Pe Ell-Willapa Valley baseball tallied 24 total hits and outscored Raymond-South Bend 31-6 in a home doubleheader sweep on Saturday.
In Game 1, the Titans used an eight-run third inning to race past the Ravens, 16-3, in five innings.
PWV smacked 10 hits off RSB’s Jarrod Gunderson, led by Kaden Ritzman going 3 for 4 with four RBIs and two runs. Garrett Keeton was 2 for 4 with four runs and two RBIs and Derek Fluke finished 2 for 3 with three runs.
Saturday’s twinbill answered PWV coach Kelly Barnum’s question of whether the Titans’ solid hitting to start the season was the result of their opponents’ subpar pitching or not.
“We continue to rake at the plate. (Gunderson) is a pretty solid lefty,” Barnum said. “We hit him very well.”
On the mound, Hudson Barnum fanned nine batters while allowing three earned runs on four hits and four walks across five innings. He helped himself at the plate as well by crushing a home run, driving in three runs and scoring twice.
In Game 2, the Titans smashed 14 hits en route to a 15-3, mercy-rule victory in six innings.
Keeton and Ritzman again led the offensive attack, with Keeton going 4-5 with a home run, four runs scored and three RBIs and Ritzman going 3 for 4 with two runs and an RBI.
On the mound, Keeton punched out 11 batters while allowing three earned runs on three hits and two walks.
“Derek Fluke and Kaden Ritzman continue to literally be on another planet,” Barnum said. “Blake Howard was astounding at the plate and behind the plate today. Overall, it was just an amazing team win.
“I still sometimes can’t believe that we get to be a part of a PWV vs. RSB high school baseball game. Ten years ago this would have seemed impossible.”
PWV (5-1, 2-0 2BPL) continues league play when it heads to Ilwaco for a doubleheader on April 12.
