Tuesday, Jun. 09, 2009

Sun Devils, Flames split

By Kevin Anthony, Herald staff writer

Morgan Heiman was feeling a little nervous Monday afternoon before his first start in a Pasco Sun Devils uniform.

Perfectly natural, considering Heiman is coming off a standout spring at Connell that earned him first-team SCAC East honors, but had yet to face a lineup with the big-school depth of the Hanford Flames.

But it wasn't Hanford's big bats that had Heiman battling butterflies. Rather, it was his first chance to impress his new teammates, most of whom played together at Pasco High and have known each other for years.

"I wasn't sure if they would like me," he said.

Keep throwing like this, and you'll be their new best friend.

Heiman wasn't overpowering, but he overwhelmed Hanford with a one-hitter to lead the Sun Devils to a 1-0 win in the first game of a Central Washington League senior American Legion doubleheader at Waits Field.

The Flames took the second game 6-3 with an equally impressive outing by Kyle Saueressig.

Heiman faced the minimum through six innings -- the one hit he gave up was erased on a double play -- on just 56 pitches.

Granted, the Flames (2-2 CWL) were missing three of their big offensive threats -- Josh Oslund, Travis Chalk and Nick French all were gone with previous commitments. But it was still a heck of an outing.

"I was hitting my spots," said Heiman, a lefty who wore out the outside corner against righties.

James Landon was the unfortunate "beneficiary" of the Flames' lack of offense. He threw six solid innings, getting tagged for a run on Seth Lockridge's RBI double that took a bad hop past third base.

Saueressig, who had Hanford's lone hit in the first game, completed a big day at the plate in the second game, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and scoring a run. But the nifty work came on the mound as he danced away from danger inning after inning.

Pasco left 13 runners, including a runner at third in each of the first four innings. But every time it looked like the sky might fall, Saueressig managed to escape without giving up the big hit.