Billings Scarlets win two to kick off stint at Spokane Wood Bat Classic
SPOKANE, Wash. — The Billings Scarlets utilized superior pitching to roll past their first two opponents at the Spokane Wood Bat Classic on Thursday, allowing a combined four hits across 14 innings on the Fourth of July.
Billings took down Spokane's Northwest 509 Stars by a 3-1 margin in its opening game before going 2-0 on the day with a 4-0 victory over Lewiston, Idaho.
The Scarlets faced their only deficit of the day in the first inning of the opener after falling behind 1-0, but Billings immediately responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame to get in front.
Scarlets pitcher Paxton Prill additionally recovered to toss six strong innings of two-hit ball, striking out eight Stars along the way. Nolan Berkram then arrived in relief for the seventh inning to close the door and pick up the save.
Brady Randall, Kyler Northrop and Colter Wilson had the RBIs for Billings against the Stars, while Kade Vatnsdal had a 3 for 3 outing at the plate with a run to boot.
In the second game of the day against Lewiston, the Scarlets once again tossed a two-hitter on the mound through left-hander Zach Stewart, who finished the complete-game shutout on 86 pitches and struck out seven while walking just one along the way.
Jakob Wilcox had a solo home run in the latter game for Billings as Vatnsdal and Hunter Doyle managed the other RBIs.
The Scarlets will continue play in Spokane on Friday with a pair of games, first against the Webber Wildcats (Canada) at 11:30 a.m. followed by the Spokane Bandits at 4:30 p.m.
