Eagles, Cubs baseball face off

Anderson and West Valley's varsity baseball teams faced off on Tuesday, March 24 at The Pasture in an offensive battle of the bats.

West Valley made a comeback rally in the sixth inning with four runs, and held on for the 8-7 win.

The first inning started fast and furious with West Valley scoring three, and Anderson scoring two.

Anderson was hot offensively, getting 12 total hits (West Valley had 7). But Anderson struggled defensively, making six errors over the course of the game.

Anderson's coach Rick Russell said his team is understanding the baseball philosophy, but aren't executing basic baseball 101.

"That's been the bottom line for our losses," said Anderson coach Rick Russell. "We need to learn how to throw and catch. Once we learn how to throw and catch, I think the game will be simple."

West Valley's coach Don Doiron said his team became a bit complacent after the first inning.

"Anderson made three errors in the first inning, and I think our guys started taking the game a little bit lightly," Doiron said. "But when they fell behind 5-3 they put together a good rally. Each time they came to the plate they put a little more into their at-bats."

West Valley's Justin Naber went 2 for 4 with 2 runs and 2 RBIs. Al Doiron went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs and 1 run. Blake Adkins was 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs.

Luke Alward was the starting pitcher for the Eagles. Blake Adkins came in as relief in the last 3 innings, earning 4 strikeouts and the win. Cody Payne was the starting pitcher for the Cubs, while Josh Tony came in for relief.

Offensive leaders for Anderson include Josh Tony, who went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Senior Ty Meyer went 2 for 4 with 3 runs, including a solo lead off home run to bring Anderson within one run of tying the game.

"He's in the zone and seeing the ball really well," said Cubs coach Russell said. "He is making really good contact all the time."

But Meyer's solo homer wasn't enough for the Cubs to regain their lead. West Valley held on to by one run and finished the game 8-7.

"They've got a good baseball team. If you can beat Shasta, you've got some quality kids on your team." Russell said about the Eagles.

"I was really happy to be within one run. But at the same time, at the end of the game, I wasn't happy at all because I thought we should have won," the Cubs coach said. "We have to start winning the close ones. That's the next step we have to take."