Baseball Splits Blue Mountain Series
[Ontario, OR] - Treasure Valley Community College experienced a mix of frustration and resilience in their matchup against Blue Mountain, dropping the first game before bouncing back with a dramatic win in the second.
In the opener, Treasure Valley fell 3–1 despite a strong performance on the mound from Levi Hazes. Hazes pitched 6 2/3 innings, recording six strikeouts and keeping the game within reach. Kace Stapleton followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief, helping limit further damage.
Offensively, the Chukars struggled to generate momentum. Cam Ueland accounted for the team's only RBI with a double in the sixth inning, while Colt Durham added another double among the team's five total hits. Despite a few opportunities, Treasure Valley was unable to capitalize and mount a comeback.
Defensively, there were bright spots, including a well-executed double play involving Brayden Ollar, Ueland, and Trey Allen. However, Blue Mountain pulled away in the seventh inning, as Jake Wells drove in all three runs to secure the 3–1 victory.
Treasure Valley responded in a big way in the second game, rallying for a thrilling 6–5 win. Gavin Hernandez led the offense with a perfect 3-for-3 performance, driving in three runs and delivering in key moments.
The Chukars turned the game around late, erupting for four runs to take the lead. Bryson Oswald contributed with a hit, an RBI, and a stolen base, while Boyd Kay added two hits and aggressive base running to keep the pressure on Blue Mountain.
On the mound, Jameson Deitz was dominant, striking out 10 batters over 6 1/3 innings while allowing just one earned run. Jordan McIntyre and Luke Colson closed out the game with 2 2/3 scoreless innings, securing the narrow victory.
Despite committing two errors, Treasure Valley held firm defensively when it mattered most, completing the comeback and splitting the series with Blue Mountain.
The Chukars will play their series with the Hawks of Columbia Basin, beginning on Wednesday in Ontario with the doubleheader set for 2pm and 5pm. Then, they will head to Pasco, WA to complete the series on Saturday with another doubleheader.