Warriors at 9-0 with wins over Columbia

HARTLINE – With 19-0 and 11-1 wins over Columbia (Hunters) on Tuesday, the Almira/Coulee-Hartline Warriors improved to 9-0 on the year.

The Warriors entered Tuesday’s doubleheader coming off 10-0 and 7-4 wins against Northport on Saturday, who was 9-1 entering the weekend.

“It’s nice to be undefeated,” ACH Head Coach Hunter Lee said. “We’re playing pretty well right now, we had two really good games against Northport last week and did what we needed to do against Columbia. Now we’re looking forward to Saturday against Odessa.”

In the doubleheader against Northport, ACH recorded 19 hits over the two games. The hot bats continued into Tuesday against Columbia, where the Warriors combined for 19 hits in the two games.

“We hit really well,” Lee said. “We’ve done a really good job of hitting quality pitching, and our pitching is really good.”

After a three-run bottom of the first inning of game one, the Warriors scored 13 runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a quick 16-0 lead; the scoring run was started by an RBI triple by sophomore Carter Pitts. Sophomore Jameson Conley, freshman Caden Correia, junior Jaxon Baergen and freshman Josh Booker all batted in runs during the bottom of the second.

The Warriors scored eight runs off of wild pitches, errors and bases-loaded walks during the inning.

“There is momentum in sports,” Lee said. “If a guy sees someone get a hit, they don’t want to go up there and strike out. They’re just trying to follow the leader a little bit, they want to do what their buddy did.”

Having already earned a 19-0 win, the Warrior bats remained strong in the nightcap of Tuesday’s doubleheader, recording nine hits and batting in 10 runs in a 11-1 win. Conley started game two on the mound, recording 12 strikeouts over five innings pitched.

“It was my first time ever starting a high school game,” Conley said. “Started off kind of shaky, just getting used to it. Then came out fired up and ready to go. Felt pretty good.”

Baergen, who started the first game, struck out 10 Columbia batters.

“Winning any way, doesn’t matter who you’re playing, it feels great,” Baergen said. “It boots everybody’s confidence.”

Lee said the strong performances by Baergen and Conley allowed the Warriors to have the top of their rotation for Saturday’s doubleheader against Odessa.

“We’re very blessed in our pitching, today that was our fourth and our sixth guy that we have in our rotation,” Lee said. “Because our top three didn’t throw we’re ready to have them go for Saturday. There’s not a lot of teams that have third, fourth and sixth guys like we do, to be able to go out on the mound and throw strikes.”

First pitch between the Tigers and Warriors is at 2 p.m. at the Hartline Ball Fields.

“Last week built some confidence for us,” Conley said. “We were a little iffy going into that game, and it helped us build our confidence knowing we can (win). Everybody thinks we’re young this year, but that’s not the case for our play.”

Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com. Submit game photos to him via email for possible publication in the CBH.

Box Scores

Game One

COL: 0-0-0-0: 0

ACH: 3-13-3-X: 13

Game Two

COL: 1-0-0-0-0: 1

ACH: 3-2-2-4-X: 11