Mariners end season with emotion
courtesy photo
The Mission Mariners huddle one last time until next year. The Mariners ended the season in a heartbreaker loss decided by a single run.
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EUREKA — The Mission Valley Mariners played in what would be their last tournament of the season. Though the boys battled hard, they dropped a couple at the District Tournament which put them in fourth place overall. Eight district teams fought it out on the diamond in the double elimination contest. The M’s won big in two and lost by only one run in two.
The opening game on Thursday pitted the Mariners against Kootenai Valley Rangers. The M’s played a tight error free game, winning 5-3.
Kootenai met a force with Jeremiah Crawford on the mound. Crawford worked all nine innings, striking out 10 Rangers and walking four.
Ryan Pablo started the game out big with a triple. Zeke Webster-Yaqui went 3-4 and TJ Olson also upped his average going 2-3.
The Mariners took the field, Friday, against the Libby Loggers in game two. The M’s strung together 10 hits, putting up four runs in the eighth inning, but fell short to the Loggers with a score of 7-8.
Ryan Pablo led the M’s with two RBI’s on the game and TJ Olson had a great day at the plate going 3-4 with an RBI of his own.
Kellen Hoyt started on the mound going two and a third innings but was forced to rest after an injury. Hoyt struck out three and walked four. Jared Young took over, pitching six innings, striking out one and allowing no walks. Nick Crawford faced the final batter with a strikeout.
In Saturday’s game three, the Mariners faced Kalispell Lakers in a loser out game. The M’s bats were hot in the 15-0 win. The Mariners put up 15 runs in the first four innings on a staggering 17 hits.
Bradley Pichler showed he would not lay down in what could arguably be one of the best pitching performances on the season. Pichler threw four innings allowing only two hits, no walks, no runs, and struck out six. In a possible move to save a strong arm for future innings, Pichler surrendered the mound to Aaron Rasmussen. Rasmussen also stood with a fist continuing the shutout, striking out three and allowing only one walk in his three innings of work.
The Mariners saw five doubles and five guys with more than one RBI. Jeremiah Crawford had a perfect game at the dish going 4-4 as well as Quinn Harlan at 2-2. TJ Olson and Jared Young each went 2-3.
Game four, also on Saturday, was yet another loser out game against the M’s old foe, the Bitterroot Bucs. Though the Mariners put up a fight the outcome ended with a tear jerking, 6-7 loss.
TJ Olson, once again, showed a strong performance at the plate going 3-4 with an RBI and Jeremiah Crawford knocked in two of the M’s runs.
Nick Crawford came out strong in the first and two-thirds innings, fanning three, but with more devastating news to club, had to be pulled early due to injury. Chris Drebes came in for relief throwing five and a third, striking out three and walking two. TJ Olson closed the final two innings.
This season will say goodbye to Nick Crawford and Jeremiah Crawford as they continue on in their college endeavors but next season will see the return of many key players to the Mariners ball club. Bradley Pichler and Kellen Hoyt, both big pitchers, will return for their fifth and final season with the M’s. The Mariners will also have strong bats with Ryan Pablo, TJ Olson and Alex Killian.
Though the Mariners finished the season in fourth, they have been number one in the hearts of their valley fans. In what could be called a “building” season, the M’s finished with a 51-20 record. They have overcome many obstacles a young baseball club will face and will pose a serious threat in the year to come.
Mission Valley Mariners would like to say thank you to the many sponsors, volunteers, parents, and most of all fans. It’s through your help and encouragement that enables these future leaders of tomorrow the opportunity to excel.
Summary
Game 1
Mariners 5, Kootenai Valley Rangers 3
Pablo 1-3, Webster-Yaqui 3-4, Killian 1-4, J.Crawford 1-3, Pichler 1-3, Krebs 1-4, Olson 2-3, Harlan 0-3, Andrews 0-1, Young 0-1.
2B – Webster-Yaqui. 3B – Pablo. RBI’s – Webster-Yaqui, J.Crawford, Krebs, Olson.
Game 2
Mariners 7, Libby Loggers 8
Pablo 2-5, Webster-Yaqui 2-5, Killian 2-3, J.Crawford 2-3, Pichler 0-4, Krebs 0-4, Olson 3-4, Harlan 0-4, Andrews 0-3, Drebes 0-0.
2B – Webster-Yaqui. 3B – Pablo. RBI’s – Pablo (2), Webster-Yaqui, Killian, J.Crawford, Olson.
Game 3
Mariners 15, Kalispell Lakers 0
Pablo 2-4, Webster-Yaqui 1-3, Killian 0-2, J.Crawford 4-4, Harlan 2-2, Krebs 2-5, Olson 2-3, Young 2-3, Woodward 1-4, Drebes 0-2, N.Crawford 1-1.
2B – Pablo, J.Crawford, Harlan, Olson, Young. RBI’s – Pablo (2), Killian (2), Krebs (2), Olson (2), Young (2), J.Crawford, Woodward, Drebes.
Game 4
Mariners 6, Bitterroot Bucs 7
Pablo 0-4, Webster-Yaqui 2-5, Killian 1-3, J.Crawford 0-5, Pichler 0-4, Krebs 1-3, Olson 3-4, Young 0-2, Andrews 0-3, Harlan 0-0, Drebes 0-0, Woodward 0-1.
2B – Killian. RBI’s – J.Crawford (2), Killian ,Olson.
