Titans score lone run in pitching duel

Two sophomores in an otherwise senior-filled University baseball lineup provided the necessary offense Thursday afternoon and their elders made other big contributions for a 1-0 Greater Spokane League victory at Mt. Spokane.

In a game dominated by pitching and defense, the victory improved U-Hi to 5-0 while dropping the defending GSL champions to 2-3. The teams complete their back-to-back series today at U-Hi.

Titans sophomores Tyler Olson and Danny Jordan had their team’s only hits, back-to-back to open the third inning, that resulted in the game’s only run. Olson doubled and, after Jordan singled him to third, ultimately scored on senior Seth Englebert’s one-out grounder to short.

U-Hi’s veteran seniors took it from there.

“Last year we started 2-6. It was kind of a struggle in the beginning,” said winning pitcher Nick Burger, who kept the defending GSL champion Wildcats at bay. “We have a little more seniority this year, a little more experience and it’s definitely paying off.”

Besides Englebert’s game-winning grounder, senior third baseman Adam Smith made the defensive gem of the day, reaching over the foul fence at U-Hi’s dugout to rob Nick Petrie of an at-bat in the fifth inning. Petrie flew out deep to center field in two other at bats.

“That was big for momentum,” said Mt. Spokane coach Alex Schuerman of Smith’s spectacular catch. “It was a great play.”

Both teams’ defenses took away several hard shots to the outfield. The only error of the day was on a slow grounder by Jordan that could have gone as an infield hit.

But U-Hi’s plays, coupled with sophomore opportunism, were a difference in a game otherwise dominated by breaking-ball pitchers Burger and Mt. Spokane’s Jason Gravos.

“Both pitchers, I thought, did a great job,” said Titans coach Don Ressa.

Burger had impeccable location and retired 11 of the first 12 batters he faced. He ultimately scattered five hits, walked only one, hit a batter and struck out six.

“I’ll tell you what he did today,” said Ressa. “He threw his curveball and slider for a strike all day. When you do that, you’re going to win some games.”

Gravos was similarly effective, allowing just those two third-inning hits. He did walk or hit seven U-Hi batters, but two double plays helped keep him off the hook.

“He located his curveball and kept us off balance,” said Ressa.

Both coaches said the same thing afterward – that it was a good and rare 1-0 decision this early in the season.

“We knew Burger was going to have a good game,” said Schuerman. “We had a couple of chances but couldn’t push any runs across. I’d like to think it was two of the league’s top teams battling it out.”

“Elsewhere in the GSL, West Valley (3-0) notched a 7-2 victory at East Valley (2-3). Winning pitcher Greg Bradley struck out nine during the two-hit victory, improving his record to 2-0. He also led off WV’s four-run sixth with a home run and was one of five Eagles with two hits. … Andy Mattingly was 3 for 4 with four runs and hit a three-run fifth-inning home run as host Mead (4-1) broke a third-place tie with Central Valley with an 8-4 win. Ryan Simmelink was 3 for 4 for the Bears (3-2), including two doubles. … Ferris (4-1) kept Cheney (0-5) winless with a 14-3 triumph. Bud Kittredge pitched a three-hitter and was one of four Saxons with two hits and a double. … Steve Cunningham pitched a complete game and had four of Gonzaga Prep’s 15 hits as the visiting Bullpups (1-4) won 8-1 at North Central (2-3). Cunningham had a double and drove in three runs. … All of the teams face off again today at opposite home sites. Clarkston, which played a home non-leaguer against Lewiston, will play a doubleheader at Rogers.