File photo – Ethan Thomas
The Del Norte Warriors enjoyed an impressive early-season win in baseball on Wednesday, defeating Grants Pass 12-7 on the road.
The Warriors put up six runs in the second inning, before the home team rallied to tie the game in the fourth.
Del Norte, however, closed out the stronger of the two teams and took a lead they would not relinquish with four more runs in the sixth.
“As a coaching staff, we’re very proud of the boys,” head coach Brandon Coborn said. “We were playing a school two divisions above us and we knew it was going to be a test, and the boys came out today and really played for each other.”
The coaches were particularly pleased with the manner in which the players answered the call after giving up the early lead.
“Our boys didn’t falter and didn’t hang their heads,” Coborn said.
There were multiple standout performances in the win, none more so than Ethan Thomas, who led the way at the plate and finished 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles and three RBIs.
The senior standout barely missed out on a home run.
Leadoff hitter William Bommelyn also had a big game and finished 2-for-3 with four runs, while Cole Blackburn was 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI and Saxon Taylor was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
Preston Daniels got the win on the mound in relief, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing four hits and two walks while striking out two.
Brody Mattz pitched the first 2.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on two hits and two walks and striking out two.
Senior catcher Cooper Maxwell also was instrumental in the win behind the plate and has really grown into the role.
“Cooper Maxwell did a great job catching for us today,” Coborn said. “He did a great job working with out pitchers and staying really composed.”
The Warriors had 11 hits in the win.
“As a team we had some long at-bats going deep into the count,” the head coach added. “It was really exciting to watch. The boys came ready to play.”
The Warriors, who are now 2-1, will play at St. Bernard’s on Wednesday at 4 p.m.
