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There was a definite chill in the air but the Braves still managed to swing hot bats late in their non-league baseball home game with Northwest Christian Thursday afternoon.
La Conner squared its early season mark at 1-1 by scoring five runs in the final two innings to record an 8-7 comeback triumph.
Middle infielder C.J. Edwards sparked rallies in the fifth and sixth frames by drawing lead-off walks and coming around to score each time.
In the fifth, with La Conner trailing 7-3, Edwards advanced to third when a sharp grounder from Kaleb Otis was misplayed, putting runners at second and third. Edwards then plated and Otis moved to third on a wild pitch.
Logan Burks delivered Otis with a ground out to third, pulling La Conner to within 7-5.
Kenai Zimmerman, who had delivered a key two-run single to right field in the bottom of the third, narrowed the deficit to 7-6 then scored on another NWC errant pitch.
La Conner reliever Brogan Masonholder held the Wolverines scoreless in the top of the sixth, giving the hosts an opportunity to prevail in the home half of the stanza.
Once again, Edwards drew a free pass to get things started. And, again, Edwards tallied via a wild pitch, knotting the score at 7-7.
Otis, who had also walked, then scored the game-winner on another sharp grounder by Burks.
La Conner coaches praised hurlers Otis, Burks and Masonholder for commanding the strike zone, combining to rack up 10 strikeouts of their own. Otis, for instance, struck out the side in the first before yielding to Burks with one out in the second.
The staff said that while the team needs to clean up some defensive miscues going forward, they made big plays when needed most.
Co-coaches Jeremiah LeSourd and Andy Otis said winning a close game was important going into important conference tests this week with traditional NW1B/2B powers Coupeville and Friday Harbor.
“Winning a close game like this is what you guys need,” coach Otis told his players post-game.
LeSourd credited the work put in by assistant coaches Logan James and Preston Stewart, alums who played on previous Braves playoff games guided by LeSourd and Otis.
“Their enthusiasm,” said LeSourd, “has had a definite impact.
La Conner was coming off a tough 16-3 home opener loss March 14 to Evergreen Lutheran. The Braves had briefly led 2-1 in that game, thanks in part to having turned a nice 6-3-2 double play from Otis to Masonholder to Zimmerman at the plate.
La Conner was scheduled at Coupeville yesterday, March 21 and plays Friday Harbor Friday, March 24 at 4 p.m.
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