The Olympic College Rangers put together a strong weekend showing, winning three of four league games against Pierce College. Saturday's doubleheader at home began with a 7-6 win where the Rangers used a five-run third inning to surge ahead and hold off the Raiders late. Freshman Andrew Ahn's 3-run homer was the highlight, with freshman Evan Tordiffe shutting the door and securing the victory after freshman Itsuki Fukuda's start. Game 2 saw sophomore ace, Nicho Crowley, take the ball for the Rangers. Crowley's 87 strike outs lead the league and when he is on the hill, the Rangers are tough to beat. His 3-hit, one earned run outing added 6 more strikeouts to his season total and allowed the Ranger offense to do its thing. First inning hits and RBIs by sophomore catcher, David Matthew, and freshman DH, DJ Batalona, started the game on the right foot for OC. A 5th inning homer by sophomore Sean Shaffer was all the Rangers needed to finish a perfect Saturday.
On Sunday in Puyallup, the Rangers picked up right where they left off with a 10-4 victory behind a 13-hit outburst and a solid outing from freshman, Crosspoint High grad, Silas Stenerson. Sean Shaffer was at it again consolidating his Saturday home run with a 4-hit outing and clutch hits from freshman Iain Loverink and Batalona allowed Stenerson to go the distance and pick-up the win. Though the sweep was just out of reach after a 4-0 shutout loss in Game 4, Olympic's balanced effort across all phases of the game showed the team's continued growth. The Rangers only managed one hit, but left 8 on base, as freshman Ben Spitzer combined with freshman righty Nathan Burke and Maui's own sophomore Ky-Mani Corpuz to keep Pierce close. Now 15-23 overall and gaining momentum in NWAC West play, the Rangers go to Grays Harbor this weekend with the playoffs still in their sights.
Saturday, Game 1: Rangers 7, Pierce 6
Offense: 7 runs [Imai (2)], 6 hits [Harris, Matthew, Castro, Imai, Corpuz, Ahn], 1 HR [Ahn], 5 RBI [Ahn (3)], 3 walks [Imai (2)], 1 steal [Ahn]
Defense: 9 IP [Fukuda (7), Tordiffe (2)], 5 earned runs [Fukuda], 7 hits allowed [Fukuda], 6 strikeouts [Fukuda (2), Tordiffe (4)], 5 walks allowed [Fukuda (3), Tordiffe (2)], 4 errors [Castro (2)].
Saturday, Game 2: Rangers 5, Pierce 2
Offense: 5 runs [Shaffer (2)], 9 hits [Shaffer (2), Batalona (2)], 1 double [Matthew], 1 HR [Shaffer], 4 RBI [Batalona (2)].
Defense: 7 IP [Crowley], 1 earned run, 3 hits allowed, 6 strikeouts, 2 walks.
Sunday, Game 3: Rangers 10, Pierce 4
Offense: 10 runs [Harris (2), Corpuz (2)], 13 hits [Shaffer (4)], 1 double [Loverink], 9 RBI [Loverink (2), Castro (2), Batalona (2)], 7 walks [Harris (2)], 3 steals [Castro, Batalona, Brown].
Defense: 9 IP [Stenerson], 3 earned runs, 10 hits allowed, 3 strikeouts, 1 walks, 3 errors [Loverink, Shaffer, Corpuz].
Sunday, Game 4: Rangers 0, Pierce 4
Offense: 0 runs, 1 hit [Batalona], 5 walks [Brown (2), Elton (2)], 1 steal [Harris]
Defense: 6 IP [Spitzer (4.0), Burke (1.2), Corpuz (0.1)], 4 earned runs [Spitzer (3), Burke (1)], 3 hits allowed [Spitzer], 1 strikeout [Spitzer], 5 walks [Spitzer (2), Burke (3)], 2 errors [Imai, Elton].
