Pitchers battered in opener

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, March 17, 2004

It was a tough way to start the season.

Fresh out of spring training and with the deepest bullpen they’ve had in years, the South Whidbey High School baseball team seemed to be plenty loaded up to keep Anacortes off balance in Monday’s home opener.

But unexpected rains — of both the wet and bloop single variety — were not kind to the home team as the Falcons lost to the visitors by a big 15-5 score.

It was one of those games in which big offense overpowered everything else. While the Falcons were able to generate nine hits over six innings for five runs, and managed to limit errors to just three in the rain, they could not overcome two four-run Anacortes innings and a six-run fifth.

Early on, however, it seemed that the Falcons had a chance. Up early on two runs scored in the first, the Falcons managed to keep the game tied through two. Making the defensive play of the game was junior Michael Lodell, who made a diving grab with runners on base in the top of the second to end a four-run inning for Anacortes. The Falcons then came back in the bottom of the inning with another pair of runs to even the score.

Anacortes took a one-run lead in the third, then cemented it in the fifth with six more.

Even as this was happening, Falcons coach Dave Guetlin could not fault his players for their play against the 3A opponent. It was just one of those days when pitching was a make-or-break factor.

“We swung the bat well,” he said. “And defensively, we looked pretty good.”

Starting the game on the mound was Stephan Kolbo, who lasted through three innings. Junior Dustin Sidhu, a starter on last year’s staff came in for just over an inning, turning the ball over to Michael Osburn after Anacortes went on its big scoring run.

Guetlin said his pitchers had trouble finding the strike zone, giving up nine walks over six innings and picking up three unearned runs in the fifth. Those stats, he said were the killers, giving the opposition ammunition they were not getting otherwise.

Offensively, the Falcon hitters had a good day, almost enough to win against any other team. They were led by freshman Lakota Holder, who in his first varsity game went 2-for-3 on the day. Senior Conley White was 2-for-4 on the day with a double, while Dane Guetlin and Andrew Hosmer each had doubles on the day. Joel Friesen picked up two RBIs in the first inning with a single to right field.

Guetlin said he is confident that his pitching staff will find its rhythm this week as the Falcons face off against Archbishop Murphy in two games. He said he played half of his bullpen against Anacortes, so he is anxious to see how the other half does against a smaller opponent.

The Falcons face their first North Cascades Conference opposition on March 23 when they travel to Mount Baker. The team’s NCC home opener is scheduled for March 25.