ADNA — The Adna baseball team had revenge on its mind for an inning Tuesday, but found itself overwhelmed by Toutle Lake, as the league champs rolled past the Pirates 15-5 in five innings in the semifinals of the 2B District 4 tournament.
The Pirates — designated as the visitors despite playing at their own ballpark — struck for three runs in the top of the first inning against University of Portland commit Connor Cox, with Sawyer Terry bringing one home on a sacrifice fly and Owen Fagerness pounding a 2-RBI double.
After stringing together three hits in the first, though, the Pirates would manage just three the rest of the way. And on offense, the Ducks were simply inevitable.
Toutle got one run back in the first inning, then batted around in the second, sending 12 batters to the plate in a six-run frame. Two more came home in the third, followed by six in the fourth to get the game to run-rule territory.
The Ducks came away with eight hits, while the Pirates issued eight free passes and further helped their foes’ cause with six errors, along with two failed attempts to turn double plays.
“That’s baseball,” Adna coach Thad Nelson said. “Sometimes you make the plays, and sometimes you don’t.”
Luke Mohney drew a pair of walks and scored a run at the top of the order for Adna. Cameron Nakano, who replaced Asher Guerrero on the hill in the second inning, tagged Cox for a triple in his only plate appearance.
Adna will play for its season Friday — back at home — in a loser-out, winner-to-State game against Napavine.
“Our kids have battled adversity all year,” Nelson said. “They’re going to be ready to go.”
