Central Valley gets win over Rogers

Central Valley didn’t get a base hit until the fifth inning of its Monday makeup Greater Spokane League baseball game against Rogers, but that first one proved huge.

Stephano Pau met a high fast ball from Jacob Partridge and laced it into the left field corner to break a 1-1 tie as the Bears (4-0) went on to a 4-1 victory.

The game was originally scheduled for CV, but was moved to Rogers because of unplayable field conditions.

The Bears found hitting difficult against left-handed pitcher Partridge, but capitalized on walks and Pirates mistakes. Three of the four runs were unearned and Rogers ran itself out of a potential game-tying run in the sixth.

“I haven’t found a defense yet for errors and walks,” said coach Jim Wasem.

Partridge threw 26 pitches in the first inning. Two walks and a throwing error gave the Bears a 1-0 lead. Rogers got even in the fourth on a leadoff double by Partridge and run-scoring single by Chad Como.

Pau’s game-winning blow came with two outs in the top of the fifth. David Borgman had reached base on an error and stole second to lead off the inning.

“I just looked for a fastball, saw it, swung and hoped I’d hit it,” said Pau, a sophomore third baseman who has produced some clutch hits for the league unbeatens early in the season.

Rogers’ Chris Kelly hit a long leadoff double to the left-center field fence in the sixth, only to be gunned down at third on a relay from sophomore CV shortstop Dane Berg to Pau.

The Bears padded their lead in the seventh, Andy Richards’ two-run double following a dropped fly ball in left.

Both teams finished with three hits. Partridge gave up one, and struck out 11 in five innings before departing on a pitch count. CV winner Trevor Shull went the distance, fanning 11, including the side in the seventh following a walk and hit batter.

CV coach Barry Poffenroth said that winning over Partridge was huge.

“We’ve had good pitching,” said Poffenroth, “and as long as you do that and play solid defense you’ll win more games than by scoring a boatload of runs.”

In other GSL makeups, Ferris (5-0) remained perfect with a 10-0 win over visiting Shadle Park (1-3). Evan Ewing struck out six and pitched a four-hit shutout. Andrew Kittridge continued on an offensive tear with a three-run double in the decisive seven-run third inning. Josh Yoshihara had two RBIs in the inning. … Mead (1-1) scored seven runs in the fourth inning, including a three-run homer by Sean McNaghten and three-run triple by Robert Murphy, to beat visiting Mt. Spokane (3-2) 12-3. McNaghten was 3 for 3 with four RBIs. Wildcat Ryan Leonard was 3 for 3. … East Valley (1-4) beat Lewis and Clark (0-5) 4-1 as Kevin Barbieri allowed one run in six innings. Aaron Awbery was 3 for 4 and J.D. Sinn homered.

Softball

Mead (4-1) rallied from an 8-0 deficit and outlasted visiting University (2-3) 13-12 in a GSL makeup to move two games ahead of the Titans.

The Panthers batted around during a seven-run sixth inning that put the host team up 13-9 and weathered a Titans rally in the top of the seventh. Jill Pecka opened the sixth with a triple and Stephanie Parker‘s two-run double tied the game. Parker had four RBIs. Freshman Alisha Meade struck out five, including to end the game, and walked none for her first win in relief. … Central Valley (4-1) defeated visiting Rogers 9-1 as Alexa Morales tripled and homered and teammate Chrystal Holt went 2 for 2 for pitcher Lauren Mandler.

Soccer

Goals by Jordan Etten and Adrian Tarkington kept Mead (3-0) atop the GSL with a 2-0 win at Mt. Spokane (0-2). Etten headed in the winner at the 27-minute mark and Tarkington scored 9 minutes into the second half. Four other teams remain right behind. … Lewis and Clark (3-0) blanked Shadle Park (1-1) 4-0 at Albi Stadium as Mackenzie Olivares came off the bench to score a hat trick and assist the other. He scored first at the 34-minute mark. LC took 19 shots on goal. … Ferris (3-0) beat Rogers (0-3) 6-1 at home. Alec Cutter scored three goals in the first 13 minutes of the match. All the scoring came in the first half. … At Central Valley (2-1), the Bears beat East Valley (0-3) 2-0 on goals by Trevor Delmedico in the first half and Robert Wulf in the second. … Gonzaga Prep (2-2) beat North Central (0-3) 3-2 in a road-match shootout. Connor Payton, with both goals in regulation, sent the contest into overtime at the 77-minute mark.