Shorthanded Braves strong-arm NW2B foes

In a week where La Conner was minus several starters, the Braves still managed to develop pitching depth for the NW2B League title run.

Riley Stewart tossed a com-plete game six-hitter in an 8-0 non-league loss Friday to Coupeville that in the strange parlance of baseball can be termed a win-win situation for the Braves.

Not only did Stewart eat innings on the hill, giving the top of the La Conner rotation a well-needed rest, but he showed excellent poise and solid potential as a third mound option going forward, La Conner head coach Jeremiah LeSourd said afterward.

Only two of the runs Stewart yielded the Wolves were earned, LeSourd noted.

“I’m relieved to find pitching depth,” LeSourd stressed. “Riley has taken on an important role for us as our third pitcher.”

Stewart was also a presence in the batter’s box. He paced the Braves with a pair of safeties.

Max Miller, James Hulbert, and Matt Harper also had singles for the Braves, who opened the week with a pair of key conference triumphs.

Miller threw a one-hit shutout against Concrete on Monday, leading La Conner to a tidy 5-0 win over its Skagit County rival.

Miller was dominant. He fanned 16 Lion hitters and drove in the only run he needed with a first inning single that plated Preston Stewart.

The hosts added some insurance in the fourth frame.

Hulbert singled — one of his team-best three hits on the day — to score Riley Stewart, then Miller followed with a two-run base knock that drove in Preston Stewart and Hulbert.

Logan James capped the rally by scoring on a wild pitch.

It was far from a tidy victory Thursday at Shoreline Christian, however, as the Braves held on for a football-like 24-14 decision.

“The coach got an ulcer for sure,” LeSourd quipped later.

Trailing 9-6 as late as the fifth inning, La Conner finished the game strong, taking the lead for good with a seven-run sixth stanza.

Miller led the way with three singles, a double, and four RBIs in five trips. Riley Stewart lined four hits and drove in three runs. James boomed a double and a triple, accounting for three runs, while Kyler Dawson produced a tally on three singles.

The bottom line, LeSourd pointed out, is that the Braves won twice in league play last week without a loss.

“We won the games we needed to win,” he said, “and we should return our missing starters this week, which will shore up our lineup.

“All in all,” LeSourd added, “it was a valuable week. With guys out due to vacation or injury, it opened up opportunities for others.”

This week’s opportunities included a battle for first place at Friday Harbor late Tuesday, and another tough non-league visit to Mount Baker on Saturday.