ACH Legion earns two wins against Ferris Legion AA

COULEE CITY – The ACH American Legion baseball team earned two wins in their doubleheader against Ferris Legion AA on Monday afternoon. This puts the team at a record of 5-5. 

“Even though we didn’t really get going like we wanted to at times and balls didn’t fall when we hit some good shots, I never really felt a panic in any situation,” said ACH Legion coach Mike Correia. “I think we just kind of stayed the course.” 

In their first game, ACH Legion got on the board in the bottom of the first inning with runs from Max Grindy, Jase Cox and Jameson Conley. An error and a double hit by Josh Booker added two runs in the bottom of the second and a single from Nolan Grindy put the team at 6-2 in the bottom of the third. 

ACH Legion would put up two more hits in the bottom of the sixth to end the game with an 8-2 victory. Harvest Parrish pitched three and a third innings for the team, where he gave up only one hit and zero runs, striking out two and walking one. 

The second game started closer as neither team scored until the fourth inning, when they both scored three. Ferris Legion would put up one more run in the sixth before ACH Legion scored ten runs in the bottom of the sixth, which led to their second victory.  

Max Grindy, Brody Pitts and Tanner Orestad each pitched throughout the game. Grindy earned five strike outs, Pitts earned two, and Orestad earned two, making for a team total of nine strike outs. 

“Both games weren’t really in my mind as convincing as the scores looked,” said Correia. “They were a little tighter than the scores would indicate.” 

This was ACH Legion’s first game back after a week's break from playing. Corriea said that because of this, he noticed the team was a little sluggish in their startup, but once they got the bats going, they found success.  

The coach said these games were a good way for the team to reinforce their abilities to execute the basics. When hits aren’t going in their favor, the players have to find other ways to score. 

“I thought we did a good job of executing the little plays and putting pressure on them,” he said. “Then the floodgates kind of opened up, especially in that second game.” 

The team is preparing for their next set of games against the Palouse Patriots, 7-2, who are currently in first place in the Spokane ALB AA American League, said Correia. ACH Legion is currently third in the league. 

“With our limited pitching, with injuries, it’ll be a tough doubleheader for us,” he said. “They’re a good and solid team and we’ll have to play well.” 

Correia said their approach to going against Palouse will be the same as any other game, where they just make sure to do what they can to earn the win. 

“It doesn’t matter the opponent, you just take care of what you can take care of and focus on us,” said Correia. “Making sure we’re ready regardless of who it is.” 

ACH Legion’s doubleheader against the Palouse Patriots will be tomorrow, with the first game starting at noon. 

Box Scores: 

FRRS: 0-0-2-0-0-0-0: 2
ACHM: 3-2-1-0-0-2-x: 8  

FRRS: 0-0-0-3-0-1-0: 4
ACHM: 0-0-0-3-0-10-x: 13 

    ACH Legion’s Josh Booker grabs a fly ball during a game last season. The team earned two wins after having a week off from playing.
  

    ACH Legion’s second baseman Jase Cox in a game from last season picks up a ground ball and throws to first for an out. Coach Mike Correia said he was proud of the way the team adapted to the game.