Warriors drop another close one at Shasta tournament

By barstoolfanatics on April 12, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

File photo – Del Norte’s Cole Blackburn had the clutch bat for his team on Wednesday.

The results haven’t been going their way recently, but the Del Norte Warriors continue to battle on the baseball field.

On Wednesday, the Del Norte boys dropped their second straight game at the Shasta tournament and fifth overall, losing 4-3 to Foothill.

The Warriors, however, have been competitive in all of those games, losing the past four by just a combined six runs, including a pair of one-run losses.

“Overall we competed with a really good team and a bigger school that is two divisions above us,” Del Norte head coach Brandon Coborn said of the 8-5 Cougars. “I was just really proud with the way we competed and battled today. Sooner or later, something has to go our way.”

Senior Cole Blackburn continued to impress in the loss and drove in all three of the Warriors’ runs.

Blackburn was 2-for-4 and hit a big two-run double to break the deadlock and give his team the lead in the top of the fifth.

However, the Cougars would get on the scoreboard with three runs in the bottom half of the inning and would widen their lead to two with another run in the sixth.

The Del Norte boys pulled back within one with a run in the top of the seventh and had the potential tying run on base at the end.

“It was good just to see us compete today,” Coborn said.

The head coach was particularly impressed with Blackburn.

“He’s just been swinging a real good bat for us,” he said. “I’m happy his hits are starting to drop.”

Willie Bommelyn also had an impact at the plate and was 2-for-4 with a run, while Cooper Maxwell was 2-for-2 with a run and Ethan Thomas finished 1-for-3 with a double.

Thomas got the start on the mound and impressed while keeping the Cougars scoreless through the opening four innings.

Thomas struck out five in 4.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on five hits and a pair of walks.

“Ethan Thomas competed for us on the mound today and really kept us in the ball game,” Coborn said of his standout senior.