Pioneer

Issue date: 6/4/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Daniel Dillard Orion Jones, coach of the men's baseball team, looking on as his 14-25 baseball team misses the playoffs after losing to T.C.C. and Lower Columbia to end the season.

Entering the last week of the baseball season, the Raiders squad was sitting in good position for a playoff berth with an 11-10 league record. All they needed to do was either sweep T.C.C. or win three of their last four league games. Playoff hopes were shattered when they failed to do either.

Against Tacoma Community College on May 9, the Raiders lost both games of a doubleheader. In the first game, T.C.C. beat Pierce 2-1 with sophomore lefthander Erik Hoium striking out seven Pierce batters for the Titans. Pierce only managed four hits the entire game. The second game of the series didn't produce much more offense for the team as T.C.C. won 6-2 with the Raiders only getting five hits. Again, T.C.C. pitching was solid with freshmen Colton Brown throwing 11 strikeouts during his complete game.

The two losses put the skids on playoff hopes and left the Raiders winless (0-5) against T.C.C. this year. Even with the late season meltdown, athletic director Duncan Stevenson felt he saw a quality product on the field, saying:

"The 2009 baseball season was a success in many ways. Despite not qualifying for the playoffs, the team finished fourth in the division and were in the race for a playoff spot up to the final weekend of play."

Earlier in the year on April 26, the baseball team had a little run-in with Centralia that lead to seven suspensions after a fight broke out on the field.

During a game that Pierce won 15-5, the Centralia pitching staff was routinely hitting Pierce batters with pitches and quickly nearing the "mercy rule" by the fifth inning. In the fifth, Centralia hit four Pierce batters and then in the sixth inning, after some poor pitching and hit batters, players and coaches were warned. When yet another Pierce player was hit with a pitch, Centralia coaches and players were ejected.

After the game had ended, an altercation broke out between the Centralia bench and a Pierce player walking towards first base. When Pierce coach Orion Jones saw what was taking place, he left his position to defend his player. After that, a fight ensued. Coach Jones was initially told he would be suspended in the wake of the fight but after deliberation with the athletic director, Stevenson felt Jones had handled the situation as best he could.

Continued...

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