Parrish optimistic about next year after state

By

Gazette Reporter

RIDGEFIELD — The underdog Colfax boys baseball team weren’t able to overcome two higher-ranked teams in the state 2B tournament last month, ultimately finishing fourth.

But it hasn’t soured Coach Scott Parrish.

He noted the tough baseball ranks here in Eastern Washington.

“I think the toughness and the difficulty seen during league was impressive.” Parrish said, adding that the fourth-place finish “showed we belonged” at state.

The No. 13-ranked Bulldogs faced No. 1-ranked Toutle Lake first, and fell, 10-7, to the Fighting Ducks on May 27.

J.P. Wigen and Dawson Lobdell led the team with 2 RBIs each. J.J. Bodey, Alex Mortensen and Cody Inderrieden each had 1.

Ryan Henning, Braden Plummer, Mason Gilchrist, Inderrieden and Mortensen all scored in the game.

Then in the game for third-place, the local boys lost to the No. 3-ranked Jenkins (Chewelah) Cougars, 6-3, on May 28.

J.D. Peterson, Henning and Gilchrist were all at bat 4 times. Inderrieden, Peterson and Gilchrist each had an RBI.

Peterson, Henning and Mortensen each scored a run.

Mortensen pitched most of the game, giving up 9 hits and 6 runs.

On the mound for the Cougars, James MacRae struck gave up 8 hits and 3 runs.

“We faced next level pitching across the board. College-level pitching,” Parrish said.

Parrish said that while the Bulldogs didn’t win, he was happy with the way the local batters hit.

Looking ahead, Parrish is optimistic.

“We’ll have starters coming back and 15 varsity travelers returning,” he said, noting the Bulldogs have a solid tradition in baseball.

“We won state in 2017, second in 15;” he said. “Second in 2010.

“We have a good history.”