The Ashland Pilots face a "must win" situation in this evenings game against the Box Elder Bees.  In the eight team double elimination tournament every team plays each day until only two remain.  The Pilots have one defeat, falling to Montana in the opening day's action.  The Bees are undefeated and would have to lose today and tomorrow to be knocked from the Championship stand that they are so close to ascending.  This should be a great match-up.

The Pilots will be the visiting team today and the Bees will occupy the home team dugout.  Starting on the mound for the Bees is Jason Saunders.  Taking the hill for the Pilots will be Sam Gaviglio.

In the top of the first inning the Pilots loaded the bases with singles by Lewis Sebrell, Garrett Tygerson and Sam Gaviglio, but the Bees defense held firm and ended the threat without allowing a run to cross the plate.  In the bottom of the 1st, after two outs, Danny Smith singled and Tyson Thompson drew a walk to put two runners on base.  Brandon Whitley worked the count to full, fouled off a pitch, then earned a walk which loaded the bases.  Brad Munns grounded out to short, however, and just like the Pilots in the top half of the inning, the Bees leave three runners stranded.  After one it's 0-0.

The Pilots went down quickly in the 2nd inning when Charlie Sebrell and Nicholas Hall grounded out and Max Gordon flied out.  The Bees led off the 2nd with Taylor Larsen drawing a walk and reaching 2nd on Matt McArthur's ground out.  Rob Garrett grounded out and  Zach Lindley popped out to Pilot first baseman who made a good catch at the fence down the 1st base line.  After two complete, 0-0.

In what's shaping up to be a defensive struggle, the Pilots Garrett Tygerson managed to reach first base on a single but that was all the offense they could muster in the top of the 3rd.  In the bottom half of the inning Bees right fielder Danny Smith had a single but was left on base after Tyson Thompson struck out and Brandon Whitley flied out. After 3 the score remained 0-0.

In the top of the 4th Sam Gaviglio led off for the Pilots with a stand-up double to deep right field. After Luke Jannusch struck out, Charlie Sebrell reached 1st on an error by the shortstop and Gaviglio advanced to 3rd.  Sebrell stole 2nd and Max Gordon then walked to load the bases for the Pilots for the second time in the game.  Danny Meza, who had entered the game for Hall, reached first on a fielders choice as the Bees went home for the force play to stop the run.  Ian Kendall then had the biggest hit so far in the game when he drove one to deep right field, sending 3 runs across the plate and going headfirst into 3rd for a triple.  Kendall then scored on a wild pitch and when the half inning ended the Pilots had the first lead of the game, 4-0.  In the bottom of the 4th, Pilots pitcher Gaviglio quickly got two outs when Brad Munns flied out to short and he struck out Taylor Larsen.  Matt McArthur then reached second on a ball hit deep to left field that Ian Kendall had momentarily in his glove but couldn't quite secure.  No damage was done though as Rob Garrett then grounded out back to Gaviglio.  After 4 complete, Pilots break on top 4-0.

After Owen Baldrica led off the 5th with a single, Bees Manager Mike Hollingsworth pulled starter Jason Saunders and DH Kyler Webb took the mound.  Sam Gaviglio then singled down the 3rd base line to put two runners on. Baldrica then got caught trying to steal 3rd but Luke Jannusch earned a walk to put two runners back on base. Charlie Sebrell worked his way to a base on balls and the bases were loaded for centerfielder Max Gordon with one out.  Gordon then walked and earned the easy RBI as Gaviglio came home.  Hayden Miller also earned a walk and another run crossed the plate.  Ian Kendall reached 1st on a fielders choice but another run scored.  The half inning ended when Ian Kendall lined out to the 3rd baseman.  The Pilots added three more runs and held a 7-0 lead after 4 1/2 innings.

In the bottom of the 5th Sam Gaviglio struck out Zach Lindley to start the inning.  Kyler Webb and Danny Smith then earned walks to put two runners on base. Tyson Thompson then reached first on a fielders choice that put Smith out at 2nd but advanced Webb to 3rd.  With runners on the corners, Gaviglio induced Brandon Whitley to ground out and the Bees came up empty handed once again.  After 5 complete innings, Pilots on top 7-0.

Neither team could score a run in the 6th and the Pilots were held scoreless in the top of the 7th.  Tyler Killeen came in for Gaviglio to pitch in the bottom of the 7th and Lindley quickly earned a lead-off walk.   Killeen then struck out Webb looking and Smith flied out to right field.  Derek Leishman then singled to left to give the Bees two base runners.   Brandon Whitley popped out to the shortstop however and the Pilots continued their shutout of the Bees. After seven, the Pilots were still on top by 7-0.

Garrett Tygerson led off the 8th with a single to left field.  Baldrica popped out to the shortstop then Gaviglio hit a hard grounder to short that couldn't be handled.  Jannusch then hit a hot grounder to left field that scored Tygerson and Webb was done for the night.  The Bees then brought in Derek Leishman to pitch with runners at 1st and 2nd, one out.  Tyler Killeen came to the plate and the runners moved up on a wild pitch.  Killeen then popped out to first for the second out.  Max Gordon drove one deep to right field but Danny Smith made a great catch to end the inning and hold the Pilots to just one run.  In the bottom of the inning Brad Munns popped out to Gaviglio who had moved over to first.  Taylor Larsen singled in the gap to right field.  Matt McArthur struck out and Derek Leishman lined out to the 3rd baseman.  After 8 innings, Pilots lead 8-0.

As the game moved into the final inning, Hayden Miller grounded out to start things off.  Ian Kendall then long-balled one to the wall for a standup triple.  Lewis Sebrell was then hit by the pitcher and Garrett Tygerson singled to score Kendall.  Owen Baldrica doubled to score Sebrell. Gaviglio singled to score Tygerson. In a show of sportsmanship, 3rd base coach Dave Tygerson twice held runners at third who could have easily scored. The half inning ended when Jannusch hit into a double play but the Pilots had picked up three more runs and now led 11-0.  In the Bees last at bat, Lindley popped out to Killeen, Webb drew a walk and Smith grounded out.  Justin Crosbie then struck out swinging to end the game.  Pilots win by a final score of 11-0.

The Pilots scored 11 runs on 17 hits and had 1 error.  The Bees were held scoreless on 5 hits and also had 1 error.  Gaviglio pitched 6 innings, gave up 2 hits, 5 walks and had 3 strike outs. Killeen pitched 3 in relief giving up 2 hits, 2 walks and also had 3 KO's. Kendall was 3 for 6 at the plate with 2 triples and 2 runs. Tygerson was 4 for 6 and scored 2 runs. But Gaviglio had the big stick for the pilots to go with his pitching arm going 6 for 6 with 1 double, 5 singles and scoring one run.  It was all Pilots all night and they advance to an elimination game with Idaho tomorrow at noon.  The winner will take on Utah for the Championship immediately following.

Wheatland Lobos right fielder Taylor Shepard started the game by leading off with a single, stole second base and scored on a single by Kelly Simonton.  David Castle hit a fly ball to center field that appeared to be caught, but when the ball was dropped by Bailey Thomas, a quick throw to 2nd base and then to 1st resulted in an unusual double play. After 1/2 inning, the Lobos led 1-0.  In the bottom of the 1st Trent Alleman drew a walk for the Bears and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tanner Saxton.  He then scored when Keith Cook reached 2nd on a deep line drive in the gap between center and right.  Cook advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch by starter Jon Daly, then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Nate Crane.  Rob Smith lined one just over the outreached glove of shortstop Travis Geile then advanced to 3rd on a single by Corby Dixon.  Smith then scored on a wild pitch and after one complete inning, the Bears were up 3-1.

The Lobos were held scoreless in the top of the 2nd and the Bears appeared hungry for more runs in the bottom of the inning. Number nine hitter Spencer Smedley led off with a single, then reached 2nd on a sac. bunt by Trent Alleman.  Smedley then scored on a deep fly ball to the left field corner by Tanner Saxton who reached 2nd on the hit.  After Keith Cook grounded out, Nate Crane singled and drove in Saxton to add another run to the Bears lead.  After two complete innings, Bears are up 5-1.

In the top of the 3rd, lead off hitter Taylor Shepard was robbed of a hit by right fielder Spencer Smedley who twisted, turned, and fell down backwards but made the difficult catch.  Kelly Simonton grounded out to third and David Castle reached 1st on a single, but Jon Daly popped out to third baseman Trent Alleman to end the half inning.  In the bottom of the 3rd the Lobos replaced starter Jon Daly with Eric Heatherly.  Corby Dixon got things going once again for the Bears by reaching 1st on a "texas leaguer" to left.  Bailey Thomas then drew a walk and Cameron Crane promptly drove the ball into right field, scoring Saxton and advancing Thomas to 3rd.  Spencer Smedley then hit into a double play but scored Thomas from 3rd.  Trent Alleman drew a walk but was thrown out by the catcher, Jake Montoya, while trying to steal 2nd base.  After three innings the Bears stretch their lead to 7-1.

In the top of the 4th Travis Geile grounded out to start the inning but then Blake Vaughn smashed a line drive to deep left field for a stand-up double.  He advanced to 3rd when Eric Heatherly grounded out to short, but Montoya couldn't bring him home when he hit a weak grounder back to the pitcher.  In the bottom of the 4th, Saxton led off with a walk then Keith Cook ripped one past the shortstop to put runners at 1st and 2nd.  Nate Crane flied out to right but Saxton tagged up and advanced to 3rd.  Rob Smith then drove in two runs with a double after Cook stole 2nd base, and the Bears had two more on the board.  Corby Dixon popped out to the catcher, Jake Montoya, who made a great catch on the play, but Cook tagged up and advanced to 3rd.  Bailey Thomas then hit a chopper to 3rd and reached 1st on a close play while Cook raced home for another run.  Thomas stole 2nd base, then Cameron Crane squeezed one past the second baseman to score Thomas.  As the throw came home to try and get Thomas, Crane attempted to make it to 2nd base but was thrown out by Montoya who fired a strike to the bag for the final out of the inning.  After four complete innings, Bears are up by ten, 11-1.

With things starting to look bleak for the Lobos, Kelly Simonton doubled down the 3rd base line in the top of the 5th but the Lobos go quietly once again as the Bear defense continued to play error free ball.  In the bottom of the 5th Spencer Smedley led off with a walk, then Trent Alleman struck out.  Smedley advanced to 2nd on a passed ball.  Tanner Saxton flied out to centerfield and Keith Cook reached 1st on an error by the shortstop that also advanced Smedley to 3rd.  Nate Crane then drew a walk to load the bases which brought Rob Smith to the plate.  Smith doubled to deep left field and two more runs crossed the plate for the Bears.  Corby Dixon flied out to the shortstop to end the inning and after 5 complete, the Bears led 13-1.

The Lobos are held scoreless once again in the 6th while the Bears rack up eight runs to take a commanding 21-1 lead.  Facing the 10-run mercy rule in the top of the 7th, the Lobos bats finally came alive.  Dusty Anderson led off with a double and Taylor Shepherd singled. Kelly Simonton then hit a double to score Anderson and Shepherd.  David Castle singled to drive in Simonton, then Jon Daly slammed one over the fence for a two-run homer.  Travis Geile singled and pitcher Keith Cook was done for the day.  Spencer Smedley took the mound for the Bears and Blake Vaughn reached on a fielders choice that put Geile out at 2nd.  Colt Thayer then drew a walk as did Jake Montoya. Dusty Anderson then singled and drove in a run. Taylor Shepherd reached 1st on a fielders choice and Kelly Simonton struck out to end the game.  The Lobos scored seven runs to close to within 13, but the game was over with the Bear Lake Bears on top, 21-8.

The Lobos were led at the plate by Kelly Simonton who was 3 for 5 with 2 doubles and 1 run scored.  They had 8 runs on 16 hits and committed 3 errors on the day.  The Bears were led by Rob Smith who was 3 for 4 with 2 doubles and scored 3 runs.  Corby Dixon was 3 for 5, Bailey Thomas was 2 for 2,  and Cameron Crane was 3 for 5.  Keith Cook pitched 6 innings for the Bears and allowed just one run but couldn't get an out in the 7th when the Lobos rallied.  He ended up allowing 7 runs on 15 hits with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts.

Hello sports fans.  Under a cloudy sky on a baseball field that has held up well after a night of steady rain, we are set to begin Game 12 of the NWCART.  Scheduled to start at 2:00 pm local time is a key match-up between the Wheatland Lobos from Wyoming and the Bear Lake Bears from Idaho.  The loser of this game will be out of the tournament so we're all set for an exciting and competitive contest.

The Lobos reached today's game after rebounding from their opening game loss to Washington by a score of 5-2.  The team then posted wins over South Anchorage, 16-3, and Montana, 6-4.  The Bears won two straight by trouncing South Anchorage 18-0 and winning a close one over Washington, 9-7.  They dropped their first game of the tourney yesterday, losing to undefeated Utah, 13-5.

Utah will face Oregon later today at 6:00 pm.  The Box Elder Bees of Utah have run off three straight wins by taking down Fairbanks Alaska 12-6, Montana 7-3, and the Idaho win yesterday.  The Ashland Pilots of Oregon lost their first game of the tourney to Montana, 10-7, then knocked off Fairbanks 21-3 and Washington 8-4.

Strap on your seatbelts and get ready for some hot action under the cool Alaska skies!!!