Bombers Bounce Back on Blue Devils - By Bryson Cable
The Richland High School Bombers and the Walla Walla High School Blue Devils faced off on Friday in a game where, after coming off a tough loss to the Kennewick Lions, the Bombers were looking to prove that they could still be a dominant force in the MCC, up there with the best. I talked to pitcher Drew Johnson before the game about what this game meant for the team. He told me, "The team is not happy with how the last game went… Walla Walla is a comeback game for us to prove ourselves and our abilities…” and said, "We need to score more when we get guys on base.”
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| Photo courtesy of Megan DeGraff (RHS Yearbook). |
The game kicked off at 5:00 pm, with Johnson pitching for Richland High and Noah Braunel on the mound for Walla Walla, I settled into my seat in the stands, and the first pitch was thrown.
In the first inning, Walla Walla got off to a strong start with three hits resulting in one run scored. However, Johnson managed to strike out the last batter and end the inning on a positive note for his team.
Braunel took over in the bottom of the first and got a couple of runners on base before Jase Vopolensky stole home for the game's first run. Though he was out, the play showed Walla Walla's determination to make things happen on the field. A strikeout and a popout ended the inning with Richland leading by one run.
The second inning saw both teams going three up and three down, with neither team managing to score. In the third inning, Walla Walla's runner was thrown out at second, and a double play by the Bombers ended the top of the inning.
Vopolensky got on base in the bottom of the third, and so did John Corbin. Kooper Jones then hit a double that sent Vopalensky home. Corbin stole home on a passed ball, putting Richland in the lead with a score of 2-1.
The fourth inning was another uneventful one for both teams, with a groundout and two popouts ending Walla Walla's turn at bat. After one out in the bottom of the fourth, Dallas Bennet got on base, and Trey Bush hit a double that sent him to third. Andre Ang then hit a ground ball, and Bennet was thrown out at home. A groundout ended the inning.
In the top of the fifth, Walla Walla managed to get a walk and a double, putting two men on base. Andrew Hall then hit a ground ball that resulted in an error, allowing Walla Walla to score a run. A strikeout ended their turn at bat. Tyler Grimm took over pitching for Walla Walla, and then the Bombers started to heat up.
After John Corbin got walked, a bad throw to first allowed him to steal two bases, and Jones hit a single that would score Corbin. Chris Daniels then hit a double, followed by Charlie Johns hitting a single that scored two more runs. A popout by Ben Lehman ended up converting to a double play at first, and now there were 2 outs. Despite this, Richland kept swinging their bats and connecting on pitch after pitch. Bennet got on base after a Walla Walla error, and then Bush hit a single that would get Bennet to home plate. 2 more walks from Walla Walla’s fading pitcher meant bases loaded for Richland. Corbin is up to bat, hitting a double that would score 2 runs. A popout would end the inning, with Richland now leading 8-2. An impressive run from Richland.
In the sixth inning, Connor Lakey came in to pitch for the Bombers, and Walla Walla managed to get one hit but couldn't score. The Bombers then went three up and three down in the bottom of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, an error by Richland allowed a Walla Walla player to get on second base. A single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases for Walla Walla, but they couldn't convert as the last batter was struck out, ending the game with Richland winning 8-2.
Overall, it was an impressive performance by the Richland High School Bombers. They showed great teamwork and determination, making the most of their opportunities and coming out on top. With a solid start to their season, now 5-1, the Bombers will look to continue their winning ways as they head into their next game.
