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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Mead edges University 1-0 in 11 innings

Dolezal scores on throwing error for win

In what turned out to be the longest of three 1-0 games played in the Greater Spokane League on Friday, University beat Mead on a throwing error after 11 innings of great pitching and defense.

The Titans’ Nathan Awbery gave up only two hits in 10 innings before Taylor Eskridge came in to pitch the top of the 11th. Eskridge gave up a lead-off double to Mead’s Justin Dolezal that bounced off the base of the center-field fence.

Cam Harms moved Dolezal over on a sacrifice bunt and Daniel Munoz hit a foul ball that was caught by a U-Hi outfielder. But a poor throw by the Titans’ first baseman got past catcher Jared Smith and Dolezal scored.

“That was a great high school baseball game,” Mead coach Jason Reich said. “How many clutch defensive plays did we have? Both teams made huge plays to keep it scoreless.”

Dolezal said he thought his double was going to be a fly out until he saw the outfielder keep drifting back. Dolezal rounded second on his way to a triple, but stopped short and hustled back to second base.

“It’s a good team win,” Dolezal said.

Mason Wells pitched seven scoreless innings for the Panthers (11-6 GSL) before Brian O’Rourke took over in the eighth and ended up getting the win over the Titans, who fell to 9-8 in the GSL.

In other GSL games that also ended 1-0, Central Valley (8-9) beat Gonzaga Prep (11-6) and Mt. Spokane (14-2) edged Shadle Park (9-8).

Reich praised the pitching of U-Hi’s Awbery, who finished with six strikeouts.

“Hats off to (Awbery). He took care of us pretty well,” Reich said.

U-Hi coach Tom Hoiland had the look of a coach who watched his team fail to get a big hit. Catcher Jared Smith grounded out with bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning to end the Titans’ last real threat.

“Baseball will humble you in a hurry,” Hoiland said. “As soon as you think you got this game figured out, it will pull the rug out from underneath you.”

Hoiland kept Awbery on the mound because he was so efficient in early innings that his pitch count remained low.

“Awbery was outstanding. I’m very proud of him,” Hoiland said. “Both teams hit the ball hard and both defenses were making great plays.

“It was just a great high school baseball game.”