REDDING – The Etna Lions went 2-2 in the Grey Division pool, of the Shasta Lake Bass Easter Baseball Classic, over the last three days. On Thursday the Lions lost the final game of pool play to the D-I Lassen Grizzlies, 3-2. For the second straight game, the Lions lost in their opponent’s last at bat. Lassen went undefeated in the Grey Division. Etna will play for third place at the Easter Classic, on Friday. Opponent and time are to be determined.

In game one of pool play on Tuesday, the Lions made short work of the University Prep Panthers. Etna scored in each of the first four innings, putting up two in the first, three in the second, one in the third, and four in the fourth. The Panthers scored a run in the fourth, to make the final 10-1.

Lion Logan Dysert went 3-4, with a run, two RBI, and a steal. Dysert was also the starting and winning pitcher. Greg Monday was 2-4, with three runs, two RBI, a double, and two steals. Trevor Kendrick went 2-4, with a run scored.

In the second game, the Lions took on the West Valley Eagles, and won 7-5. The Lions held a 7-0 lead after five innings due to a seven run fourth inning, which included a grand slam dinger from Taylor Pehle-Munson, hitting in the nine-spot. Lion starting pitcher Clint Johnson was relieved at the start of the sixth inning and moved to shortstop, when the game seemed to be in hand. Johnson, however, would have to retake the mound in the seventh inning, with the score 7-5. Johnson came into a bases-loaded, two-out situation and struck out the Eagle batter to preserve the win.

Monday was perfect at the plate for Etna, going 3-3, with a run, a walk, a double, and two steals. Dysert went 3-4, with a run, two RBI, and a double. Kendrick went 3-4 with a run. Jordan Pehle-Munson was 2-2, with a run, an RBI, a double, and a walk. Skyler Schneider went 2-2, with a run, and two steals. Taylor Pehle-Munson had the biggest hit of the game with the grand slam. He also had a sacrifice. Johnson was the starting and winning pitcher.

Etna lost 8-7 to the Gridley Bulldogs in the third game of pool play on Wednesday morning, in Gridley’s last at bat.

Gridley scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, to lead 3-0. Etna responded with a run in the second and one in the third inning to narrow the Bulldogs’ lead to a single run, at 3-2. Gridley added a run in the fourth, and Etna crossed the plate once in the fifth. Neither team scored in the sixth inning. The score was 4-3 for the Bulldogs going into the top of the seventh.

Gridley opened the door for the Lions, when leadoff hitter Taylor Pehle-Munson reached on an error. The next batter, Monday, singled to make it first and second for the Lions. Jordan Pehle Munson laid down a sacrifice bunt, which moved the Lion base runners to second and third. Logan Dysert then doubled to score both Lions on the bases, and give Etna the lead 5-4. Johnson went yard for a pair of RBI, making the score 7-1. It appeared that the Lions had pulled out the win

Unfortunately for Etna, the Bulldogs strung together five hits and a walk to score four runs in the bottom half of the inning, winning 8-7.

Monday went 1-3, with a run, a walk, and a steal. Johnson was 1-4, with a 2-run homer, and was hit by a pitch. Jordan Pehle-Munson was 1-4 with a run. Dysert scored two runs. Taylor Pehle-Munson pitched the entire game and took the loss.