Hawks in Hot Stove Race

Colville baseball continues to pile up the wins, achieving the No. 6 spot in the 1A classification Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rankings. The Crimson Hawks picked up three wins in four games last week, edging Medical Lake, rolling past Kettle Falls, and splitting a doubleheader with No. 2-ranked Lakeside to move to 11-5 on the season.

The Hawks opened the week with a 5-4 win over Medical Lake on April 20. Colville scored one run in the first inning, two in the third, and two more in the next two frames, then held off a late Cardinals rally.

Jet Bateman and Kyle Bradfield each doubled for Colville, while Jet Bateman went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Bradfield added two hits, a run and an RBI. Colton Hansen also drove in a run.

Hansen earned the win on the mound, allowing four runs, three earned, on two hits over five innings. He struck out two and walked seven. Cooper Hickok threw two scoreless innings in relief, allowing three hits with no walks.

Colville followed with a 12-4 win over Kettle Falls on Wednesday, April 22. The Hawks led 6-0 in the top of the third inning before the Bulldogs scored four runs in the bottom of the frame. In response, Colville scored a run in the fourth and fifth innings, and then four runs in the seventh. 

Braxton Brown led the offense, going 3-for-3 with three RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Luke Bateman went 2-for-3 with three runs scored, while Hansen, Gunnar Baker, Cooper Haynes, Jet Bateman, and Zack Bateman each drove in a run.

Conor Lyng picked up the win, throwing 5 2/3 innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on five hits. He struck out six and walked three. Bradfield finished the game with 1 1/3 scoreless innings in relief.

The Hawks opened Friday’s doubleheader against Lakeside with a 5-3 win. Colville scored one run in the second inning, two in the third, and two in the fifth to take control. Lakeside rallied in the top of the seventh with three runs, but their comeback fell short.

Luke Bateman went 2-for-3 with a triple, an RBI and two runs scored. Bradfield added two hits and a double, while Jet Bateman had two hits. Hansen drove in two runs, while Fischer Hilderbrandt added two hits and a stolen base.

Bradfield turned in a strong start for Colville, throwing 6 2/3 innings and allowing three runs, none earned, on four hits. He struck out nine and walked three. Hansen recorded the final out in relief.

Lakeside answered in the second game, beating Colville 9-5 in eight innings. The Hawks led 5-3 after the fourth, but Lakeside tied the game with two runs in the fifth. The Eagle's Kannon Almond hit a grand slam in the top of the eighth and the Crimson Hawks couldn't respond in the bottom of the frame.

Jet Bateman had a big game at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double, an RBI, and a run scored. Lyng went 3-for-4 with a run and a double, while Zack Bateman added a hit, an RBI, and a run. Brown and Bradfield also drove in runs.

Hickok started for Colville, allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked one. Hansen took the loss in relief, allowing four runs over 1 2/3 innings.