Photo Credit: Elliot Pond
Spring is arguably the best time of year. The rain is stopping, the shine is shining,
and school is nearing its end. Spring also means the start of baseball season, and that has led to a shining spot on the Linn-Benton campus. LBCC’s baseball team is currently dominating their season so far, with a record of 16-6 overall (6-2 in league) and tied for first in the Southern region of the Northwest Athletic Conference. The team is being lead by starting pitcher Logan Hatley who is proving to be one of the NWAC's best pitchers this season.
After picking up a non-league win against Linfield JV, the team traveled to Coos Bay for two doubleheaders against Southwestern Oregon Community College. The Roadrunner split the first doubleheader against SWOCC on Saturday, April 8, winning the first game 3-0 and then falling 0-3 in the second game. The teams ran it back on April 9, with LB taking both games 5-2.
"We've started the year playing well as a whole overall," said Head Coach Ryan Gipson. "That can be attributed to the high expectations our players have set for another and as a group."
What has been the team's strength this season is their pitching staff, in conference the team's ERA (earned runs average) is 1.92. Logan Hatley is currently leading the entire NWAC in wins with five and he's fifth in the league in strikeouts with 40. Pitching is easily one of the most important aspects of baseball so having such an outstanding pitcher has helped the team all-around.
Shortstop Josh Congdon has been one of the team’s best hitters so far. Congdon’s batting average so far is .338, with 14 runs and seven RBI (runs batted in) on the season. Congdon had four runs over the weekend with 12 at bats, and contributed four hits.
Colton Cosner also has had a productive batting season so far. His average sits at .337 with 18 runs and six RBI this season. Against SWOCC, he had four runs and seven hits.
The Roadrunners will host the first doubleheader against Clark on Friday, April 14 with the games scheduled at 1 and 4 p.m. The team will then travel to Clark on Saturday, April 15 and play a doubleheader with games at 1 and 4 p.m.
Clark has currently played six less games than LB, but have been formidable so far, with an overall record of 12-4 and 3-1 in league play. The games should be a great test between the teams to see who will pull ahead as a real contender in the Southern region of the NWAC. Right now it looks to be a three-team race between the Roadrunners, Lane, and Clark.
"Clark is going to be the next best challenge we've faced all year, said pitcher Cole Ashcraft. "All we have to do is play our game of baseball and we should get the series win."
At a glance:
- Linn-Benton's baseball team holds first place in their region with a record of 6-2 in league.
- Games on Friday, April 14 and also Saturday, April 15.
- Head Coach Ryan Gipson attributes success to players expectations and pitching staff.
- All games, results, and rosters can be found online at NWACSports.org
- Contact Coach Gispon via email at gipsonr@linnbenton.edu
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