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Apr. 11—It's hotly debated in the sports world if momentum is real or not.
For the Moscow Bears, all that arguing means nothing — momentum is very real.
In a 5A Inland Empire League doubleheader, the Bears used an 11-run seventh inning to topple the Lewiston Bengals 15-7 in Game 1. That momentum shifted over from that run explosion and helped carry them to an 8-2 victory in Game 2 on Thursday at Church Field in Lewiston.
"Momentum is contagious because momentum is an energy. Positivity brings out the best version of yourself rather than self-doubt," Moscow coach Griffin Rod said. "I do believe that the first game gave us some life heading into the second game for sure."
Moscow comeback
Lewiston (8-9, 5-7) led for the majority of the first game in the twinbill. The Bengals had consistent scoring throughout the contest with two two-run innings and two one-run innings. They had the lead at 6-4 going into the top of the seventh.
Then, Moscow (8-6, 3-3) was up to bat. Andrew Hurley gathered a hit to start the inning, Sam Rigney was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second and Wyatt Hartig hit a single to load the bases. Simeon Rauch popped up for the first out of the inning.
Then, Butch Kiblen came up to bat. Kiblen hit a hard ball down the first base line for a double that scored two runners and tied the game at 6-6. A fountain of Moscow runs followed, coming on hit-by-pitches and walks. Keaton Clark hit a single to score two runners and the runs kept flowing.
Kiblen came up to bat a second time in the inning and capped off the scoring by hitting a single for two more RBI to give the Bears a lead of 15-6.
Lewiston scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning to finish the game 15-7.
"And then to come back from behind (was great)," Rod said. "They're young and a scrappy team. Anytime you can come from behind near the end and take a win against a good school it's always super positive."
Top performers
In the first game, all but one batter for Moscow had at least one RBI.
The team was led by Kiblen, who had three hits and five RBI in the first game. He finished the day with seven total RBI. He also played in left field, which was unusual for him as a pitcher. Rod said that Kiblen's leadership and willingness to be unselfish, the willingness to put himself in less comfortable situations was a standout.
"I'm asking (Kiblen) before the game, 'Dude how do you feel about giving us a start in the outfield?' because he's got the highest ceiling of any player that is a PO (pitcher only)," Rod said. "He's like, 'Yeah it's a beautiful day to play baseball,' and then have him get five RBI in that game. That double down the line. What a cool moment, like it's one of those moments you want to happen so bad because it can spark a little confidence."
The Bears were also assisted by good pitching. Max Winfree started the second game of the twinbill and went four innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
Keaton Clark came in as a relief pitcher in the first game and covered two full innings, allowing one run on one hit.
Connor Isakson pitched relief in the second game. Isakson entered in the fifth inning and closed out the game. He allowed just two hits with no runs scored.
Carson Henson hammered three hits to lead Lewiston in the first game. Tucker Green tripled and Brighton Schumacher doubled in that one for the Bengals.
River Stamper led the Bengals in hits in the second game with two.
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Luke Crosby pitched relief in the second game and went 1 2/3 innings allowing just one hit with no runs to be scored.
Henson also pitched relief and allowed two runs on three hits in two innings pitched.
"I think we showed some fight, fell a little short in Game 1. Just ran out of gas," Lewiston coach Darren Trainor said. "They're a good team over there, they're a good team. Kind of lick our wounds today. They got us today and will fight to be better tomorrow and keep pushing forward."
Senior day for the Bengals
Lewiston played its last home game of the season in the doubleheader. The Bengals honored their two seniors — Schumacher and Isaiah Raines — with framed pictures, purple bats, and a brief ceremony with their families on the field.
Trainor said that the two seniors meant a lot to him. He said that when he first took the job of the Lewiston baseball coach, they were just freshmen. So they were the first two players that he coached all four years.
"To me personally, (Schumacher and Raines) mean a lot," Trainor said. "I'm just really proud of them as people, they're really good kids. They do the right thing. They work hard and do their best academically and they work their tail off out of the field.
"They mean the world to me. Those friendships, those kids that kind of give their lives to you for four years — they're in your family forever."
GAME 1
Moscow 101 020 (11)—15 14 3
Lewiston 110 220 1— 7 10 0
S. Rigney, K. Clark (6) and T. Izzo; A. Topp, D. Richardson (1), L. Ortiz (5), G. Peterson (7), R. Stamper (7) and P. Bonebrake.
Moscow hits — B. Kiblen 3 (2B), A. Hurley 3, Rigney 2, C. Isakson, Izzo, G. Holloway, Clark, W. Hartig, S. Rauch.
Lewiston hits — C. Henson 3, T. Green 2 (3B), B. Schumacher 2 (2B), K. Phillips, Peterson, Richardson.
GAME 2
Moscow 001 501 1—8 10 3
Lewiston 010 100 0—2 7 4
M. Winfree, C. Isakson (5) and T. Izzo; Z. McFee, L. Crosby (4), C. Henson (6) and R. Stamper.
Moscow hits — G. Holloway 2 (2B), Isakson 2, J. Breese 2, S. Rauch 2, K. Clark, S. Rigney.
Lewiston hits — Stamper 2, G. Krasselt, J. Casey, D. Peterson, Henson, I. Raines.
Junt can be reached at 208-848-2258, [email protected] or on X (formerly Twitter) @TrevorJunt.
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For the Moscow Bears, all that arguing means nothing — momentum is very real.
In a 5A Inland Empire League doubleheader, the Bears used an 11-run seventh inning to topple the Lewiston Bengals 15-7 in Game 1. That momentum shifted over from that run explosion and helped carry them to an 8-2 victory in Game 2 on Thursday at Church Field in Lewiston.
"Momentum is contagious because momentum is an energy. Positivity brings out the best version of yourself rather than self-doubt," Moscow coach Griffin Rod said. "I do believe that the first game gave us some life heading into the second game for sure."
Moscow comeback
Lewiston (8-9, 5-7) led for the majority of the first game in the twinbill. The Bengals had consistent scoring throughout the contest with two two-run innings and two one-run innings. They had the lead at 6-4 going into the top of the seventh.
Then, Moscow (8-6, 3-3) was up to bat. Andrew Hurley gathered a hit to start the inning, Sam Rigney was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second and Wyatt Hartig hit a single to load the bases. Simeon Rauch popped up for the first out of the inning.
Then, Butch Kiblen came up to bat. Kiblen hit a hard ball down the first base line for a double that scored two runners and tied the game at 6-6. A fountain of Moscow runs followed, coming on hit-by-pitches and walks. Keaton Clark hit a single to score two runners and the runs kept flowing.
Kiblen came up to bat a second time in the inning and capped off the scoring by hitting a single for two more RBI to give the Bears a lead of 15-6.
Lewiston scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning to finish the game 15-7.
"And then to come back from behind (was great)," Rod said. "They're young and a scrappy team. Anytime you can come from behind near the end and take a win against a good school it's always super positive."
Top performers
In the first game, all but one batter for Moscow had at least one RBI.
The team was led by Kiblen, who had three hits and five RBI in the first game. He finished the day with seven total RBI. He also played in left field, which was unusual for him as a pitcher. Rod said that Kiblen's leadership and willingness to be unselfish, the willingness to put himself in less comfortable situations was a standout.
"I'm asking (Kiblen) before the game, 'Dude how do you feel about giving us a start in the outfield?' because he's got the highest ceiling of any player that is a PO (pitcher only)," Rod said. "He's like, 'Yeah it's a beautiful day to play baseball,' and then have him get five RBI in that game. That double down the line. What a cool moment, like it's one of those moments you want to happen so bad because it can spark a little confidence."
The Bears were also assisted by good pitching. Max Winfree started the second game of the twinbill and went four innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
Keaton Clark came in as a relief pitcher in the first game and covered two full innings, allowing one run on one hit.
Connor Isakson pitched relief in the second game. Isakson entered in the fifth inning and closed out the game. He allowed just two hits with no runs scored.
Carson Henson hammered three hits to lead Lewiston in the first game. Tucker Green tripled and Brighton Schumacher doubled in that one for the Bengals.
River Stamper led the Bengals in hits in the second game with two.
Daily headlines, straight to your inboxRead it online first and stay up-to-date, delivered daily at 7 AM
Luke Crosby pitched relief in the second game and went 1 2/3 innings allowing just one hit with no runs to be scored.
Henson also pitched relief and allowed two runs on three hits in two innings pitched.
"I think we showed some fight, fell a little short in Game 1. Just ran out of gas," Lewiston coach Darren Trainor said. "They're a good team over there, they're a good team. Kind of lick our wounds today. They got us today and will fight to be better tomorrow and keep pushing forward."
Senior day for the Bengals
Lewiston played its last home game of the season in the doubleheader. The Bengals honored their two seniors — Schumacher and Isaiah Raines — with framed pictures, purple bats, and a brief ceremony with their families on the field.
Trainor said that the two seniors meant a lot to him. He said that when he first took the job of the Lewiston baseball coach, they were just freshmen. So they were the first two players that he coached all four years.
"To me personally, (Schumacher and Raines) mean a lot," Trainor said. "I'm just really proud of them as people, they're really good kids. They do the right thing. They work hard and do their best academically and they work their tail off out of the field.
"They mean the world to me. Those friendships, those kids that kind of give their lives to you for four years — they're in your family forever."
GAME 1
Moscow 101 020 (11)—15 14 3
Lewiston 110 220 1— 7 10 0
S. Rigney, K. Clark (6) and T. Izzo; A. Topp, D. Richardson (1), L. Ortiz (5), G. Peterson (7), R. Stamper (7) and P. Bonebrake.
Moscow hits — B. Kiblen 3 (2B), A. Hurley 3, Rigney 2, C. Isakson, Izzo, G. Holloway, Clark, W. Hartig, S. Rauch.
Lewiston hits — C. Henson 3, T. Green 2 (3B), B. Schumacher 2 (2B), K. Phillips, Peterson, Richardson.
GAME 2
Moscow 001 501 1—8 10 3
Lewiston 010 100 0—2 7 4
M. Winfree, C. Isakson (5) and T. Izzo; Z. McFee, L. Crosby (4), C. Henson (6) and R. Stamper.
Moscow hits — G. Holloway 2 (2B), Isakson 2, J. Breese 2, S. Rauch 2, K. Clark, S. Rigney.
Lewiston hits — Stamper 2, G. Krasselt, J. Casey, D. Peterson, Henson, I. Raines.
Junt can be reached at 208-848-2258, [email protected] or on X (formerly Twitter) @TrevorJunt.
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