Noxon-Thompson Falls baseball goes 1-2 for week

With one game remaining on their regular season schedule, the Noxon-Thompson Falls Red Devils baseball team will be looking for a sixth win of the season to close it out.

After going 1-2 this past week, the Devils conclude their schedule with a big challenge against perennial powerhouse Polson this afternoon (Tuesday, May 13) in Noxon.  Their playoff fate may hang in the balance. 

NTF began their final week with a narrow 5-4 win this past Tuesday at home against the Bigfork Vikings. 

Noxon took a 1-0 lead after one inning versus the Vikings.  Neither team scored in the second frame, but Bigfork got on the board in the top of the third with a pair of runs, giving them a 2-1 lead. 

However, Noxon bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the third via a Bryson McCormick run producing double and a two-run error by the visitors.  That put Noxon back in the lead at 4-2. 

Each team added a run in the fifth inning, giving Noxon a 5-3 lead heading into the seventh inning where Bigfork chipped one run off the Noxon lead but could not catch the Red Devils by game’s end. 

McCormick, Justice Kayser and CJ Yoder had two hits each for Noxon, which out hit Bigfork during the game.  Shane Hatchel drove in two runs for the Devils despite going 0-3 at the plate. 

McCormick and Hatchel combined on a three-hitter on the mound for Noxon and struck out seven Bigfork batters in the victory. 

Two days later (Thursday) NTF journeyed to Ronan to take on the Chiefs, who took a 2-0 bottom of the first lead and held onto it the rest of the game.  Noxon scored once in the top of the third, making it 2-1, but Ronan got that run back with a solo score in the bottom of the fourth. 

Each team scored once more as Ronan held on for the 4-2 win. 

Both teams had five hits for the game.  Red Devils pitcher Yoder was 2-3 at the plate with a triple and one RBI, while teammate Payton Chambers also had one RBI for NTF.  Ronan pitching struck out 10 Red Devils during the game. 

Next on the agenda was a game in Missoula against the Sentinel Spartans who jumped on Noxon for three runs in the bottom of the first and two runs in each of the next two innings, giving them a 7-0 lead after three innings of play. 

Spartan pitching kept Noxon off the scoreboard throughout the game, while the home boys added three runs in the bottom of the fifth to make it 10-0 and end the game via the Mercy rule with Missoula holding a 10-0 lead. 

Noxon was held to just two hits during the contest, while the Spartans racked up eight base hits. 

The week of play left NTF with a 5-11 record heading into their final scheduled game, tonight (Tuesday, May 13) against Polson in Noxon. 

    Noxon catcher Justice Kayser (red jersey) is prone after tagging Bigfork's Brady Campbell (hopping) out at home during their game this past week in Noxon.  (Tracy Scott, Valley Press).
  

    Noxon's Ian Brown (red jersey) stretches to receive a throw at first during Red Devils 5-4 win over Bigfork this past week in Noxon.  (Tracy Scott, Valley Press)