Storm Stymied in Ontario: Chemeketa Drops Doubleheader to Treasure Valley
Hockman and Garrett Sharp on Mound Despite Doubleheader Loss
ONTARIO, Ore. — The Chemeketa Storm found hits hard to come by in critical moments this Valentine's Day, dropping both ends of a road doubleheader to the Treasure Valley Chukars. Despite flashes of strong pitching and a standout individual performance at the plate from L. Irish, the Storm struggled to convert base runners into runs, falling 3–1 in the opener and 4–0 in the nightcap.
Game 1: Chukars 3, Storm 1
In the afternoon opener, Chemeketa found themselves playing catch-up early after Treasure Valley plated two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Storm offense showed signs of life in the third when R. Campbell drew a walk and was eventually driven home by an RBI single from L. Irish, cutting the deficit to 2–1.
J. Vaccaro proved to be a bright spot in the lineup, finishing the game 2-for-3 with a walk, but the Storm couldn't find the equalizing hit. Chemeketa's pitching staff kept the game within reach; starter D. Hanson went 4.1 innings, striking out three and allowing just two earned runs. J. Klee provided 2.2 innings of solid relief, but a late insurance run by the Chukars in the sixth sealed the 3–1 final.
Game 2: Chukars 4, Storm 0
The second game of the day followed a similar pattern of missed opportunities for the Storm. While Chemeketa matched Treasure Valley in hits through much of the contest—finishing with six hits to the Chukars' nine—they were unable to crack the scoreboard.
L. Irish was nearly unstoppable in the second outing, finishing a perfect 3-for-4 with a double. Vaccaro added another hit and a walk to his daily total, but the Storm were plagued by defensive miscues, committing four errors that allowed Treasure Valley to extend innings.
On the mound, R. Hockman delivered four gritty innings, allowing only one run while striking out four. C. Garrett finished the game with a dominant relief appearance, striking out three of the eight batters he faced without allowing a run. However, Treasure Valley's three-run surge across the fifth and sixth innings proved too much to overcome.
By the Numbers: Doubleheader Standouts
| Player | Hits (Total) | Notable Stats |
| L. Irish | 4 | 3-for-4 in Game 2; 1 RBI in Game 1 |
| J. Vaccaro | 3 | Reached base 5 times over two games |
| C. Garrett | — | 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 SO (Game 2) |
The Storm will look to clean up the defensive side of the ball and find more timely hitting as they continue their 2026 campaign.
Photo Credit: The Athlete Studio Instagram @TheAthlete_Studio