Soap Lake baseball sweeps Bridgeport
SOAP LAKE — Everybody did their part in Soap Lake’s 10-9 victory over Bridgeport in the opener of Wednesday’s doubleheader. Brayden Winters started a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh when he was hit with a pitch to get on board.
Seth Holden dug in for a quality at-bat, eventually ripping a line drive up the middle to drive in the winning run in a game the Eagles (4-0) trailed in by as many as six runs. “I asked the guys if they wanted to pack everything up and wait for Game 2 or if they wanted to come out swinging,” Eagles coach Austin Chamberlin said.
Soap Lake had to slug its way off the ropes a couple of times, but the final push in the bottom of the seventh was a matter of sheer willpower. Bridgeport reliever Ivan Saurado retired the first two batters to hold a tied ballgame in check. But he made a mistake and plunked Winters to put the game winner on base.
Chamberlin called for the aggressive move and Winters beat the throw into second base to give the Eagles a shot. Holden delivered. “I was just trying to do what I normally try to do and not let the moment change my swing or cause me to do anything different,” Holden said. “I just wanted to hit a solid one and hopefully advance the runner. With two outs, it was a matter of staying with it and giving us a chance.”
Chamberlin challenged his guys and they responded. “With two outs, I told Brayden once the ball is put in play you’re going score. There’s no other option for us. We’re either going another one or we’re winning right here,” the Eagles coach said.
“Seth is a team leader and captain for us and is another guy that’s going to be huge for us all year. He came through.” Bridgeport (0-4) took a 7-2 lead into the fifth inning before Soap Lake finally woke up. Winters doubled to lead off the bottom half of the fifth. Holden singled to drive him in. Riley Foster drilled a one-out RBI single to make a 7-4 ballgame.
Cameron Bessett singled and Colton Minoletti drove in a run. When it was all over, Soap Lake scored seven runs on six hits to take an 8-7 lead.
“We just kept fighting and didn’t let down no matter what,” Holden said. “We just chipped away every inning and stayed with it. We played team baseball with no big hitters, no big players. It was hard to stay focused at times, looking out at the scoreboard. But we stayed with it and persevered.”
The big push to take the lead was met head-on in the top of the sixth. Soap Lake reliever Michael Allen hit the first two batters with a pitch and loaded the bases with a walk in a short tour of duty.
Winters took over on the mound and managed to work his way out of the jam, giving up two runs after taking over with the bases loaded and no outs. “Allen’s a little new to pitching and had trouble with the pressure. He’ll learn,” Chamberlin said. “But I thought Winters pitched well to get us out of the inning.”
Soap Lake 7, Bridgeport 3
Colton Minoletti went the distance in a 5-inning second game, striking out 10 and scattering three hits to lead the Eagles to their fourth consecutive win. Holden went 3-for-3 with a walk and Minoletti had two hits in four trips to the plate. Soap Lake will see another North Division team on Saturday with a doubleheader at Manson.
Softball
Soap Lake softball dropped to 0-4 on the year. Bridgeport swept the Eagles, winning the opener 24-3. Shaylee Polvos threw a no-hitter. Bridgeport won the second game 21-4. The Eagles travel to Manson on Saturday.