WL OIBA team advances to playoff tournament

By Matthew Sherman

The West Linn Tidings, Jul 29, 2010

Pitcher Warner Edwards deals to the plate during the second game of a double header last week against Central Catholic. Edwards earned the victory which propelled the Lions into the 16-team playoff tournament.

STAFF PHOTOS / VERN UYETAKE / west linn tidings

After an up and down regular season in the OIBA, West Linn's baseball team qualified for the 16-team double elimination tournament this week and will look to close the summer season out by making a strong showing.

The Lions opened up with Tualatin at Tigard High School on Wednesday night.

West Linn earned its way into the tournament with an impressive sweep over Central Catholic in a doubleheader last week.

"It was nice because we'd kind of been on a bit of a skid," coach Mike Lord said.

In the opening game of the best-of-three series with the Rams, the Lions fell behind early 5-0 and trailed by that same deficit headed into the bottom of the fourth.

D.J. Clark finally put the Lions on the board, belting a two-run home run to give West Linn's offense a spark.

Central Catholic put up a run against reliever Zach Shuholm, who spelled James Coghill but the Lions would quickly rally to tie the game at 6-6.

Once West Linn finally broke through against the Rams' pitching, the entire line-up found success.

Andrew Yokubaitis came up with the big blast with a solo home run to give the Lions their first lead of the game.

West Linn would take an 11-6 lead into the final inning and Shuholm was able to shut down a final rally from the Rams to preserve an 11-8 victory.

Shuholm also had an RBI double and a stolen base while earning the win in the contest.

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