Rockies rally to survive collision with Cougars
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ST. IGNATIUS — The Mission Valley Rockies rallied from a two-run deficit in the final innings to defeat the Clark Fork Valley Cougars 5-4.
At home Saturday on a rare sunny day, the Rockies were down to their final out in the sixth, when first baseman Dylan Kelley knocked in the game-tying and eventual game-winning runs with a seeing-eye single past the outstretched glove of Cougar second baseman Brian Piazzola.
Kelley’s game-winning single scored outfielder Ryan Anderson, who reach with a single, and second baseman Nick Grogan, who was hit by a pitch. Kelley’s clutch hit capped a three-run inning for the Rockies. Shortstop Jame Petersen started the inning by drawing a walk and after stealing second came home on Anderson’s single.
Kelley had faced losing pitcher Banks Stocking before and knew what he was trying to do.
“I knew he (Stocking) was trying to get the inside corner...so I just sat there and waited for it,” said Kelley, adding once he made contact he knew the ball was going to get through the infield. “It had a little spin on it, I knew the second baseman wasn’t going to get it.”
After taking the lead in the bottom of the sixth, Garrett Herron, who was in line for the loss after coming in the sixth for relief and giving up two runs, put the Cougars down in order in the seventh to complete the comeback and pick up the win. Herron struck out three in just two innings of work.
The Rockies scored a run in the first and were leading the whole game until the sixth, where they gave up two runs after two errors, two walks and a balk.
“These guys could have folded. They could have hung their heads, but they hung in there and came back and got three runs,” Mission Valley manager Alan Anderson said.
With the come-from-behind win, the Rockies improve to 8-8 on the season and remain perfect against Clark Fork, despite missing four starters Saturday.
Jeremiah Crawford started the game for the Rockies and went five innings. In five innings of work, Crawford struck out only one, scattered five hits and was able to get out of a base-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the fourth.
With the sacks full and no outs, Crawford fielded a come-backer, threw home to get the force out and Rockies’ catcher Riley Grogan completed the double play by gunning down the Cougar catcher at first. Crawford was able to get out of the inning when Petersen caught a line drive off of Cougar outfielder Eric Milner’s bat.
Anderson said the double play was something Crawford and Grogan practice all the time.
“They played that perfect,” Anderson said, adding that the play could’ve made the difference in the game. “It could’ve got pretty ugly.”
After starting the game, with a leadoff walk, Rockies’ outfielder Justin Hoel came around to score to give Mission Valley a 1-0 lead after one. Outfielder Jacen Petersen added another run in the third. Jacen reached on a single, stole second and came home on a two-out single by his brother Jame. Jame finished 1 for 2 and Jacen finished 1 for 3.
After wiggling off the hook the first four innings, Crawford was touched up for two runs in the fifth, after two Rockies’ errors in the inning.
The Rockies will compete in the Pioneer Daze Tournament this weekend in Bonner. Their first game is at 3:30 Friday. They play at 9 and 11:30 Saturday Morning.
Summary
Mission V. 5, Clark Fork V. 4
Clark Fork V. 000 022 0–4 10 2
Mission V. 101 003 x–5 7 4
Jordan Eichert, Banks Stocking (6) and Grupenhoff. Jeremiah Crawford, Garrett Herron (6) and Riley Grogan. W - Herron. L - Stocking.
CLARK FORK VALLEY - Brian Piazzola 1-3, D. Overman 3-4, Stocking 1-4, Jordan Eichert 1-2, Grupenhoff 1-3, E. Milner 1-3, N. Miller 1-3, D. Mathis 0-3, T. Davis 1-2.
MISSION VALLEY - Justin Hoel 1-2, Garrett Herron 0-3, Jame Petersen 1-1, Jeremiah Crawford 0-2, Ryan Anderson 1-3, Riley Grogan 1-3, Nick Grogan 1-2, Dylan Kelley 1-3, Jacen Petersen 1-3.
