Pirates win 1 of 2
The Prairie baseball team won 1 of the 2 games played this plus week. On Tuesday, April 23, they beat Nezperce 19-4 at Cottonwood. They were also awarded a forfeit in the scheduled second game of the doubleheader as Nezperce had several players unavailable with most of them being pitchers. On Thursday, April 25, they lost 6-7 to Kendrick . A doubleheader against Potlatch on Saturday, April 27, was called off due to weather and has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 1, at Cottonwood with the first game to start at 3 p.m.
The home opener against Nezperce was supposed to be a doubleheader but with Nezperce down to just 9 players and missing most of their pitchers, they played just 1 game and forfeited the second.
Devon Poxleitner started on the mound for the Pirates and the Nezperce leadoff hitter reached on an error. Poxleitner then struck out the next 3 batters.
In the bottom of the first Prairie’s first 8 hitters all reached base. Phil Schwartz started things with a single to right and stole second. Levi McElroy beat out an infield hit. Cody Kaschmitter then tripled to the left field corner scoring both runs. Noah Behler and Carter Shears both walked to load the bases. Jake Quintal then singled to right to score Kaschmitter and Behler. Collin Ray then singled to score Shears. Kade Quintal was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After 2 outs, McElroy doubled to left to clear the bases. Kaschmitter singled up the middle to score McElroy. Behler hit a double to left but Kaschmitter only made it to third. Shears reached on an error with Kaschmitter scoring. Jake Quintal then single to score Behler as the Pirates scored 11 in the first inning.
In the second Poxleitner gave up a walk and the next hitter reached on an error. After 2 outs, a walk, error and the Nighthawks first hit of the game scored 2 runs before a baserunner was put out at third to end the inning. The out was made at third just before a third run would have scored.
Prairie added 3 runs in the bottom of the second. Kade Quintal led off with a walk but was forced at second on a grounder by Max Rehder.  Oliver Van Houten pinch=hit for Schwart and grounded out with Rehder moving to second. McElroy reached on an error. Kaschmitter then hit his second triple of the game to score both runners. Behler double to right center to score Kaschmitter. Shears was hit by a pitch but then the inning ended.
Nezperce added 2 more runs in the third. Poxleitner got a strikeout then gave up an infield hit. After a second strikeout, Kade Quintal was second to the mound. He struggled to find the plate as he walked 3 batters and hit another resulting in 2 runs before getting out of the inning with a strikeout.
Prairie needed 5 runs in the bottom of the third to end the game on the 15-run mercy rule. Ray led off with a ball that hit the third base bag and allowed him to reach first with an infield single. Kade Quintal hit a grounder that should have been a force at second but the fielder was ruled off the bag. Rehder then singled to right to score Ray. VanHouten singled to right to score Quintal. McElroy singled to left to score Rehder. Kaschmitter doubled to left to score Van Houten. Behler walked to load the bases and Poxleitner was hit by a pitch to force home McElroy with the game-ending run.
Prairie had 16 hits led by Kaschmitter who had 2 triples, a double and a single and 6 RBI. McElroy had a double and 2 singles and 4 RBI. Behler had 2 doubles and an RBI. Jake Quintal had 2 singles and 2 RBI. Ray had 2 singles and an RBI. Rehder and Van Houten each had a single and an RBI. Schwartz had a single.
Poxleitner pitched 2 2/3 innings and gave up 3 runs on 2 hits with 6 strikeout and 2 walks. Kade Quintal pitched 1/3 of an inning allowing 1 run on no hits with 1 strikeout, 3 walks and a hit batsman.
Nezperce 0 2 2—  4   2 2
Prairie    11 3 5—19 16 3
The game against Kendrick was a back and forth affair with Prairie never able to take the lead although they tied it a couple of times.
Kendrick scored an unearned run in the first inning as the leadoff hitter reached on a passed ball on a swinging strike 3. After a stolen base and a wild pitch moved the runner to third, he scoring on a groundout to first.
In the bottom of the first Prairie got a 1 out single from Levi McElroy, who advanced to second on an error by the left fielder. He advanced to third on a groundout to second but was left on base on a fly ball out to right.
Kendrick added another run in the second inning. Pitcher Noah Behler struck out the first two hitters then gave up a single to left that was misplayed allowing the batter to go to second. A single to right center followed, scoring the runner.
Prairie got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second when Carter Shears hit a 2-2 pitch over the fence in the right field corner. It was the first home run of the season for the Pirates. Jake Quintal followed with a single to right but was left on base as the inning ended.
Kendrick added another 2-out run in the third inning. The leadoff hitter reached on an error but catcher Cody Kaschmitter threw him out trying to steal with second baseman Phil Schwartz making a great catch and swipe tag. After a second out, a bloop single to right and a double to the fence in left scored the run.
Prairie was able to tie the game in the third tanks to Kendrick fielding problems. McElroy was walked with 1 out. Kaschmitter was then hit by a pitch. An error on a pickoff attempt went all the way to the right field corner allowing McElroy to score from second with Kaschmitter advancing to third. Kaschmitter attempted to steal home but was caught in a rundown and then was able to score when the third baseman was unable to come up with a throw from the catcher. That tied the score at 3-3.
Kendrick answered right back with 3 runs in the fourth inning on 2 doubles, a single and an error.
Prairie got back within 1 with 2 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Quintal led off with a single to right. After an out, Collin Ray reached on an error with Quintal advancing to third. Ray stole second. Devon Poxleitner then grounded to short but the shortstop threw the ball wide of first with both Quintal and Ray scoring.
In the fifth Kendrick had runners on first and third with 2 outs but third baseman Chris Schumacher threw out the runner trying to score from third on a ground ball. That ended the inning.
Prairie tied the score in the bottom of the fifth. Kaschmitter was walked to lead off the inning. He advanced to second on a groundout to the pitcher. Quintal then singled to right center to score Kaschmitter and tie the score at 6-6.
Kendrick was able to retake the lead in the sixth on a 1-out triple to left center and a sacrifice fly to center.
Prairie went down in order in the bottom of the sixth.
In the seventh Behler got a strikeout then the next batter reached on an error. With Behler reaching the pitch count limit, Schwartz was brought in to finish the inning. He got out of the ining with popups to short and second.
Kendrick changed pitchers in the bottom of the seventh. Behler drew a 2-out walk to bring Shears to the plate as the possible winning run. He was unable to duplicate his earlier home run though and the game ended.
Prairie had 5 hits in the game. Quintal had 3 singles and an RBI. Shears had a homer and an RBI. McElroy had a single.
Behler pitched 6 ½ innings allowing 7 runs on 13 hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks. Schwartz pitched 2/3 of an inning allowing no runs on no hits.
Prairie is now 4-10 on the season and 4-6 in league play.
Kendrick 1 1 1 3 0 1 0—7 13 5
Prairie     0 1 2 2 1 0 0—6   5 4