Bulldogs lead N.E. league despite first loss

A season win string that extended for 11 games came to an end Saturday at Colbert when the Bulldog baseball team dropped a one-run loss to Northwest Christian in the second game of a doubleheader.

The host Crusaders took a 3-2 win in the second game with a deciding run in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Colfax, which had a 2-0 lead after three innings, had only one runner get on base over the sixth and seventh innings.

Coach Mike Parrish noted NWC had just three hits in the game, and all their runs were unearned. Six errors by the Colfax defense turned out to be the difference in the game. Most of those errors were failures to field Crusader grounders.

Coach Parrish noted the Colfax defensive mistakes were shared by several players in the lineup.

Colfax pitcher Garret Burke walked just one batter and allowed the three hits in taking the loss.

Colfax out-hit NWC in the second game with Patrick Jacobs tagging two hits, Jeff Davies and Brett Becker each tagging a double.

The season’s first loss came after the Bulldogs shutout NWC 10-0 in the first game at Colbert with Jacobs allowing the Crusaders just three hits. Jacobs fanned 10 NWC batters and walked just one.

Colfax had five hits in the opener with Burke tagging a pair and Mark Webber, Jacobs and Becker getting the other three hits.

Despite Saturday’s split at Colbert the Bulldogs remain on top of the league race with a 7-1 record. Northwest Christian is a game back at 6-2 in the standings.

Colfax made the Colbert stop after dropping the LRS Broncos in two games last Thursday at Ritzville. The games were played in drizzle and rain to make up the round which was called off last week because of a mixup in sites.

Colfax pounded the Broncos 19-2 in the first game with a total of 10 hits. Pitcher Gfeller held the Broncos to three hits.

Davies and Austin Getz each had two hits with a double to lead the 10-hit attack by Colfax in the first game. Becker also had two hits and Dylan Heiser, Danny Robinson and Jacobs had the other hits.

In the second game Colfax pegged a 10-4 win with 13 hits. Freshman Danny Robinson allowed the Broncos nine hits, but the hosts failed to pick up the RBIs.

“Danny had a rough day. He kept getting himself in trouble, but he kept getting out of trouble,” Coach Parrish noted.

Jacobs had three hits with a double and homer to top Colfax hitting in the second game. Davies also had three hits, and Robinson, Webber, and Burke each had two hits.

The Bulldogs today travel to Priest River for a unusual matchup. They booked the game with the Idaho club because Priest River had been slated to play Springdale which was unable to launch a team this year. Colfax decided to step in and pick up the non-leaguer.

The Bulldogs have Liberty and St. George’s remaining in the league campaign. The Lancers are scheduled to play here Saturday, and the Dragons are set to visit Tuesday.