CBC baseball splits with Wenatchee Valley

Wenatchee Valley 4-1, Columbia Basin 3-11: The Hawks clinched the fourth and final spot in the NWAACC East playoffs Saturday, thanks to some strong starting pitching in a doubleheader split in Pasco.

After Walla Walla was swept by Spokane, CBC coach Scott Rogers knew that his team needed just one victory to earn a playoff spot and avoid a one-game playoff with the Warriors.

“I got a text in the fifth inning of the first game (about Spokane’s sweep), but I didn’t tell the guys,” Rogers said. “I just didn’t want any added pressure on them. They knew. They were doing the best they can. They just didn’t have a lot of hits to show for it in Game 1.”

Matt Jensen went eight innings in the opener, and CBC had the go-ahead run at second base with two outs before WVC reliever Allen Wiley closed them out.

Game 2 was a cakewalk for the Hawks, who scored 11 runs on 13 hits, and Jacob Gleichman tossed a complete game win. Travis Key went 3x5 with four RBIs and Kenton Brunson blasted a three-run home run in the fifth inning.

“Key had a really tough Game 1 but had a great Game 2,” Rogers said. “Gleichman gave up a run on two hits in the first, but other than that was pretty much flawless.”

Wenatchee 010 030 000 — 4 11 0

CBC 010 000 011 — 3 8 2

Adam Grubb, Allen Willey (8) and Kevin Duncan; Matt Jensen, Evan Harder (9) and Tucker Ibabao. Highlights—Jensen (CBC) 6 Ks; Jesse Wantland (CBC) 2x4; Kenton Brunson (CBC) 2R; Jordan Webb (CBC) 2 RBI; Ryan Atkinson (CBC) 2B, RBI; Fuller (WV) 2x5; Eckert (WV) 2x5, 2R; Duncan (WV) 2x5, 2B, 2 RBI.

Wenatchee 100 000 0 — 1 8 1

CBC 133 030 1 — 11 13 0

One out when 10-run rule invoked. Kyle Blankenship, Kody Graham (3), James SanMiguel (7) and Duncan; Jacob Gleichman and Ibabao. Highlights—Dalton Johnson (CBC) 2R; Atkinson (CBC) 3x5, 2 2B, 2R, 2 RBI, SB; Travis Key (CBC) 3x5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI; Brunson (CBC) HR, 3 RBI; Jordan Feeney (CBC) 2R; Julian Rivera (WV) 2x2, RBI.

This story was originally published May 10, 2014 at 10:41 PM with the headline "CBC baseball splits with Wenatchee Valley."