Stephen Donahue believes his Columbia River Chieftains have what it takes to reach the Class 2A state baseball playoffs.
It’s a place the Chieftains missed out on last season for the first time in seven years.
“This team is definitely state worthy,” the coach said, “but we have to take care of business.”
The Chieftains did so Tuesday, downing Centralia 8-1 to open the 2A Southwest District tournament to advance to Wednesday’s winner-to-state semifinal against Tumwater. The Thunderbirds topped R.A. Long in their first-round game Tuesday. First pitch of Wednesday’s semifinal is 6 p.m. at Centralia’s Ed Wheeler Field.
What hurt last season’s team, going 0-2 at districts, senior Parker McNeil said, was an inconsistent offense.
Not anymore.
“This year,” he said, “we have a new mentality. Our offense is clicking on all cylinders, and we’re ready to go.”
Before Saturday’s 6-4 nonleague loss to 4A Skyview to end the regular-season, the Chieftains hadn’t lost since April 17, winning eight straight games to claim the 2A Greater St. Helens League title.
Tuesday, the Chieftains (17-4) pounded out 12 hits and scored six runs over the fifth and sixth innings to add to what was a 2-1 lead entering the fifth. Four of those runs came in the sixth inning with run-scoring hits by Nick Alder, Xavier Ulrich, Cole Delich and taking advantage of Centralia miscues.
River’s 1 through 5 hitters combined to go 12 of 27 with six RBI, powered by Derek Mettler (3 for 4, 2 runs) and Delich (3 for 3, 2 RBI). McNeil, Ulrich and Alder each had two hits.
Mettler, the Chieftains’ leadoff hitter, said trust is a big factor for the offensive productivity.
“Anyone in this lineup can bang a ball around and trust is a big thing,” he said.
Alder earned his seventh win Tuesday, allowing six hits and struck out four in 6 1/3 innings pitched. The one Centralia run in the fourth came unearned. He’s now allowed two earned runs over 44 innings with a 0.31 earned-run average.
Said Donohue: “Nick’s been money all year.”
COLUMBIA RIVER 8, CENTRALIA 1
Centralia 000 100 0—1 6 1
Col. River 200 024 x—8 12 4
Centralia
Pitching — Jeremy Wood 4 IP, loss, 6 H, 2 ER, 3 K, 1 BB; Highlights — Jeremy Wood 2-4; Dominick Aquirre 2-4, R, RBI.
Columbia River
Pitching — Nick Alder 6.1 IP, win, 6 H, 0 ER, 4 K, 3 BB; Justin Gress 0.2 IP; Highlights — Derek Mettler 3-4, 2 R; Nick Alder 2-3, R, RBI; Parker McNeil 2-4, 2 R; Xavier Ulrich 2-3, 2 RBI; Cole Delich 3-3, 2 RBI.