Wahkiakum softball and baseball split results

It was a relatively tame time in the schedule for Wahkiakum's baseball and softball last week. After the teams played against Oakville on April 14, each squad had just one more game.

Both squads took on Ocosta, a conference foe, on Apr. 14, but the games had very different results. Both teams played on home turf and, while baseball took home a nail-biting victory, the softball team took a tough defeat by a wider margin.

Baseball hangs on

It was a razor-thin margin that decided the contest between the Wildcats and the Mules. Wahkiakum walked away with a hard-earned 5-4 win. Though Wahkiakum built a solid lead early, Ocosta chipped away down the stretch and made the Mules sweat in the final frames.

Wahkiakum got on the board in the bottom of the first inning. The Mules put up three runs to take a 3-0 lead. Cooper Carlson doubled down the left-field line, Preston West got on base with a keen eye, and Matthew Willis singled to right field. Each traversed the bases home to tally a score.

In the bottom of the third, the Mules extended their early lead to 5-0 thanks to RBI singles by Wills and Luke Johnston. It was an impressive day at the plate for the Mules overall, as they amassed nine hits and hit a solid .321 batting percentage.

There were some standout performances from the batter's box for the Mules. Wills led Wahkiakum in RBI, batting in two runs from the number seven spot in the lineup. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-3 on the day. Carlson nabbed the most hits for Wahkiakum and went 3-for-4 at the plate, hitting for an RBI with his two doubles.

On the mound, Emory Filkowski earned the win for the Mules. As a starter, Filkowski allowed four hits and two runs (one earned) over five innings, striking out five and walking one. Aiden Scott and Parker Leitz each appeared in relief for Wahkiakum.

Things got tight in the final frames when Ocosta knocked in their first two runs of the game in the top of the fifth. Despite maintaining a decently comfortable three-run lead in a quiet sixth inning, the Wildcats got just that in the seventh.

When Parker Leitz stepped in for relief, Ocosta sprang to life, grabbing three hits and knocking in two runs to bring the score to 4-5. Aiden Scott stepped in to get the final out for the Mules to hold off the Wildcats.

Wahkiakum traveled to Naselle Tuesday, April 22, and fell to the Comets 7-2. More details from Tuesday's game will be available in next week's edition of The Eagle.

Softball takes tough loss

After seizing its first win of the season in dominant fashion against Oakville on April 14, Wahkiakum couldn't quite get the bats firing in their next appearance. Taking on Ocosta at home, the Mules fell to the Wildcats 16-1.

The score line ended up looking more lopsided than the game played out, though. The Mules actually scored the first run after holding the Wildcats scoreless in the top of the first. However, things started to go downhill in the second inning.

The Wildcats pounced at the top of the inning and put up three runs, taking a 3-1 lead into the third inning, which proved scoreless for both teams. The game was largely decided in the top of the fourth inning when Ocosta put up 13 runs. The Wildcats had six hits in the game overall and were also aided by four errors from the Mules.

Wahkiakum was unable to answer back when their turn came at the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. The game ended 16-1 after the Mules were unable to get the score back within reach.

Despite a tough overall result, there were some silver-lining performances during the game for the Mules. Amy Horman went two for three at the plate, including a double, and scored the Mules' lone run on the day. Zoe Doiron registered the other hit for the Mules in her three at-bats, and she also got on base after being walked, ending the day with a .667 on-base percentage.

Another great performance came from pitcher Ryen Hurley. Though the Mules gave up 16 runs with her on the mound, only one of them was earned. She also had batters swinging silly, striking out eight opponents. While it might have looked a bit ugly on the scoreboard, Hurley still put together a solid game atop the mound.

Wahkiakum fell 10-9 on the road at Naselle Tuesday, April 22, in a rivalry matchup. More details from Tuesday's game will be available in next week's edition of The Eagle.