By MATT BREACH OF THE TRIBUNE, Saturday, March 31

L-C, Wholey send Owls scurrying; Warriors open series with 18-4 blowout of Oregon Tech


3-31-06

After the Warriors concluded yet another trouncing of an inferior opponent Friday night, Ryan Wholey released a mammoth sigh of relief.

"It's about time," the Lewis-Clark State senior said of his team's dominating performance. "A lot of us have been in a little bit of a slump."

(Starter Brad Schwarzenbach in the first inning versus Oregon Tech)

He may need to brush up on the exact definition of a slump. The Warriors, after all, are basking in the radiant glow of a remarkable season -- even by their elevated standards.

Paced by Wholey's 4-for-4 effort at the plate, top-ranked L-C pummeled Oregon Tech 18-4 in the opener of a three-game series at Harris Field.

To demonstrate just how broad a gap exists between these clubs, consider:

The Warriors (24-2, 10-1) racked up a season-high run total on their way to their fifth consecutive win.

The Owls (4-16, 2-11) committed a season-worst six errors -- a mark they have amassed two other times this year. As a result, the Klamath Falls club suffered its 12th straight setback.

"We just didn't play good defense," said Tech coach Pete Whislers, whose team surrendered five unearned runs. "When you give a team second and third chances, you're going to get your ass beat. Bottom line."

The Owls' outing was so bleak, they couldn't even find solace in the 2-0 advantage they built after half an inning. The Warriors, unfazed by the unusual early deficit, wouldn't allow it.

L-C, which has outscored opponents 35-6 in the first inning this season, stormed back in the bottom of the inning. They eventually loaded the bases and took a 3-2 lead on Travis Georgius' bases-loaded walk.

The Warriors would go on to score in every inning but one, including a four-run barrage in the third, a three-score burst in the fourth and a five-run salvo in the seventh.

Leadoff hitter Mark Thompson set the table for the L-C offense, driving in four runs on a pair of hits.

The senior also added to his runs-scored total, crossing the plate twice. Thompson, who has scored 41 times this season, is tied with Beau Mills for the team lead.

Georgius, filling in at catcher for the injured Jessie Mier, drove in a pair of runs on two hits, as did center fielder Brent Wyatt.

As impressive as all those performances were, this night clearly belonged to Wholey.

The senior, who has appeared in just 12 games this season, tallied two RBI and scored three times. His four hits, which included a double and a triple, were a season high. He had just two base knocks entering Friday's contest.

"I had been struggling of late, and I just wanted to keep it simple," Wholey said of his approach at the plate. "It feels excellent. I'm pretty stoked right now."

At the other end of the emotional spectrum was Whislers, who came to a simple and undeniable conclusion.

"No question the best team we have played this season," he said. "No question."

Keep in mind, the Owls have faced the likes of Chico State, currently the sixth-ranked club in NCAA Division II.

NOTES -- L-C coach Ed Cheff said Mier, the Warriors' starting catcher , will sit out the final two games of the series, which start today at noon. The senior cracked a bone in his left index finger at Gonzaga Tuesday. He is expected to return Monday.

OREGON TECH LEWIS-CLARK ST.

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Kim Seu 2b 2 1 0 0 Thompsn ss 2 2 2 4

Ouelette cf 4 1 1 0 O'Hara ph 1 0 0 0

Baca c 3 0 1 1 Wyatt cf 3 1 2 2

Tapia ph 1 2 0 0 Rivera cf 2 0 1 1

Simmons c 2 0 0 0 Martin lf 2 0 0 1

Curtis ss 4 0 1 2 Mills 3b 6 2 1 0

Teaters 1b 4 0 2 1 Roehl rf 2 1 1 1

Barrington 3b 4 0 0 0 Tajiri rf 3 1 1 1

Mecum dh 4 0 2 0 Wholey dh 4 3 4 2

Myhre rf 4 0 0 0 Greene 1b 1 2 0 0

Hummel lf 2 0 2 0 Ecker 1b 2 1 0 1

Georgius c 4 1 2 2

Simmons ph 3 2 1 0

Andersn 2b 3 2 1 1

Totals 34 4 9 4 Totals 38 18 16 16

Oregon Tech 2000 000 200--4 9 6

Lewis-Clark St. 314 311 50x--18 16 1

Oregon Tech ip h r er bb so

James (L, 1-1) 2.1 5 8 6 6 1

Henry 3.2 11 10 7 2 3

Martinez 2 0 0 0 0 0

Lewis-Clark St. ip h r er bb so

Schwarznebch (W, 2-0) 3 5 2 2 1 3

Miller 3 3 0 0 0 7

Parker 3 1 2 2 3 3

----

Breach may be contacted at mbreach@lmtribune.com