Whitefish Baseball Holds Off Bigfork, Earns Spot in State Tourney Play-in

    The Whitefish High School Baseball team was back in action, Wednesday night, as they played host to Bigfork. Wednesday was also Senior Night for the Dawgs.

    The Dawgs entered this game needing a win to guarantee themselves a spot in the play-in tournament.

    It was also Senior night for the Dawgs.

    On a night full of emotions, stakes couldn't have been higher, the Dawgs delevered with a 6-5 win in their final game at Smith Fields.

     

    Michael Miller & Brady Howke Senior Night Recognition:

    Michael Miller wanted the ball and he delivered both on the mound and at the plate.

    Miller tossed 5 innings of 5 hit ball. He gave up 3 runs, 0 earned, walked 1 and struck out 3.

    Miller and Ryan Conklin would get the party started in the bottom of the first as the two would hit back-to-back RBI Doubles to give Whitefish an early 2-0 lead after 1 inning of play.

    Whitefish would add another in the 3rd as Miller would bring home Tait Orme with a Sacrifice Fly RBi. The Dawgs led 3-0 

    Bigfork would not go away without a fight. The Vikings would get on the board in the top of the 4th plating 3 runs in the inning. All 3 runs came off of 5 errors committed by the Whitefish defense.

    The Dawgs wouldn't blink. Whitefish responded in the bottom half of the inning. After a Christian Schwaderer walk, Avery caton would hit a deep double to left center to put runners on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out.

    Brady Howke would bring home Schwaderer with a Fielders Choice RBI and then Caton scored on a wild pitch minutes later. After 4, it was Whitefish 5, Bigfork 3.

    In the bottom of the 5th, Whitefish would plate their 6th run of the game. After Miller singled, Orme would come into score on a error by the Vikings and Whitefish held a 6-3 lead after 5.

    The Vikings continued to fight. Bigfork scored 1 in the top of the 6th, an RBI single from Mason Lewis.

    Logan Stewart looked to close the door in the 7th. After a Fielders Choice RBI cut the Dawgs lead to 1, Stewart would then get the ensuing batters to groundout and strike out to end the game.

    The Seniors led the way for Whitefish in this one. Miller would finsih the night 2-2 at the plate with 2 RBI's. Brady Howke also had an RBI while playing stellar defense.

    Ryan Conklin would tally a pair of hits as well in this one as the Dawgs finished with 7 total hits.

    Miller RBI Double in the 1st:

    Howke FC RBI:

    Following all the action, I caught up with Head Coach Kyler Blades.

     

    Following the action the Dawgs are now 8-9 overall, 6-3 in conference play. They've captured the No. 3 Seed in the Northwest Conference and will play Frenchtown in the State Tournament Play-In Game. That game will be Monday, in Frenchtown, at 4:30pm.

    Prior to that: 

    Friday & Saturday- The Dawgs, in partnership with The Glacier Range Riders and Columbia Falls, host the Sapa-Johnsrud Invite at Glacier Bank Park. More on that here: https://www.sam1240.com/local/sports/whitefish-columbia-falls-baseball-teams-to-host-sapa-johnsrud-invite-at-glacier-bank-park/

    Whitefish plays Friday at 6pm Corvallis.

    Saturday, the Dawgs take on C-Falls in the nightcap at 8:30pm.

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