Astoria is a hit on Broadway, in win over Seaside
Published 5:13 pm Sunday, April 22, 2018
SEASIDE — The Seaside Seagulls were coming off two extra-inning games last week against the No. 6-ranked Banks Braves — which had Astoria coach Glen Fromwiller a little worried going into Monday’s Clatsop Clash game at Broadway Field.
“That had me nervous,” Fromwiller said, “because Seaside is a dangerous team, and they’re starting to hit their stride.”
But Fromwiller apparently didn’t have to worry, because very few teams at the 4A level are playing better right now than the Astoria Fishermen.
Astoria belted out 15 hits — six for extra bases — in a decisive 11-2 win over the Gulls in the first meeting of the season between the two teams.
“We’re playing pretty good right now,” Fromwiller said. “We’re getting better with every game, and we’ve got some guys who are finding the right place for themselves in the lineup.
“Which was one of the problems early in the season — we were experimenting with the lineup and getting guys in the right place,” he said. “And now they’re buying into their roles.”
The Fishermen were hitting up and down the lineup, from their leadoff batter (Trey Hageman, with a single and an inside-the-park home run) to their No. 9 hitter (Dylan Rush, single and a double).
In between, junior Balan Kolee had two doubles and an inside-the-park homer, and Dylan Matteucci had a single and a triple. Both Astoria home runs came in the fifth inning.
Their four-run fifth inning gave the Fishermen an 8-2 lead, plenty for Hageman, Astoria’s starting pitcher who threw six strong innings.
Hageman allowed two of Seaside’s three hits, with six strikeouts and two walks.
The Gulls actually held a 2-1 lead after two innings, scoring on a passed ball and a sacrifice fly from Ashton Boyd.
Seaside will get another shot at Astoria on Wednesday, when the Fishermen host the Gulls at Tapiola Park.