Nic’s Season Ends On Downside

The last weekend of the regular season often has been unkind to Jack Bloxom in his 28 years as North Idaho College baseball coach.

On Saturday, it bordered on cruel and unusual punishment as NIC completed a late-season flop by falling 7-3 to Treasure Valley.

The storyline was similar to NIC’s two losses to the Chukars on Friday - an occasional key error, constant lack of clutch hits and another solid pitching performance wasted.

Two weeks ago, NIC was 7-5 and tied for first in Region 18 North Division play. The Cardinals then lost five straight games including Saturday, ending their season and hopes of making the Region 18 Tournament for the first time since 1988.

“From first place to last place in two weeks,” said Cardinals’ designated hitter Evan Metz, shaking his head. “Not good.”

“I’ve had so many disappointments when it comes down to the last weekend, this one just goes with all the rest,” muttered Bloxom, after one of the finest hitting teams he’s ever assembled finished 7-10 in league, 18-22 overall.

Saturday’s loss could have been avoided. Starter Mark Nelson gave up two runs in the first, but held Treasure to just four hits as he entered the seventh with a 3-2 lead. With one out and Chukars’ pinch runner Daron Grubb on first base, Matt Echanis singled on a hit-and-run, but Grubb was duped by NIC shortstop Jason Bartell’s decoy at second base - ala Lonnie Smith in the 1991 World Series - and retreated toward first. Grubb finally figured out he had been tricked, but he still would have been out at second had NIC second baseman Jeremy Mort not cut off the throw from right fielder Rob Sheridan.

Nelson’s wild pitch moved the runners to second and third before another NIC gaffe. First baseman Chris McGregor fielded a roller, but his throw to the plate was in the dirt, allowing Grubb to score. Singles by Brandon Ray and Bo Barrus, whose four hits gave him seven in the series, scored three more runs.

“I saw things I can’t explain,” Bloxom said.

Other than the seventh, NIC’s defense, particularly Mort and Bartell, was solid. But as they did all series, the Cards couldn’t hit with runners in scoring position.

“They get the bases loaded and everyone scored,” Metz said. “We get the bases loaded and get one run.”

Treasure Valley recovered from a 2-7 league start to finish 9-9. The Chukars could gain the North’s second and final berth to regionals, pending the outcome of a Monday doubleheader between College of Southern Idaho (9-6) and Ricks (8-8). Those two were rained out Saturday.

“We started practicing twice a day, including 6:30 in the morning,” offered Treasure coach Rick Baumann, when asked how the Chukars turned their season around. “They would either never want to play again or they’d get better. These kids responded.”

Treasure Valley 7, North Idaho 3

Treasure Valley 200 000 500 - 7 10 0 North Idaho 102 000 000 -3 8 2

Warner, Stricker (9) and Shafer, Voight (5); Nelson, Caponigro (7), Decelle (8) and Danton. W-Warner 6-1. L-Nelson 2-6.

HITS: TV-Barrus 4, Monarrez, K. Ray, Echanis 2, B. Ray, Dalton. NICFike 2, Danton, Bartell, Metz, Tarasoff 2, McGregor. 2B-Monarrez, McGregor. 3B-Metz.

Track and field

Sean Edwards and Mitch Armuth of North Idaho College were men’s winners at the Bigfoot Open track and field meet and Spokane Falls Community College.

Edward registered a 44 feet, 8-inch triple jump to defeat Ron Parker of Highline CC (43-1).

Armuth’s 48-10 in the shot put edged Highline’s Jerome Herring (48-2).

Rob Guier, 6-3 in the high jump, and Chad Dudney, 10 minutes, 10.32 seconds in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, captured men’s runner-up awards for NIC. In second place for the NIC women were Kristen Trowbridge, 36-6 in the shot put, and Stacey Kline, 122-5 in the discus).

Replay

North Idaho College’s baseball team lost twice to Treasure Valley on Friday. A headline in Saturday’s editions was incorrect.

The following fields overflowed: SUPCAT = COLUMN - North Idaho College roundup