WHITEFISH 1

Whitefish -1000000 - 1 - 5 - 4

Flor-Carl - 2031200 - 8 - 8 - 0

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

WHITEFISH PITCHING: Tait Orme (3IP, 5H, 5R, 3ER, 3BB, 1SO), Bear Barker (1IP, 1H, 1R, 1ER, 2BB, 1SO), Reed Boyer (1IP, 0H, 2R, 0ER, 4BB), Ryan Conklin (1IP, 2H, 0R, 1SO)

Thursday, April 24

At Whitefish

WHITEFISH 11, TROY 1

Troy - 10000 - 1 - 1 - 7

WFish - 20522 - 11 - 7 - 2

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

WHITEFISH PITCHING: Reed Boyer (2IP, 0H, 1R, 0ER, 3BB, 5 SO), Max Barone (2IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 2SO), Ryan Conklin (1IP, 0H, 0R, 1SO)

Tuesday, April 22

At Whitefish

BIGFORK 4, WHITEFISH 3

Bigfork - 0100300 - 4 - 5 - 1

Whitefish - 0021000 - 3 - 8 - 3

BIGFORK HITTING: Cavin Wiest 0-4, Liam Benson 1-4, Sam Plummer 2-4, Hayden Mayer 1-4, Grady Campbell 1-2, Mason Lewis 0-3, Ryder Hamilton 0-3, Holland Jantzen 0-1, Ryder Rodriguez 0-1; RBI: Benson, Plummer

BIGFORK PITCHING: Mason Lewis (7IP, 8H, 3R, 2ER, 1SO)

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

WHITEFISH PITCHING: Logan Stewart (5IP, 4H, 4R, 3ER, 4BB, 9SO), Bear Barker (2IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 3SO)