Buffs top Molalla for first league win

Jared Penaloza threw six innings, got six strikeouts and spread out five hits as Madras beat Molalla at home 7-3 Monday, April 15.

The sophomore also scored two runs for the Buffalos. Reed Simmelink hit a towering shot to center for an RBI double in the second. Tyler Clarkson also doubled and had two RBIs.

The win put the Buffs at 1-3 in Tri-Valley Conference action and avenged a 7-6 loss on the road to Molalla on April 11.

After Penaloza pitched six, Clarkson came in and shut the door in the seventh.

Madras led 2-0 after two and added a run in the third to go up 3-0. Molalla was scoreless until the fifth, when they plated a run. But the Buffalos put the hammer down in the bottom of the fifth, plating three more runs to make it 6-1. The Indians scored single runs in both the sixth and seventh, with the Buffalos tacking on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Other Buffs to collect hits were Noah Vibbert and Caleb Shank, both singles.

Both teams were shaky in the field, each committing five errors.

The Buffs play host to league-leading Crook County Wednesday then play at Crook County on Thursday. Both games are at 4:30 p.m.