Ball teams complete two-game season sweeps of Concrete

La Conner High School softball and baseball teams continued to post football-type scores against Concrete last week.

The Lady Braves (2-14 overall; 2-7 in league) followed up an earlier 35-27 slugfest win at home over Concrete with a 32-27 road victory Thursday to complete a two-game season series sweep of their Skagit County rivals.

The Braves (4-10 in all games; 3-9 in NW1B/2B action) followed suit with a 15-11 victory at Concrete. The boys defeated the Lions 14-4 in the teams' first meeting on April 19 at home.

The second time around was tougher for the Braves, who squandered an early 2-0 lead and found themselves trailing 9-2 at one point.

According to coach Jeremiah LeSourd, it was the bullpen that came to the rescue.

"Logan Burks came in to pitch in relief and held Concrete scoreless for two innings," LeSourd said, "and Brogan Masonholder pitched the last three innings to seal the win."

La Conner rallied with three runs in the third frame and posted a seven spot in the fourth to regain the lead while Burks and Masonholder held Lions hitters at bay.

CJ. Edwards, Kenai Zimmerman and Brayden Pedroza led the victors with three base hits apiece. Masonholder, Nathan Bailey and David Holt added two safeties each.

"It was a tough game," said LeSourd, "but we didn't give up."

Zimmerman had set the tone for the week by tossing a five-hit complete game 12-6 win over Orcas Island at home on Tuesday.

Zimmerman was effective throughout the seven-inning affair at changing speeds and inducing Orcas hitters into soft pop-ups.

"Kenai kept Orcas off balance, which gave us a chance to compete," LeSourd said.

Zimmerman also benefitted from clutch defensive plays, most notably a fine running catch by Holt in rightfield that helped thwart a seventh inning Vikings threat.

While Orcas struggled at the plate against Zimmerman, the La Conner attack clicked as every Braves batter recorded a base hit.

The hosts batted around during an eight-run fourth inning explosion that proved the difference.

Zimmerman led off the stanza with a single to center. Bailey then lined a long double to left. Ivory Damien plated a run on a fielder's choice before Edwards delivered two scores on a sharply hit grounder that was misplayed.

With two out, Burks, Kaleb Otis and Masonholder delivered successive singles. Bailey capped the outburst with a three-run double, his second two-bagger of the inning.

Hits were harder to come by when the Braves wrapped up the week at Coupeville Saturday afternoon. The Wolves handed La Conner a 14-1 defeat, the visitors' lone tally coming in the fourth when Burks drew a one-out walk, stole second, advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on an Otis groundout.

The Lady Braves likewise struggled at Coupeville, falling 16-2.