It wasn’t quite the outcome Pam Pack coach Ryan Whitney was looking for, but the effort was much improved during Washington’s 1-0 loss to Riverside on Friday night.
One week after falling 15-5 to the Knights, the Pam Pack tightened up on the defensive end in the rematch.
“Defensively, it was a much cleaner game for both teams,” Whitney said. “We played liked we are capable of playing defensively and we pitched like we’re capable of pitching.”
The Knights, who lost seven starters from last year’s team, got quality outings from Kyle Leggett and Ryan Wagner as the duo combined to hold the Pam Pack to five hits and zero runs in seven innings.
“We have a new team and we’re coming together. Guys are working hard and this team has a chance,” Riverside coach Hank Tice said.
Leggett got the start for the Knights and fanned four batters in three innings, while Wagner pitched the final four and struck out seven.
“Both guys filled the zone up and had their breaking ball going,” Tice said. “We were able to throw some curveballs in fastball counts and I thought both guys threw both pitches well. They’re two guys we’re going to count on a lot this season and we feel good about both of them.”
Riverside scored its lone run in the first as Ross Byrd led off with a walk and was driven home on a Leggett RBI single.
Byrd would finish the game going 1-2, while Mathin Ange went 2-4 and Matt Wisniewski and Brandon Chesson each added a hit.
Patrick Thompson got the start for the Pam Pack and struck out two while allowing four hits in three innings. Zach Parker entered the game in relief of Thompson in the fourth and struck out three batters in four innings while yielding three hits.
“We got some big pitches in some big spots that got us out of some jams,” Whitney said. “Patrick did a good job. Then, Zach came in and we thought about making a change after the fifth but he was in a groove.”
While the defense looked in midseason form, the offense struggled as Washington occasionally threatened but could not cash in on its opportunities.
“We had some lack of discipline at the plate,” Whitney said. “We took too many good pitches and swung at too many bad ones.”
Washington was led at the plate by Matt Dixon, Dustin Moore, Will Cutler and Devon Van Cura, all of which had a hit apiece.

Riverside     100    000    0    —    1    6    0
Washington    000    000    0    —    0    5    0
WP: Kyle Leggett; LP: Patrick Thompson
Hitting: R — Ross Byrd 1-2, Mathin Ange 2-4, Kyle Leggett 1-4 (RBI), Matt Wisniewski 1-3, Brandon Chesson 1-2; W — Matt Dixon 1-3, Dustin Moore 1-3, Jamond Ebron 1-3, Will Cutler 1-3, Devon Van Cura 1-3.