Mariners split doubleheaders, improve to 25-20

The Mission Valley Mariners split back-to-back doubleheaders last week, bouncing back from losses with wins to move to 25-20 on the season heading into the final stretch of summer baseball.

On Tuesday, July 15, the Mariners were overpowered in game one by a hot-hitting Bitterroot Bucs squad, falling 14-3 in a shortened contest. Bitterroot jumped out to an early big lead with a five-run third inning and sealed the game with a seven-run fourth. Mission Valley managed seven hits, led by Brayson DuMont’s 2-for-3 performance that included a double. Aiden Gfroerer went 2-for-2, while Landon Pablo, Holden Emerson, and Cole Wadsworth each chipped in with a hit. Starter Cash Atkinson allowed 14 runs (13 earned) over 3 2/3 innings, while Cody Haggard closed out the final inning and a third with two strikeouts and no runs allowed.

In the nightcap, the Mariners responded with a gritty 7-5 victory, overcoming a 3-1 deficit with a four-run third inning and holding on late. Haggard and Gfroerer both drove in two runs, while Aiden Courville and Noah Agliano added RBIs. Haggard also delivered on the mound, tossing three scoreless innings in relief to earn the save. Starter Justin Brown went four innings, giving up three earned runs.

The Mariners traveled to Libby on Saturday, July 19, and opened with another tough-luck loss, falling 9-8 in a back-and-forth game. Mission Valley led 8-5 entering the final inning, but Libby rallied with four runs in the bottom of the seventh to walk it off. The Mariners outhit Libby 12-7, with Brayson DuMont again leading the offense, going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBIs. Cody Haggard and Holden Emerson each went 2-for-4, and Landon Pablo knocked in two runs. Wadsworth struck out six over 5 1/3 innings on the mound before Libby’s late rally.

Mission Valley didn’t let the loss linger. In game two, the Mariners exploded for 13 runs on 10 hits, cruising to a 13-3 victory in six innings. Brayson DuMont stayed red-hot, going 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs. Haggard added two hits and two RBIs, while Holden Emerson tripled and Pablo scored twice. Haggard also starred on the mound, striking out nine over 6 2/3 innings while allowing just one earned run.

    Aiden Gfroerer prepares to hit during a solid outing against Bitterroot. (Kaleb Unger/Leader)