Colvin’s Zev Egli delivers a pitch during the first of two games Thursday against Scappoose on an afternoon where temperatures hovered in the mid-90s.
Marcus Larson/News-Register

Colvin’s Sam Paterson connects for a base hit Thursday, helping his team to a 3-1 win over visiting Scappoose.
Marcus Larson/News-Register

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Strong defense, efficient pitching and timely hitting all combined for a pair of 3-1 wins Thursday for Colvin Auto.

Originally scheduled to take on Canby in an OIBA doubleheader, Colvin instead hosted Scappoose when Canby had to call off the games. And, while the replacement club may be from a lower classification by OSAA standards, coach Darren Bland was impressed.

“They’re a lower level as far as classification goes, but they’re a strong baseball team in their tradition, and I thought their guys hit really well,” he said. “They were especially good on the fast balls, which forced us into some other things, and that’s good for the guys to see.”

In the opener, Scappoose struck first. After failing to score on a bases-loaded first inning setup, the visitors used back-to-back hits — sandwiched around a steal of second — to push across the game’s first run in the top of the second inning.

Neither team was able to do anything in the third and Colvin shut down Scappoose in the top half of the fourth before striking back in the bottom half of the frame. A single to left by Brandon Jones got things started and Travis Vincent pushed him to second after being hit by a pitch. Nik Patterson took first on a walk, loading the bases with no outs.

That brought Taylor Smith to the plate and the senior-to-be connected on a grounder that looked to be a sure out at second. In a rush to try for a double play, though, the ball was dropped by the second baseman, allowing Jones to score and keeping the bases loaded for pinch hitter Sam Paterson. He took full advantage, dropping a hit into shallow center field to score Vincent and Patterson.

Colvin wasn’t able to continue the offensive push, but the 3-1 lead, as it turned out, was all that was needed.

Pitching through five innings, Zev Egli earned the win, striking out eight while walking just one. Kyle Preston struck out a pair of batters in the sixth inning while Vincent closed out the seventh with one strikeout. Paterson finished 2 for 2 with two RBIs while Ethan Daugherty (1 for 2 with a walk) and Jones (1 for 2 with a sacrifice bunt) also hit well.

The nightcap went much the same, though there it was Colvin taking the early lead.

After a Chris Haddeland walk, Cody Johnstone hit a ground ball that was thrown away at second base. One of the quicker runners on the team, Johnstone’s speed would have made it a close play at first and the relay to second was rushed. The hard-thrown relay wound up sailing into the outfield and Haddeland was able to come around to score.

In the top of the fifth Scappoose answered, finally connecting on its first hit of the game — a triple. That was followed up by a single to tie the game up at one run apiece.

Colvin didn’t wait around to reclaim its lead. In the bottom of the fifth, with one out, Daugherty connected for a base hit and Jones followed with a full-count hit to the left side. Stealing on the pitch, Daugherty was able to advance to third and the bases were then loaded when Patterson was issued a walk.

Despite a diving play by the Scappoose shortstop, Taylor Smith then brought one home with a well-hit ball and, on a delayed steal, Colvin was able to add one more to take a two-run lead.

As the club did in the first game, it went to Preston in the sixth and Vincent in the seventh, and the relievers got the job done to help record the sweep.

Haddeland got the win and, while he only struck out three, he also only gave up two hits with a pair of walks in his five innings of work.

Colvin (21-11 overall, 9-2 in league play) will play a 5 p.m. doubleheader at home Monday against Horizon Christian before traveling to Aloha at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Aloha will then return to McMinnville for a 3 p.m. game Thursday.