Baseball: Foster fans 12 as Riverside takes down Lakes

The Auburn Riverside Ravens baseball team stays alive with a 4-2 win over Lakes High School on May 9 in a loser-out match up in the first round of the West Central District tournament.

It’s a gritty win for the Ravens, “These guys just battle for each other. The thing we talked about before the game was each game you win, you earn one more together. That’s why they’re gonna battle so hard,” said Head Coach Brad Comstock.

Right hander Cole Foster was on his game, and it was a performance the Ravens had to have. Foster went 6.1 IP and allowed just two Lancers hits in the game. He also struck out 12 batters for the Ravens.

“It was a must win game. Might as well give it your all and go out with a bang,” Foster said.

Foster did what he has been doing all season for the Ravens. “Cole Foster is Cole Foster. He’s a dude. He’s done everything we’ve asked him this season. He’s been a leader on and off the field, he hasn’t lost us a game on the bump and continues to hit,” Comstock said.

Riverside catcher Cade Huffman rounds third on his way home to score for the Ravens. Ben Ray / The Reporter

At the beginning of the game the Ravens were getting runners on base but not scoring. That all changed in the fourth.

After back-to-back singles to start the inning. Cade Huffman tallied the one extra base hit of the game with a 2 run double into the left center gap. Following Huffman, Nate Soto reached after he was hit by a pitch. Lakes attempted a pick off move and the ball reached the outfield, Huffman scored and Soto went first to third. Raven shortstop Andrew Shrader scored Soto with a single up the middle for a 4-0 lead.

The Ravens cause problems on the bases. They are very aggressive and they are extremely quick, “We’re young, but we’re a good ball club. We got a lot of speed,” Comstock said.

After a walk in the second with two outs. Foster retired 13 Lancer hitters in a row striking out nine of those 13 batters.

“We faced this team in the playoffs last year and I knew we were better this year. I had confidence in my defense and in my offense,” Foster said.

Lakes made it interesting in the seventh. After the first two runners got on base in the inning, two runs scored on an error and groundout. The next two batters were sat down in order via groundout giving the Ravens the 4-2 win.

Auburn Riverside takes on Auburn Mountainview in another loser-out game. In the regular season the Lions swept the Ravens beating them by scores of 4-2 (April 15) and 2-3 (April 11).

“We just have to play clean baseball. If we play clean baseball we’ll be alright,” Comstock said.

It’s going to take a complete game for the Ravens to win,“I think we just have to come out hot with the offense , have our defense back ourselves up and have the pitcher do what they do,” Foster said.