The Doug Lange Network 

March 21, 2019

 

Blaine baseball coach Tanner Olson went into the Borderites  game Wednesday versus Nooksack Valley looking for two things, "lots of strikes and timely hitting." The skipper got that and a lot more in a 14-to-2 victory over the Pioneers in 5 innings at the Pipeline Fields in Blaine. 

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Highlighted by an eight run 4th inning, the Borderites pounded out 11 hits. They also got a commanding performance on the mound by starter Ben Wallen and saw the Pioneers commit 6 errors helping cement the lopsided outcome. 

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"It's what we've been waiting for a little bit right here...we've been talking about it the last couple of days at our games and practices and stuff like that," said Olson. "So it feels good to get these guys some confidence, get the bats rolling a little bit and take this into league play on Friday."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Senior Chase Abshere paced the hitting attack going 2-for-3 with a double, a triple, 2 RBI's and 2 runs scored.

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Speaking on the TDLN postgame show, Olson had high praise for Abshere.

 

"He's seeing the ball well, his hands are in the right spot. He crushed a couple finally today, that's what we've been looking for...been waiting for him to get into a couple of them, said Olson. "He's one of those guys that can lead a team through districts and we're hoping we can get him hot enough and get the right guys on base in front of him and he can carry us a ways." 

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Shortstop Kyle Turnberg added a single, 2 walks, 2 stolen bases, an RBI and 3 runs scored.  Centerfielder Griffin King racked up 3 singles and scored twice. 

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MORE: Listen to our TDLN postgame interviews

with Tanner Olson & Ben Wallen

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On the mound, Wallen had the Pioneers on their heels for most of the game. The senior right hander struck out 6, without giving up a base on balls. He surrendered just 2 runs on 2 hits, with both coming in the 2nd inning. 

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Wallen said his fastball was working and he was using the curve ball to put batters away. 

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"First couple of innings I just needed to get into it and then once I found my rhythm I just had the confidence and kept throwing them," said Wallen.  

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Dawson Kimble drove in both runs for the Pioneers with a single in the 2n inning. Josh Roosma had the only other hit for Nooksack Valley with a double in the same inning. Roosmsa, the starting pitcher, gets saddled with the loss after giving up 6 earned runs on 7 hits in 2.2 innings of work. 

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Blaine improved to 3-and-2 on the year. the Borderites open up conference play Friday when they host Anacortes. With their third straight loss, Nooksack Valley drops to 2-and-5 overall. The Pioneers visit Lynden Christian Friday for their conference opener. 

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- Doug Lange