Walthers' career day lifts CBC softball
Bailey Walthers had never hit a home run in her 47-game NWAACC career, or through four years at Richland High School for that matter.
That changed on Saturday for Columbia Basin College’s sophomore third baseman, who blasted a pair of round-trippers during a doubleheader sweep of Blue Mountain in Pasco, as the Hawks won 7-1 and 10-4.
Walthers also had two doubles among her seven hits and drove in eight runs, which tripled her RBI output for the year, bringing it to 12.
“She was joking in batting practice before the game today. She said if she ever hit a home run, she wouldn’t know what to do,” Hawks coach Adrian Ochoa said.
So what did she do after her home runs?
The speedy leadoff hitter sprinted her way around the bases.
“After her second one, my first base coach had to stop her and tell her to slow down,” Ochoa said. “She had one hell of a day. Plus, she made some great plays at third base.”
Hannah Sams and Courtney Swan combined for five hits and five RBIs in Game 2, while Walthers drove in four runs in each game.
Kristin Stanley pitched a complete game in the opener, her first of the year after replacing Janelle Randles, who left the team for personal reasons.
“I’m proud of my team for battling through adversity. We moved forward after getting swept by Treasure Valley,” Ochoa said.
BMCC 000 010 0 — 1 4 0
CBC 000 052 x — 7 8 2
Nicole Brown and Rainey Spencer; Kristin Stanley and Courtney Swan. Highlights—Bailey Walthers (CBC) 3x4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI.
BMCC 200 011 0 — 4 9 2
CBC 311 230 x — 10 20 1
Brown, Maggie West (2), Brown (7) and Spencer; Bryanna DeRoos, Gabby Meza (5) and Swan. Highlights—Walthers (CBC) 4x4, 2B, HR, 4 RBI; Hannah Sams 2x2, 2 2B, 2 RBI; Danielle Symanski 2B, RBI; Shelby Salter (CBC) 2x3, 2B; Swan (CBC) 3x3, 3 RBI; Brittany Mitchell (CBC) 2x4; Meza (CBC) 3x3, 2B; Alexis Sanderlin (CBC) 2x3.
Baseball
CBC 14-7, BLUE MOUNTAIN 6-0: Hayden Meier had five hits, including a home run, as visiting Columbia Basin swept Blue Mountain in NWAACC East Region play.
Meier drove in four runs in the opener.
In the nightcap, starter Jacob Gleichman and reliever Stetson Plew combined on a five-hit shutout for the Hawks.
Columbia Basin 320 701 010 — 14 12 1
Blue Mountain 200 031 000 — 6 7 1
Matthew Jensen, Matt Peterson (6), Steven Danek (6) and Braden Wolgamott, Tucker Inabao (4); Jacob Butcher, Dakota Walker (3), Jason Almaguer (4), Wes Loy (5) and Jacob Urbach. Highlights—Dalton Johnson (C) 4x5, 2B; Jordan Webb (C) 3 runs; Hayden Meier (C) 3x5, 2B, 3B, 4 RBIs; Jesse Wantland (C) 2x5, 3B; Dean Gettman (B) 2x5; Colton Crow (B) 2B.
Columbia Basin 211 000 210 — 7 10 1
Blue Mountain 000 000 000 — 0 5 4
Jacob Gleichman, Stetson Plew (7) and Ibabao; Kyler Knieriem, Gettman (4), Brady Sharp (9) and Josh Grissom. Highlights—Meier 2x5, HR; Ryan Atkinson (C) 3x5, 2B; Jordan Feeney (C) 2x4, 2B; D.Johnson 3B; Gleichman 5 Ks; Plew 3 Ks; Gettman 5 Ks.
This story was originally published April 19, 2014 at 10:59 PM with the headline "Walthers' career day lifts CBC softball."