BLACKJACK! FISHERMEN HIT 21 IN WIN AT SCAPPOOSE
In stark contrast to Tuesday's 2-0 pitcher's duel, Astoria outslugged Scappoose 20-8 on the road Thursday night, putting on a remarkable hitting display to run their Cowapa League record to a perfect 6-0.
As if making up for lost AB's after their potent offense was slowed by Jacob Gale's 5-hit pitching performance on Tuesday, the Fishermen mercilessly attacked young lefthander Julian Zirkle and continued pounding away at righthanded reliever Charlie Updike until the mercy bell sounded at the end of the sixth round.
Neither team's pitcher was benefitting from a postage stamp-sized strike zone that had both Zirkle and Astoria sophomore starter Jordan Poyer forced to serve fastballs up and over the plate in order to get a strike. These are teams that feast on fat pitches and the final stat lines emphasize that.
"Poyer couldn't get an out in third inning," said a bemused Astoria head coach Dave Gasser. "There were no corners or low strikes."
Poyer gave way to Nick Bredleau after walking six batters and giving up four hits in two-plus innings and was hung for six early runs.
"He was really getting squeezed," said Gasser, "but there wasn't much of an adjustment. He just kept throwing them where you often get strikes. [Astoria catcher Brendan] Landwehr told me there were at least 12 pitches that would ordinarily be called a strike."
Meanwhile, Scappoose's two pitchers found plenty of the plate and Astoria took advantage with 21 hits in the six inning game.
"I wondered for a while if we would need 20," said Gasser. "We made some good plays to get out of innings."
Any frustration Poyer felt on the mound certainly did not affect him at the plate, as the sophomore smacked his second home run in a week, one of three long balls on the day for the Fishermen and one of three hits on the night for "The Chef".
Each of Astoria's nine batters had at least one hit, while Brent Culver, Tom Jawarski, Brendan Landwehr and Mason Brause all joined Poyer in the 3-hit club.
It was a particularly good day for the Brause family as elder brother Matt and sophomore designated hitter Mason each hit home runs. Mason's shot was his first extra base hit of the season. The Brause brothers combined to drive in eight runs and Mason scored three times.
The victory was Astoria's 11th straight and clinched the season series with Scappoose as Astoria maintains a two-game lead in the Cowapa League standings over Yamhill-Carlton, which moved into second place with a 7-6 win over struggling Banks.
"We did what we needed to do," said Gasser. "We wanted to get two from them."
Astoria plays three games next week. All will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN. The Banks Braves visit Aiken Field on Tuesday, then Astoria travels to Banks on Thursday, with both games at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, the Fishermen host the top-ranked 2A team in Washington as the Mark Morris Monarchs, featuring Washington State-bound Matt Argyropolis, visit Astoria for a 1:00 p.m. contest.
ASTORIA 6-4-2-3-0-5 20-21-1
SCAPPOOSE 2-4-0-2-0-0 8-7-3
WP-Bredleau (4ip, 3h, 2r, er, 2k, 2bb)
LP-Zirkle (2.1ip, 12h, 12r, 12er, 0k, bb)
As if making up for lost AB's after their potent offense was slowed by Jacob Gale's 5-hit pitching performance on Tuesday, the Fishermen mercilessly attacked young lefthander Julian Zirkle and continued pounding away at righthanded reliever Charlie Updike until the mercy bell sounded at the end of the sixth round.
Neither team's pitcher was benefitting from a postage stamp-sized strike zone that had both Zirkle and Astoria sophomore starter Jordan Poyer forced to serve fastballs up and over the plate in order to get a strike. These are teams that feast on fat pitches and the final stat lines emphasize that.
"Poyer couldn't get an out in third inning," said a bemused Astoria head coach Dave Gasser. "There were no corners or low strikes."
Poyer gave way to Nick Bredleau after walking six batters and giving up four hits in two-plus innings and was hung for six early runs.
"He was really getting squeezed," said Gasser, "but there wasn't much of an adjustment. He just kept throwing them where you often get strikes. [Astoria catcher Brendan] Landwehr told me there were at least 12 pitches that would ordinarily be called a strike."
Meanwhile, Scappoose's two pitchers found plenty of the plate and Astoria took advantage with 21 hits in the six inning game.
"I wondered for a while if we would need 20," said Gasser. "We made some good plays to get out of innings."
Any frustration Poyer felt on the mound certainly did not affect him at the plate, as the sophomore smacked his second home run in a week, one of three long balls on the day for the Fishermen and one of three hits on the night for "The Chef".
Each of Astoria's nine batters had at least one hit, while Brent Culver, Tom Jawarski, Brendan Landwehr and Mason Brause all joined Poyer in the 3-hit club.
It was a particularly good day for the Brause family as elder brother Matt and sophomore designated hitter Mason each hit home runs. Mason's shot was his first extra base hit of the season. The Brause brothers combined to drive in eight runs and Mason scored three times.
The victory was Astoria's 11th straight and clinched the season series with Scappoose as Astoria maintains a two-game lead in the Cowapa League standings over Yamhill-Carlton, which moved into second place with a 7-6 win over struggling Banks.
"We did what we needed to do," said Gasser. "We wanted to get two from them."
Astoria plays three games next week. All will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN. The Banks Braves visit Aiken Field on Tuesday, then Astoria travels to Banks on Thursday, with both games at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, the Fishermen host the top-ranked 2A team in Washington as the Mark Morris Monarchs, featuring Washington State-bound Matt Argyropolis, visit Astoria for a 1:00 p.m. contest.
ASTORIA 6-4-2-3-0-5 20-21-1
SCAPPOOSE 2-4-0-2-0-0 8-7-3
WP-Bredleau (4ip, 3h, 2r, er, 2k, 2bb)
LP-Zirkle (2.1ip, 12h, 12r, 12er, 0k, bb)
posted by Matt Richert at 10:05 PM
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