Saints fall just short

[ NWAC baseball Championship Tournament FINAL UPDATE May 31:

         After two weeks of dramatic turns and clutch team play – and eight innings into a 1-1 pitchers’ duel with a championship on the line Tuesday – Mt. Hood finally blinked.

         Linn-Benton Community College took advantage of a hit batter and two infield errors, plating three runs in the top of the eight and defeating the Saints, 4-1, for the NWAC championship in Longview, Washington.

         Starting ace Jeff Nelson threw seven stellar innings for the Saints, giving up just four hits and one run (on a first-inning wild pitch) before the Roadrunners cracked the game open.

         Mt. Hood had tied the game in the third on a single by left fielder Mason Deverna. The hit knocked in second baseman Brady Majewski, but Saints shortstop Rikuu Nishida was thrown out at the plate also trying to score, and the rally soon died.

         The Roadrunners, who finished first in the South Division this season (38-12 overall), beat the third-place Saints (37-18) for the fourth time in five hard-fought games this year.

         The Saints earned their title shot with outstanding play the final month of the season. With virtually the entire squad eligible to return, they will look to accomplish great things again next year. ]

[ NWAC baseball Championship Tournament UPDATE 9:40 PM May 30:

         The amazing route to a championship final continues.

         Mt. Hood will play a single, winner-take-all game at high noon on Tuesday against South Division rival Linn-Benton Community College for the 2022 NWAC crown.

         The Saints and the Roadrunners were the survivors of a three-way scrum on Monday in Longview, Washington.

         First, Everett Community College handed Linn-Benton its first loss of the double-elimination tournament, 15-7, when it poured seven runs across in the top of the ninth inning to bust open a tight 8-7 contest.

         The Trojans then immediately faced Mt. Hood in an elimination game. And it was the Saints who triumphed, 2-1, pushing two runs across in the third inning to support Hiroyuki Yamada, who tossed a complete-game gem, striking out seven and giving up only four hits.

         With the tying runs on base in the top the ninth inning, Yamada induced a double-play that scored the Trojans’ only run – then fanned the game’s final batter on a called strike.

         Since both Mt. Hood (37-17 on the season) and Linn-Benton (37-12) have one loss in the tournament, a single game on Tuesday will determine the title.

         The Roadrunners, who finished first in the South Division this year, beat the third-place Saints three out of four games they played during the regular season.

For tournament updates/livestream options: nwacsports.org/baseball_championship ]


[ NWAC baseball Championship Tournament UPDATE May 30:

Mt. Hood swept two tight games Sunday to earn its place as one of three teams that will square off for the NWAC title.

         In a game postponed by rain Saturday, the Saints won a tight 3-2 contest over South Division rival Lane Community College. Shortstop Rikuu Nishida’s clutch two-out single scored two runs to push the Saints ahead for good in the fourth inning. Starting pitcher Wally Averett went a strong 7-plus innings and reliever Dorian Broadus picked up the last five outs to secure the win.

         Mt. Hood then had to face host Lower Columbia Community College again – the Red Devils having thumped the Saints 17-4 in their second-round game on Friday.

         But revenge came the Saints’ way Sunday evening, as they beat Lower Columbia, 3-1. Batting leadoff, Nishida pointed the way again with two hits and two runs scored, while Saints hurler Connor Nipp tossed a gutsy complete-game, 123-pitch, four-hitter to stifle the Devil attack.

         Next up for Mt. Hood, late Monday afternoon, is the survivor of a Linn-Benton Community College matchup with Everett.

         Unbeaten (in the tournament) Linn-Benton would advance to the final matchup against the Saints with a single win, knocking one-loss Everett from the tournament.

         If Everett wins, they would then play a single knockout game against Mt. Hood – the winner to later face Linn-Benton in a single, title contest. ]


[ NWAC baseball Championship Tournament UPDATE May 28:

         The Mt. Hood baseball team faces a must-win game Sunday, after Saturday’s scheduled action was rained out in Longview, Washington.

         That follows a 17-4 drubbing Friday night for the Saints, at the hands of host Lower Columbia River Community College.

         The Saints are due to play Lane Community College at 12:35 p.m., the winner staying alive in the double-elimination tournament.

         If Everett wins, they would then play a single knockout game against Mt. Hood – the winner to later face Linn-Benton in a single, title contest. ]


[ NWAC baseball Championship Tournament UPDATE May 26:

         The comeback Saints were at it again on Thursday.

         Mt. Hood rode strong pitching, a few timely hits and key errors by Tacoma Community College to win its first-round game, 4-3, in the Northwest Athletic Conference baseball championship tournament.

         Backed by starting pitcher Jeff Nelson (six strikeouts in six innings) and reliever Dorian Broadus (four strikeouts, no runs allowed in four innings), the Saints came back from a 3-0 deficit.

         They tied the game with three unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning, then won it in the 10th, using a walk, base hit, a fielder’s choice, and finally a single by third baseman Travis Wiese that drove home centerfielder Trevor Saire.

         At 7:35 p.m. Friday (tonight), Mt. Hood is scheduled to play host school Lower Columbia Community College in Longview, Washington. ]