Local rivals of Wallowa and Joseph split a high school baseball doubleheader late in the chilly afternoon April 14 at Kirk Jones Memorial Field off Route 82.

For all the hitting woes that hampered Wallowa (2-10 overall) in two losses to Elgin High over the weekend, the Cougars made up for it against the Eagles (3-9). In the first game, the Cougars pounded four extra-base hits and captured a 12-2 win in a game shortened by the mercy rule. Senior Mitchell Shelton tripled along with doubles from junior Andrew Wilson, sophomore G.T. McKenzie and freshman Cody Green.

“We played pretty good – really good, with the way we’ve been playing lately,” sophomore Tyler Harshfield said. “We really wanted that 10-run rule.” On the pitcher’s mound, McKenzie gave up two runs in the first inning but then held the Eagles hitless the rest of the way.

Joseph answered with an 11-8 win in the nightcap. Play stopped after the fifth inning – enough for the game to be official – due to darkness. Wallowa plated six runs in the second inning for a 6-4 lead, but the Eagles came back with another four in the third and held on to the end.

Next, Wallowa goes to Halfway April 19 for a doubleheader at Pine Eagle High School. The same day, the Panthers of Imbler High come to Daggett Field in Joseph.

Contact reporter Hector del Castillo at 426-4567, or by e-mail at hdelcastillo@wallowa.com.