Cardinals, Trojans divide pair on diamond

Under the lights at Cardinals Field, the hometowners scratched for three 6th-inning runs for a 6-3 win in the second game of a doubleheader, salvaging a split with rival Orland High after the Trojans took the first game 10-5 on Tuesday.

With the score knotted at three apiece, designated hitter Trace Garrett got things going in the sixth with a one-out infield single, before moving to third on a pair of wild pitches. Following a strikeout for the second out, Cody Long drew a base on balls to put runners on the corners.

Garrett crossed the plate with the go-ahead run when Cole MacLachlan singled to right, and Long made it over to third. Orland hurler Jeremy Millert was then called for a balk, which scored Long and moved MacLachlan down to second, from where he scored on Nick Hoag's double to left.

Singles by the Trojans' Taylor Enck and Andrew Hutchens, along with a stolen base, put runners on second and third with one out, but MacLachlan was able to finish off a complete game by fanning the last two hitters.

"This was possibly our last game here and we played like a team," MacLachlan said. "It's more fun to play when we play like that."

Orland struck for two runs in the first on a run-scoring double by Clint Johns, and he later came in on a wild pitch. Corning answered with a pair in the second, with RBI singles by Garrett and MacLachlan.

Kevin Molleson drilled a leadoff homer off a light pole beyond the leftfield fence in the fourth for his team-leading fifth dinger of the season, but Corning forced another tie in the fifth when Austin Mallon delivered Hoag with a two-out single to right.

It marked the last game of the regular season for Corning, who now waits the results of Wednesday's seeding meeting for the playoffs.

The time off may be a blessing for the Cardinals, according to coach Tom Tomlinson, who said, "His (MacLachlan's) velocity was a little off. He might be tired, he's thrown a lot of innings."

MacLachlan struck out five and walked just two, and credits catcher Long for his confidence on the mound. "I threw more curveballs than fastballs," MacLachlan admitted, "I know he'll block it if I throw it on a 3-2 count and they swing."

A big six-run third inning of the first game put Orland comfortably out front.

Molleson also homered in the opener, finishing 3 for 4 with a pair of RBI and joining teammates Matthew Gomes and Westin Foster with two apiece.

Hutchens, Austin Schmeltzer and Derek Gaddini each collected two of the Trojans' 12 hits.

Nick Bergen was the losing pitcher in Game 1, allowing nine runs (five earned) on nine hits, while striking out three and walking two.

Orland (10-16, 4-7 Butte View League) hosted Winters Thursday to close out its season.

CONTACT Craig Purcell at 824-1036 or cpurcell@tcnpress.com.