Medical Lake baseball off to hot start in early going

The Medical Lake Cardinals' baseball team is off to a fast and successful start.

But in winning their first three games, 7-2 over Cheney and a 7-0, 11-4 doubleheader sweep against St. Maries March 19 may have come at a significant cost.

The Cards' top pitcher and shortstop, senior Cory Wagner, broke his thumb after being hit by a pitch Saturday in the opening game of the doubleheader. "It's a crack, not displaced, which is better," his dad, Dan Wagner wrote in a text message, March 21.

Wagner, in his second at bat, was trying to defend himself from a wild pitch that sailed towards his head. The ball hit the thumb on his right hand and he still pitched all but one inning on the game, managing a one-hitter and near perfect game.

Losing Wagner "Will be a tough blow for us," head coach Kerry Kelly said. But the senior countered, "I don't need my thumb to pitch," Kelly said. It is uncertain what Wagner's status is.

His effort against the Lumberjacks was one that Kelly will remember for a long time. Kelly, who has seen some great pitching performances in the past, most notably from former Cardinal Adam Paulson, said Wagner's effort "Was one of the best."

Wagner struck out 15 of the 18 batters he faced in six innings of work. His no hitter was broken up by a bloop single in the top of the sixth.

Medical Lake made the most of just eight hits, combining them with four St. Maries' errors. Philip Murray had a pair of RBIs and Cole Soliday one in a pair of hits that included a double.

The Cardinals were better with their production in the second game as they had just four hits, but the visitors committed nine errors. Tyler Edisen, Tyler Munden, Jalyn Musser and Justin Parker each had an RBI.

Soliday, Brayden Hale and Murray shared pitching duties, combining to give up just one hit and strike out 12.

The opening game March 15 at home versus Cheney had Kelly extremely happy considering the rival Blackhawks had roughed up the opposition - Prosser (1-2) and Sunnyside (12-2) - in a recent jamboree. "I was a little bit concerned that we could be walking into a buzz-saw," Kelly said.

"Cheney is always tough and it's a big game for both teams because they're all friends," Kelly said. "For just having limited time on the field everything went our way that day."

Tristen Keith, Wagner and Hale each had a pair of hits with Wagner driving in three runs and Hale two as each belted run scoring doubles.

"We pitched well, we played great defense, we executed bunt coverages, we just did everything," Kelly said.

Kelly started, Wagner, and he went three innings. Hale pitched three innings and former junior varsity player, Kyle Thompson, played the closer role in the seventh.

"We need to find out what we have," Kelly said of his decision to let Thompson have the role as a closer. "What a better opportunity than against a club like Cheney."

The Cardinals were scheduled to play ay Newport this past Tuesday and host Colville in a Holliday Field doubleheader Saturday at noon.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.