Toledo went into Cathlamet on Friday April 22 as the top team in the Central 2B league, but they left the home of the Wahkiakum Mules with one loss and a tie for first place with Pe Ell-Willapa Valley.
The Indians won the opening game by a score of 2-1 after a stellar pitching performance from Wes Kuzminsky, who went seven innings without walking any batter and struck out nine Mules. He went 2 for 3 in the game while also bringing across the first run of the afternoon on a sacrifice fly to right in the fourth inning. Kolt Korpi then scored in the fourth after an error. Zach Brown hit a solo home run in the sixth inning which would be the only run for Wahkiakum in the first game.
Game two was rough for the Indians. Although Toledo outhit Wahkiakum, each team also had six errors charged to them. Only two of the seven Wahkiakum runs were ruled as earned runs. Toledo pitchers Jackson Kuzminsky, Connor Vermilyea, and Dakota Robins combined to give up seven hits and struck out five. All four of Toledo's runs were scored in the sixth inning, but this rally was not nearly enough to dig out of the 7-0 hole they were in after four innings of play. Toledo, now 13-1 in league, hosts Napavine on Wednesday.
Note: Pe Ell-Willapa Valley and Toledo will face each other in Pe Ell for each team's final regular season match on May 3rd. If the standings hold up, this matchup will be for the league title.