Season ends for Broncos with loss to Northwest Christian in playoffs

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos baseball season came to an end last weekend, as they fell to the Northwest Christian Crusaders in the second round of the Northeast 2B District Tournament on May 4.

The Broncos, who ended regular season league play with a record of 3-5, earned a bye in the first round of the tournament after securing the South Division’s No. 3 seed behind No. 1 Asotin and No. 2 Colfax. With the bye, LRS advanced to the second round, where they were pitted against Northwest Christian—the North Division’s No. 2 seed behind No. 1 Chewelah—in a winner-moves-on, loser-goes-home game.

Things started out solidly for the Broncos in the top of the first inning, driving in a run to take an early 1-0 lead. But a single from senior Bryce Hansen would be the only hit LRS would get the entire day off of NWC’s ace, Gunnar Kuehl, as the Broncos fell 1-13 to the Crusaders in five innings.

Junior Garrett Frederick got the start on the mound for LRS but was unable to get out of the bottom of the first inning, with senior Bryce Kelly coming in to relieve him. In all, Northwest Christian scored five runs in the inning to take a 5-1 lead. The Crusaders added two more runs the next inning to go up 7-1, and six more runs in the fourth to go up 13-1 and put the 10-run rule in play.

The Broncos were unable to get anything going offensively after the first inning, with 13 of Kuehl’s 15 outs coming via strikeouts. The Crusaders out-hit the Broncos 10-1 in the game, while both teams committed two errors apiece in the field. Kuehl also did damage with the bats to LRS, going 2-3 with a double, triple and four RBIs.

With the victory, Northwest Christian advances to the NE 2B semifinals, where they will take on the South’s No. 1 seed, Asotin. That game will take place on May 11 at 10 a.m. at Medical Lake High School, with the championship game to be played later that afternoon against either Chewelah or Colfax.

For the Broncos, both Bryces—Kelly and Hansen—are graduating this year, and were two of three most frequently used pitchers on this year’s team. The team is expected to be more senior-heavy next year, with juniors Fredericks, outfielder Cole Cameron and catcher Spencer Miller being just a few of the players expected to return to the team for their senior seasons. Other returning players who saw time on the mound this season includes sophomore Drew Kelly and freshman Owen Telecky.