Shellhorn’s gem sparks Bears

The way Rusty Shellhorn was pitching, Central Valley needed only the smallest window of run-scoring opportunity.

Four runs in the fifth inning proved more than enough. The left-hander painted a masterpiece during the unbeaten Bears’ 4-0 Greater Spokane League baseball victory Tuesday afternoon at Mead.

Shellhorn, using his fastball to set up a strikeout-gobbling breaking pitch, fanned 16 and allowed four hits to the Panthers, who were making their season debut.

Mead’s field still showed reminders of the snowy winter, with large piles shoved up against the outfield fences, not to mention other mounds on the surrounding landscape.

But it was Shellhorn’s performance that was chilling.

“He was really impressive,” said Panthers coach Jason Reich. “He mixed up his pitches well. It’s not the pitcher you want to face out of the chute.”

Not sporting the biggest of frames, the WSU-bound Shellhorn throws hard.

He allowed four hits, struck out the side in the first, third and fourth innings, the latter during a string of five in a row.

Mead loaded the bases in the third inning with a one-out walk and pair of base hits. But Shellhorn fanned the next two hitters, three more in the next inning and breezed through the fifth with a pair of Ks as well, giving him 13 to that point.

“That was one of my better outings,” Shellhorn said. “I knew Mead has a pretty darn good lineup. They have a lot of returning players who can hit the ball pretty well, so I’m pretty proud about it, I guess.”

The teams matched goose eggs through the first four innings as Mead returnee Chris Allen scattered three hits and had five strikeouts of his own.

But in the fourth, CV loaded the bases on two hits and an intentional walk. David Borgman scored on a wild pitch and Andy Richards followed with a two-run double. Joe Arlt singled in the final run.

CV coach Barry Poffenroth knew that pitching was a team strength, but said he’s been pleasantly surprised by his young team’s ability to hit the ball this early in the year. Borgman and Arlt, who had two hits, are among five sophomores in the starting lineup.

CV (3-0) sits atop the league.

“He makes you look pretty good, doesn’t he?” said Poffenroth of Shellhorn. “Mead looks to me to be one of the best-hitting teams in the league. But the crafty lefty … that is as good a pitching performance as I’ve ever seen. That performance will win a lot of games.”

Also in the league, two other Division I signees, Ferris’ Andrew Kittredge (Washington) and Rogers junior Jacob Partridge (Gonzaga) sparkled. Ferris (1-0) beat host Lewis and Clark (0-3) at Hart Field as Kittredge fired a five-inning no-hitter, striking out five. He also had two hits, including a two-run home run. McKenzie Murphy added two singles. … Partridge threw a one-hitter, struck out 16 and walked none at Shadle Park (0-1) in the Pirates’ (2-1) 5-0 victory. He had a perfect game through 62/3 innings before giving up a base hit to Danny Turner. Jacob Campbell had a two-run double in the second inning. … Kellen Webb hit a two-run home run for Gonzaga Prep (1-2), capping a five-run fifth inning during the Bullpups’ 8-6 win at North Central (2-1). … Jordon Poynor hit a two-run double with one out in Mt. Spokane’s five-run sixth inning and Tyler Jackson also drove in a pair of runs as the Wildcats (2-1) won 11-3 at East Valley (0-2).