While it had to settle for its second tie of the year, the Western Nevada Community College baseball team got what it needed against one of Northern California's top clubs.
WNCC settled for a 6-6 tie at Feather River Community College on Wednesday in a scheduled nine-inning game that went into the 10th inning. The game was stopped twice due to snow delays.
The Wildcats (25-20-2) actually took a 7-6 lead in the 10th when the game was called, so the final result reverted back to the last completed inning. It's the second tie for WNCC, which tied New Mexico Community College 5-5 early in the season. New Mexico is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation.
"You might coach for 20 years and not tie twice in a season," WNCC coach D.J. Whittemore said.
Josh Brink started for WNCC, but ran into trouble after retiring the first batter he faced. He was chased after two singles, a double and a hit batsman gave Feather River a 1-0 lead and loaded the bases.
Jake Bottari came on and fielded a bunt, but threw wildly home, allowing two runs to score. But Bottari settled down for the rest of his time in the first and second innings.
WNCC made it 3-1 in the third when Pat Grennan walked and scored on Taylor Mieras' double. Wes Osmer allowed a run in the bottom of the third after a hit batsman, two wild pitches and a walk. But Osmer settled down, with the run scoring on a double play.
The Wildcats tied the game 4-4 in the fourth after Andrew Reid and Cliff Shepard walked. Logan Parsley followed with an RBI doubled and Brad Carlsen followed with a two-run triple.
In the bottom of the fourth, T.J. Wohlever allowed an RBI double by Fallon's J.P. Tye that gave Feather River a 5-4 lead. WNCC took a 6-5 lead in the sixth.
Chuck Howard singled, moved to second on Kyle Bondurant's sacrifice and scored on Thomas Miller's single. After Miller went to second on a passed ball, he scored on Reid's single.
Jeremy Joustra, Josh Creveling and Dan Grubbs each pitched a scoreless inning before Reid saw his first action of the year on the mound in the eighth. He allowed a run in the eighth, but pitched a scoreless ninth.
In the 10th, Shepard tripled and scored on Parsley's RBI sacrifice fly. Carlsen singled and was at first with one out when the game was called.
Parsley went 3-for-4 and was hit by a pitch, the 24th time he's been hit by a pitch this season. Carlsen was officially 1-for-3.
Feather River came into the game ranked No. 10 in Northern California and had a 19-game winning streak as it was 19-0 in the Golden Valley Conference.
"We got a chance to sharpen our bullpen a little bit and keep them sharp," Whittemore said.
Whittemore said he was also glad to have a chance to see Reid. "I think he'll figure into the plans for us as we move forward," Whittemore said.
WNCC will return to Scenic West Athletic Conference action this weekend against Colorado Northwestern Community College. The two teams will play a four-game series with doubleheaders beginning at noon on Friday and Saturday.
The Wildcats can't take Colorado Northwestern lightly as it won one out of four at College of Southern Idaho last weekend. Colorado Northwestern also took one of four against WNCC earlier in the year.
WNCC is trying to keep its slim hopes of finishing second in the SWAC alive. The Wildcats are in third at 19-13, trailing Southern Idaho, which is 23-9, by four games. Southern Idaho must finish the regular season with four games at first place Community College of Southern Nevada, which is 24-8.
In the playoff format, the top two teams will be a host site and receive a first round bye.