LEWISTON, Idaho -- Bozeman pitcher Sage McMinn was dominant on the mound Thursday evening, throwing a three-hit shutout against Kennick (Wash.) in the second round of the American Legion Baseball Northwest Regional tournament in Lewiston, Idaho.
McMinn struck out eight batters and walked just three. He walked two of those batters in the first inning with one out, but McMinn got out of the jam after catcher Alton Gyselman threw a runner out at third base and the next batter went down on strikes. Kennewick recorded its first hit in the top of the fourth inning, but it was far too late by that time.
Bozeman hung three runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning to provide more than enough cushion for McMinn. The Bucks loaded the bases and scored on a bunt by Gyselman. A two-out, two-run double down the left-field line by Carson Simcox gave Bozeman an insurmountable advantage.
Bozeman added another run in the second inning and a fifth-and-final run in the sixth inning.
With the win, Bozeman advances to Friday night's quarterfinal against Medford (Ore.), which defeated Idaho Falls 6-3 on Thursday. First pitch is slated for 3:30 p.m. (PDT). The game was originally scheduled for 7 p.m. local time, but tournament officials moved the start time up with inclement weather in Friday evening's forecast.
