Cardinals sweep Colville

MEDICAL LAKE - Entering what he knew was going to be the toughest part of the Northeast A League schedule, Cardinals Coach Austin Sharp set a goal of exiting a series of games with Colville, Deer Park and Freeman with three wins.

Sharp's Cardinals are well on their way to satisfying that wish following a doubleheader sweep of the defending league champion, the Colville Crimson Hawks (formerly the Indians), on March 23 at Holliday Field.

Medical Lake broke an eight-game losing streak following wins of 9-4 and 6-4 over the Crimson Hawks.

A five-run sixth inning was the difference for Medical Lake breaking a 4-4 tie.

Taylor Oliver pitched through six innings giving up seven hits and striking out eight. Ian Thompson closed it with two strikeouts.

"He pitched really well only gave up two earned runs," Sharp said of Oliver.

Andrew Roberts was a key on offense with three hits, including a double and three RBI.

Trailing quickly after a 3-run first in game two, Medical Lake chipped away scoring twice in both the first and third. The winning run came in the sixth and insurance in the seventh.

Thompson and Cameron Gardener had two hits while AJ Michaud pitched into the seventh before reaching his pitch count, striking out eight with no walks.

In the second game Roberts was also a hero on offense, despite going hitless.

He produced a pair of RBI on two sacrifices, one a grounder with a runner on third and another a sac fly in the same situation.

"He (Roberts) was real productive even without getting hits," Sharp said.

The Cardinals played a single game at Deer Park on March 26.

They host Freeman for a pair of games March 30. They have games over spring break, April 2 against Timberlake of Spirit Lake, Idaho, and a doubleheader against Reardan on April 3.