Big Bend rebounds for a split decision
Big Bend pitcher Jesse Lehman delivers a third strike to Columbia Basin batter Steven Marquardt in the top of the fifth inning.<br>Brad Redford/Columbia Basin Herald
Vikings remain in fourth place in tightly packed Eastern Region
MOSES LAKE - The Eastern Region is up for grabs and Big Bend and Columbia Basin missed opportunities to grab first place.
The Vikings entered the doubleheader with the Hawks a game behind in the standings and an opportunity to leapfrog Columbia Basin. The Hawks had other ideas after blasting Big Bend in a 14-4 win in the first game, but the Vikings answered with a 3-2 decision to keep things close.
"We aren't even close to sowing this thing up," Big Bend head coach Don Lindgren said.
The Vikings stayed in fourth place in the East, leading Wenatchee Valley by two games after their split with Blue Mountain. Columbia Basin, Spokane and Treasure Valley all remained in a three-way tie for first.
Big Bend wraps up the season with Blue Mountain on Friday, needing to win one game to secure a playoff spot and eliminate Wenatchee Valley. And even though Blue Mountain is second to last in the standings, Lindgren said there isn't any letting down on the trip to Pendleton, Ore.
"It is playoff baseball before playoffs even start," Lindgren said, then added later: "We are going to go in expecting to win and if we win, we are in."
After the Vikings opening game loss to the Hawks, Jesse Lehman helped cool them off by holding Columbia Basin to six hits of one-run ball through five innings.
Then it was the Big Bend who heated up in the second to tag Preston Langeliers for three runs in the second, the first off a double from Dane Riner and the other two on a home run from Rudy Valdez to left field.
Josh Walker hit a home run in game one and Pat Lindgren was robbed of a home run in the first game.
"Our big guys are starting to swing a little bit," Lindgren added. "Come playoff time, hopefully we are playing our best baseball and I know we can."
Columbia Basin never let down, getting their first run on a two out rally in the fifth, then getting a break in the seventh after Colt Homme reached base on a passed ball, later scored on a Marcus McKimmy groundout.
"Columbia Basin is a good team and they did a nice job coming out swinging in the first game and we did a nice job coming back in the second game," Lindgren said.