Broncos gain experience from tough doubleheaders

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague baseball team is partway into their season and is in the midst of facing the top teams in the Northeast 2B league.

They started last week by facing the Northwest Christian Crusaders in a doubleheader on March 29.

They were 10-runned in both games, 13-3 and 10-0 but were able to gain the experience needed to continue on in the season versus tougher competitors.

This was the team’s first game on the road and they took a few innings to get settled onto the field. The third inning is where the game truly began with two runs from LRS and eight from the Crusaders.

Bryce Kelly pitched this game and this was one of his first games on the mound as a freshman and he had Spencer Miller behind the plate.

The Crusaders kept their bats rolling scoring runs in every inning save for the second to take this first game 13-3.

The second game proved tough for the Broncos as they struggled to make hits. Brandon McClure pitched this game and had Bryce Hansen behind the plate.

The Crusaders were able to secure this game with 10 runs.

The Broncos then returned home to face the Kettle Falls Bulldogs in a doubleheader on April 2. The Broncos used their knowledge from the NWC game to force seven innings in both games.

In their first match up Easton Nelson took to the plate for the first part of the game until Camden Smith took over in the fifth inning. Miller spent the entire game behind the plate.

Garrett Frederick had an exciting triple in the first inning to help earn three runs for LRS after Kettle Falls secured two.

The Bulldogs were able to earn runs over the next few innings, while the Broncos were unable to bring runners home. The game ended with a 4-13 score for the Broncos.

McClure started the second game on the mound followed by Frederick with Miller starting behind the plate and Hansen closing the game.

Frederick once again secured runs for the Broncos with a double. But their innings never held more than one run for the Broncos except a last minute push in the seventh where two runners were brought home.

With a tie score of 3-3 in the fifth inning, Kettle Falls heated up their bats scoring seven in the top of the sixth to seal their win over the Broncos 11-5.

The Broncos will face the Colfax Bulldogs on April 9 at home. The Bulldogs have a 6-0 record and are currently the top team in the league.

After this game LRS will have a bye followed by a doubleheader against Tekoa-Rosalia on April 16 in Rosalia at 12 p.m.