Mountain Lions sweep aside White Swan to get at Asotin

By Mike Maltais

Following a narrow 5-4 loss to Kittitas in district competition last week, the Liberty Bell High School varsity baseball team came roaring back on Thursday (May 15) to shut out White Swan, 16-0, and advance to play Asotin in the first round of regional action at Walla Walla on Saturday (May 24).

In Asotin, the Mountain Lions will meet a familiar adversary whom they beat, 9-8, in regional play at Spokane last year. That game came down to a diving catch by shortstop Andrew Ryan, whose toss to second base forced the final out of the contest and left two potential scoring runners on base.

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Cougars collapse

It was as much a statement as a game against the Cougars when the Mountain Lions made it clear that they intended to leave the field at Wenatchee Valley College with the remaining ticket to the regional dance. Toward that end the game was fairly decided by the end of the third inning as White Swan entered the top of the fourth trailing Liberty Bell, 10-0.

Solid hitting in the first inning by Chip Jones, Milo Holston, David Dinsmore III, Derek Alumbaugh and Riley Calvert gave Liberty Bell an opening 3-0 lead.

Cole Darwood crossed the plate on a stand-up triple by Jones in the second inning to put the Mountain Lions up 4-0.

A combination of Liberty Bell hits and White Swan errors allowed Dinsmore, Alumbaugh, Darwood, Calvert, Chase Kurtz and Gavin Wengerd to score in the bottom of the third inning and give the Mountain Lions their commanding 10-0 advantage.

After a scoreless fourth inning, the Liberty Bell bats again came awake with six hits in the bottom of the fifth, including solid singles from sophomores Sam Thomsen and Jacob McMillan. At the end of five Liberty Bell led, 13-0.

Jones led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and Morgan Palm followed suit. Higbee stole home on a bad throw and Jones scored Palm with a single. Another Dinsmore single knocked in Jones and the Mountain Lions were up, 16-0.

White Swan was unable to mount any kind of rally in its last at-bat and the contest was called after 6-1/2 innings.

Holston pitched the first three innings and handed off to Shane Higbee in the top of the fourth. Together they held the Cougars to just two hits on the day.

Liberty Bell will take on the Panthers at noon Saturday. If the Mountain Lions win they will play the winner of Davenport vs. Riverside Christian at 4 p.m.

G A L L E R Y

Mountain Lion second baseman Riley Calvert (No. 9) beats a throw to safely steal second base during district playoff action against White Swan last Thursday (May 15) at Wenatchee Valley College. Liberty Bell capitalized on numerous errors by the Cougars to win the game going away, 16-0. Photo by Mike Maltais

Catcher Milo Holston collides with a White Swan player trying to steal home during district playoff action against the Cougars at Wenatchee Valley College Thursday (May 15). Holston’s play helped hold White Swan scoreless as Liberty Bell cruised to a 16-0 victory. Photo by Mike Maltais

Junior Chip Jones made a good attempt but was tagged out at third base in the loser-out district playoff game against White Swan last Thursday (May 15). The Mountain Lions went on to win the game, 16-0, for the right to move to regional competition at Walla Walla on Saturday (May 24). Photo by Mike Maltais

Sophomore Gavin Wengerd fouls the ball back over the safety net while at bat against White Swan in district playoff action last Thursday (May 15). Photo by Mike Maltais

As teammate David Dinsmore III watches, Derek Alumbaugh slides safely home during district playoff action against White Swan on Thursday (May 15) at Wenatchee Valley College. Liberty Bell won the game, 16-0, and advances to the regional round at Walla Walla next weekend. Photo by Mike Maltais

Derek Alumbaugh prepares to slide into home plate as the ball approaches the White Swan catcher during district playoff action between Liberty Bell and White Swan at Wenatchee Valley College last Thursday (May 15). The Mountain Lions dominated the loser out game, 16-0, to advance to the regional round next weekend. Photo by Mike Maltais

Shortstop Chip Jones beats the catcher’s throw to arrive safe at second base against White Swan on Thursday (May 15). The Mountain Lions defeated the Cougars, 16-0, in district playoff action to move on to regionals in Walla Walla next weekend. Photo by Mike Maltais

Senior outfielder Chase Kurtz connects solidly for what would turn out to be a single during district playoff action against White Swan on Thursday (May 15). Liberty Bell beat the Cougars, 16-0, to advance to the regional round in Walla Walla on Saturday (May 24). Photo by Mike Maltais