For about five innings, Astoria’s perfect record was in jeopardy. But the 2004 season is shaping up to be something special for the Fishermen, who rallied from a 7-2 deficit for an 11-7 victory over Ilwaco Monday afternoon at Ernie Aiken Field.

Astoria (4-0) overcame a short-handed lineup, five errors in the field and 11 walks by two pitchers to get the win. Ilwaco contributed to Astoria’s cause by committing five errors and leaving 10 runners on base.

Still, Ilwaco coach Kevin Heimbigner was pleased just to be in it.

“We competed well and we ran the bases like crazy,” Heimbigner said. “And that’s what kept us in it. I didn’t think we could do that against a team of that caliber.”

Astoria was missing two players from the starting lineup. Catcher Steven Hess was nursing a sore wrist and first baseman Jarod Schaak slides in safely at second base for one of Ilwaco’s 11 stolen bases in the nonleague baseball loss at Astoria Monday. Astoria’s Mitchell Wirth (1) covers on the play.

GARY HENLEY -The Daily AstorianHenry Brause had a prior commitment. Dan Olson started in Brause’s place, but Olson was ejected for throwing his bat after an out in the second inning.

The makeshift lineup caused a few errors in the field, and had Astoria out of sync for most of the game.

“I felt like we either didn’t come to play ball, or we took Ilwaco lightly,” said Astoria coach Ralph Steinback. “Probably both. We just did a lot of stuff that shouldn’t happen, and normally doesn’t happen. We had Hess and Brause out, then Ole got booted because he threw his bat.

“It was an uphill battle, and I guess it’s good in the aspect that we climbed the hill. You have to be able to come back from adversity.”

Ilwaco built a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a double steal, with Mooch Smith scoring from third. Ilwaco finished the day with 11 steals, three days after stealing 12 bases in a win over Naselle.

Astoria had five extra base hits on the day, including three doubles in the second inning. A few of the hits undoubtedly would have been home runs, had Astoria’s outfield fence been there.

Sean Fabela had a one-out double, and scored on a two-bagger by Mike Gallegos; and Anthony Hill followed with a deep fly ball to center field, which ended up on the softball field near the high school’s parking lot.

Hill would have had an easy triple on the play, but had to return to second base after missing the bag.

“Hill missed second base,” Steinback said. “I saw it, and if I can see it, the ump out there could see it, so I made him go back.

“We battled at the plate,” Steinback said. “I think a couple of those hits would have been out. I know one for sure would have been – the one (by Hill) that went clear to the other backstop. And probably Sean Walker’s hit down the line would have been out.”

Ilwaco added two runs in the second and two more in the third, scoring on a wild pitch and an error.

Astoria started its comeback in the bottom of the third as Hill walked and scored on a triple by Luke Ness; and Ness scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Kelly.

Astoria tacked on a run in the fourth, two in the fifth to tie, then erupted for four runs – all with two outs – in the bottom of the sixth.

Mitchell Wirth scored the go-ahead run on a single by Gallegos, and Hill’s single to center brought in Fabela.

With Hill on second and Gallegos at third with two outs, Ilwaco committed a crucial error to score both runners.

Keenan Borgardt, who came on in relief of Fabela in the fourth inning, retired three of the four batters he faced in the top of the seventh to help preserve the win.

“Ilwaco ran the bags well – they did a good job,” Steinback said. “Sean and Borgardt both need some more work. They need to do a better job of finding the strike zone, but that’s fine. It’s early for both of them.”

Astoria is off until Thursday, when the Fishermen begin play in the John Day Tournament.

Ilwaco plays at Ridgefield Friday.

Knappa 12, Tillamook 0RIVERSIDE – Knappa pitcher Derek Jacobson allowed just two hits on the mound, and the Loggers had the hot bats Monday afternoon against Tillamook as they posted a 12-0, five-inning win over the Cheesemakers in a game played at Riverside.

The Loggers will remain in Riverside, where they play a doubleheader today (Game 1 vs. Riverside, Game 2 vs. Marshall).

Jacobson helped his cause with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, with two runs scored and two RBIs. Nick Bryan was also 2-for-3, and Robert Rankin had a two-run double.

The Loggers scored twice in the first inning, then added seven runs in the second.

Oakville 4, Naselle 3NASELLE, Wash. – Oakville broke a 3-3 tie with a run in the top of the seventh inning Monday, giving the Acorns a 4-3 win over Naselle.

Derek Johnson had a strong game on the mound for the Comets as he allowed just four hits with five strikeouts and no walks, but Naselle committed five errors in the field.

The Comets trailed 3-0 after five innings before scoring three runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Naselle had seven hits off two Oakville pitchers, including a 2-for-3 effort by Doug Wise.

The Comets play at Quinalt Thursday.

Softball

Astoria 18, Ilwaco 8LONG BEACH, Wash. – The Astoria and Ilwaco softball teams combined for 26 runs and 26 hits in a nonleague game Monday afternoon, with the Fishermen of Astoria posting an 18-8 win over the Fishermen of Ilwaco.

Astoria scored four runs in the first, and added six runs each in the second and third to build a 16-2 lead.

Amanda Silva had three of Astoria’s 15 hits, including two doubles and a single. Nicole Silva also had two doubles, and Megan Gallegos had three singles.

Jessica Johnson went 3-for-4 with a triple and three RBIs to lead Ilwaco’s 11-hit attack. Ashley Kitzman was 2-for-4 with a double, as was Cody Jenkins.

CeeCee Wills had two singles and a double for Astoria, and Kim Russell – playing with a broken finger – added two singles.

Astoria hosts R.A. Long Friday (4 p.m.).

Seaside 3, Clatskanie 2CLATSKANIE – Clatskanie scored two runs in the first inning, Seaside scored three in the second, and that’s how it ended up on the scoreboard Monday afternoon, with the Gulls hanging on for a 3-2 win over the Tigers.

Seaside pitcher Kate Ayres gave up five hits over the first two innings, but only two hits after that as she struck out five batters and walked one in picking up the complete-game win.

Clatskanie’s Corky Sherman doubled on an 0-2 pitch in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs for an early lead.

The Gulls responded in the top of the second. Jeannie Pfund and Katie Winters both singled. Amanda Laird followed with another single to score Pfund, and a single by Allie Brady loaded the bases.

And Abby Frank came through with the clutch hit, a double that scored Winters and Laird for the go-ahead runs.

Seaside hosts a doubleheader today (11 a.m.) against the Hillsboro junior varsity team.

Warrenton wins twoSTAYTON – The day started on a rough note for the Warrenton softball team, but it ended with the Warriors completing a doubleheader sweep with wins over Harrisburg and Regis.

The Warriors overcame three errors in the first inning against Harrisburg, battling back from a 4-2 deficit for a 6-5 win; and the Warriors capped their day with a 7-3 victory over the Rams, who were ranked as high as second in the preseason polls.

“It’s a good boost for us to win a game like that, and to beat ’em the way we did,” said Warrenton coach Staci Miethe, whose team improves to 3-0. “Defensively, I couldn’t be happier with how we’re playing. Dani (Cederberg, Warrenton’s catcher) threw two runners out, and we turned a great 5-4-3 double play against Regis.

“Stacey (Moore) kept the ball down, and was real effective. She got stronger as the day progressed.”

Moore was the winning pitcher in both games, allowing nine hits in the opener, and 10 hits against Regis.

The Warriors had eight hits in the win over Harrisburg, including a 2-for-4 game from Ashley Johnson. Whitney Johnson had a double in the opener, and went 2-for-3 against Regis.

Ashley Johnson had another 2-for-4 effort in the win over the Rams, including a triple; and Katie Wolfe and Grace Smith each had a pair of hits.

The Warriors continue their road trip today, with two games at Kennedy.