The La Conner High School baseball team’s home opener last Friday was a blowout long before the host Braves wrapped up a convincing 12-2 non-league win over Muckleshoot Tribal School.
Sophomore pitcher Kaleb Otis tossed a complete game gem and benefitted from hot Braves bats as the hosts breezed to the double-digit triumph amid chilly and constant blustery conditions throughout the five-inning contest.
The right-handed Otis helped his cause with an infield single in La Conner’s decisive eight-run outburst in the first inning. He added a leadoff double in the fourth ahead of a run-scoring base hit from his batterymate, freshman catcher Angus Poprycz.
But it was Otis’ work on the mound, in which he allowed only one hit and three base runners, that had Braves Coach Preston Stewart beaming afterward.
“Kaleb threw a lot of first pitch strikes and worked ahead in the count most of the game,” Stewart said.
The stats bear Stewart out.
Otis, who complemented a pinpoint fastball with excellent movement on his off-speed pitches, fanned nine Muckleshoot batters and gave up just one earned run, coming on a fourth inning balk. He needed only 67 tosses to get through five frames, an average of fewer than 14 pitches per inning.
Shortstop C.J. Edwards ripped three doubles and drove in three runs to pace a nine-hit La Conner attack. Otis and Poprycz each delivered a pair of hits while Jacob Hatcher added a double and Jimmy Silker lined a single for the victors.
Poprycz delivered a two-run single that helped open the flood gates in the opening frame. In addition, he thwarted a fourth inning Muckleshoot rally by throwing out a runner attempting to steal third base.
The Braves, who evened their season slate at 1-1, piled on in the opening stanza with five walks and a hit batsman and by taking advantage of two Muckleshoot fielding miscues.
La Conner rebounded from a tough 19-1 opening season loss the week before at Class A Sultan.
“This was a really good bounce-back win,” Stewart said. “And the great thing was we got contributions from so many players.”
La Conner was looking to ride the momentum of its romp over Muckleshoot into the Braves’ April 1 (4 p.m.) NW2B/1B home debut with Concrete.
Stewart said he expected to start first baseman Nathan Bailey on the mound against Concrete and insert Landon Stevens at first.
“Our depth is coming along,” said Stewart.
La Conner and Concrete are scheduled for an April 3 rematch at Concrete. The first pitch is scheduled at 4 p.m.
Bill Reynolds: bill@laconnercommunitynews.org. Bill is a general assignment reporter who covers Town government, schools, and spot news.
