Mt. Spokane’s offense erupts in GSL baseball win over University

It was good to be a Mt. Spokane pitcher Thursday.

Not so much from an execution standpoint, but as a benefactor.

The Mt. Spokane Wildcats had a highly productive day at the plate, handling the University Titans 16-9 in a Greater Spokane League game Thursday at U-Hi.

The Wildcats (3-2) jumped on the Titans (3-2) quickly, scoring four runs in the first. Starting pitcher Kelly Fitzpatrick had a big hand in staking himself to the big lead when he rapped a three-run homer.

Just as quickly as Mt. Spokane got the lead, the Wildcats gave it up in the bottom of the inning. Fitzpatrick allowed the first run on a passed ball, Thomas Wakem and Colin Young had groundout RBIs and Cody McGlocklin knocked in the final run with a double.

Mt. Spokane added three runs in the second. Preston VanDoren had a two-run double and Alex Allard had a sacrifice fly.

The Wildcats’ two-through-five batters combined for 11 hits and 12 RBIs.

“We needed that,” Mt. Spokane coach Alex Schuerman said. “I don’t know why, but we seem to swing it well at U-Hi. That’s a big win for us against obviously a good team.”

U-Hi pulled within 7-6 in the third when Hayden Powell, who went 4 for 5, had a two-run double.

That’s as close as the Titans got.

“I told the kids that if they’d told me that we’d score nine runs against (Kelly) Fitzpatrick, I’d say we win,” U-Hi coach Scott Sutherland said. “Our pitching was horrible.”

Blumenthal, VanDoren and Allard each had three hits while Allard also had four RBIs. Fitzpatrick (2-1) had two hits and five RBIs.

“We kind of recommitted to hitting a bunch in the last week or so and it paid off today,” Schuerman said. “It seems like we’re starting to get our swings going. It was our best offensive output by far this season.”

McGlocklin (2-1) went to a full count eight times.

“He beat Ferris last week and was fairly impressive,” Sutherland said. “He walked five and all five scored. You can’t do that against a good team and expect to win.”

The teams turn around and play Saturday in a makeup game from a rainout Tuesday. The game is at 11 a.m. at Mt. Spokane.

“March is over tonight, so hopefully April brings in some good weather,” Schuerman said.

In other GSL games, Gonzaga Prep (5-0) edged Shadle Park (4-1) 5-4; Ferris (5-1) downed Rogers (1-5) 11-0; Lewis and Clark (2-4) defeated North Central (1-5) 6-1; and Mead (2-3) thumped Central Valley (1-4) 26-3.