The Tenino offense has been on fire to start the season. The Beavers scored at least seven runs in each of their first three wins, and they scored 14 in their first game against Rochester earlier this week.
Friday was no different for Tenino, which beat Rochester 11-5 and 14-1 in a doubleheader at Fort Borst Park to complete the three-game sweep.
“To get a sweep to start the (league) year, that’s huge,” Tenino coach Ryan Schlesser said. “And it’s fun. It’s fun to beat Rochester. Double the fun.”
Rochester struck first in Game 1 on an RBI single from Ethan Rodriguez in the first, but the Beavers got going at the plate in the third.
Kellan Johnson scored the first Tenino run on an error before Michael Vassar and Hunter Sweet drove in three on back-to-back hits. Another error brought home the fifth run of the inning.
The Beavers tacked one on in the fourth to make it 6-1, and they answered Rochester’s three-spot in the bottom of the fourth with three of their own in the top of the fifth. The first two runs of the fifth came across on a home run from Vassar, who finished the day with three runs batted in.
Rochester starter Ethan Rodriguez exited the game with two outs in the fifth. He ended his day with nine runs charged to his name, but just four of those runs were earned.
“Early on, he was able to throw his curveball for a strike, then he lost his control a bit and then they were able to sit on fastballs,” Rochester coach Brad Quarnstrom said. “It’s gonna be a long day if that’s all you got, your fastball, but he did a competitive job and kept us in the game.”
Jack Burkhardt pitched the first four innings for the Beavers, allowing five runs (two earned) while walking three and striking out six. Zeke Haskins entered in relief, posting three shutout innings and allowing just two hits.
“Jack threw a really good game,” Schlesser said. “Our pitch count just got up … We definitely have some stuff to clean up defensively to be more successful. And then Zeke came in and does what Zeke does, cleaning up messes. He’s filling that reliever role really nicely.”
Austin Gonia took over in Game 2. He was in control on the mound the entire way, as he ended up allowing just three hits and one run while striking out five.
“Today, he was real sharp,” Quarnstrom said. “When he’s throwing like that, he’s gonna be tough to beat.”
He did even more damage at the plate, going 4 for 4 with a pair of triples and a staggering seven RBIs.
Schlesser commended Gonia for his day at the plate, and he also gave credit to the entire lineup for the successful day.
“I thought we swung it really well,” Schlesser said. “In Game 1, our top of our lineup didn’t do a lot of damage, but our bottom half picked it up. And then Game 2, you saw our top half get going a little bit.
Will Feltus finished the second game 1 for 3 with a double, two RBIs, and three runs, and Jack Burkhardt collected a pair of hits and scored twice.
Chris Butcher, who missed his junior season because of a brain injury, drilled a single to right in his first varsity at-bat.
Simon Barth drove in Rochester’s lone run of Game 2 with an RBI triple in the third.
Rochester has now lost four straight since winning its first game against Centralia, but Quarnstrom is still confident that his group can turn it around.
“That’s probably the bar in our league,” Quarnstrom said while motioning toward the Tenino dugout. “We can still get to where we want to be.”
Both teams will be back on Tuesday, when the Warriors (1-4, 0-3 1A Evergreen) host Hoquiam in the first of a three-game set, while the Beavers (6-0, 3-0 1A Evergreen) will head to Benton City to play a non-league doubleheader against Kiona Benton.
