L-C sharp enough to notch a win
Copyright The Trib

After watching Jared Joaquin and Max Hibbs work the mound in Monday's game against Westmont College, Lewis-Clark State coach Ed Cheff didn't seem overly impressed with either pitcher's performance.

Joaquin, who is still working his way back from a tender elbow, started the game and lasted just three innings. "We had him on a 50-pitch count," Cheff said, "and he used them all up in three innings. We thought we might get four innings out of him, but ... he was OK." Hibbs came on in the fourth and "was really erratic and all over the place," Cheff said. "He was still effective, but I didn't think he was special at all today."

The satisfactory outings aside, Joaquin and Hibbs still managed to sparkle just enough to lead the Warriors to their 16th win of the season, a 9-2 decision over the Santa Barbara, Calif., school in the first of a three-game series at Harris Field.

Joaquin, who Cheff feels could eventually crack the starting rotation once completely healthy, allowed just two hits, struck out three and kept Westmont (4-18) off the scoreboard.

Hibbs came on in relief to pick up his second win of the year. He struck out four and gave up just two runs -- one of which was unearned.

On the offensive side of the ball, Cheff seemed slightly more pleased with the effort exhibited by his lineup.

The Warriors knocked around three different Westmont pitchers for 11 hits and showed good patience at the plate, drawing eight walks.

"I thought we swung a little bit better today," Cheff said. "We're picking it up a little bit and I saw some positive things that will hopefully pick us up."

One player who almost single-handedly ignited the Warrior offense was senior D.J. Kooken, who nearly hit for the cycle.

Kooken started the afternoon by launching a triple down the right-field line in the second inning. He would eventually score on Jon Buettner's sacrifice fly to center.

In the third, Kooken roped a hit into centerfield that plated two runs and gave the Warriors a commanding 6-0 lead.

But Kooken saved his best for last, as he connected on a ball in the seventh inning that tight-roped the left-field line before clearing the wall for a homerun.

"It was good to see (Kooken) hit like that," Cheff said, "because we think of him as pretty good hitter and he might have a shot at being the designated hitter."

Kooken's round-tripper was his first homerun of the season and the Warriors' first in over a month. The Warriors had not cleared the fence in 14 games, the last coming in a Feb. 12 win over Whitworth.

The Warriors, who have put together a five-game winning streak, will tussle with Westmont again today at Harris Field at 3 p.m.