Hustlers 'building for the future'

“When we made our schedule, we thought that we would have more kids and have two teams, but it didn’t turn out that way,” said Clark. “It’s been a good run, and the positive thing is that these kids have been playing a lot of baseball. It’s such a young group, too [three eighth graders], and a lot of these guys just need to play.”

Thatcher Dray and Joe Ortega are two The Dalles Middle School eighth graders who are on the squad.

“I’m really pleased with the team, everyone is battling hard, they’re all learning and we’re building a team for the future,” said Clark.

The Hustlers started the week with a 12-6 home loss to the Post 58 Crushers on June 24. The Hustlers were outhit 12-7 and they were led offensively by Sawyer Dray (2-for-3) and Trey Hodges (2-for-4).

The Hustlers followed with an 11-10 home win June 25 over the Westside Christian Eagles. The Hustlers overcame a 7-1 deficit after scoring 10-runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to go in front 11-7. The Hustlers outhit the Eagles 5-2 and were led offensively by Evan Ortega (1-for-3, three RBI), Hudson Case (2-for-3, two RBI), Dray (two RBI) and Hodges (1-for-3, RBI). The pitching trio of Wyatt Bolton, Dom Linebarger and Dray combined on a two-hitter with three strikeouts and eight walks.

On June 25, the Hustlers lost 8-7 at West Linn. The Hustlers were led by Dray (1-for-3, two RBI), Ortega (1-for-4, two RBI), and Will Booth (3-for-4, two RBI).

The Hustlers then played the Hood River Valley High Eagles in a Gorge rivalry home matchup June 27. The Eagles (4-2) won 14-11, which marked Hood River’s second win in the series this summer. The Eagles won 8-3 on June 12 in Hood River.

The Eagles outhit the Hustlers 12-10, and Hood River was led offensively by Bam Layna (1-for-3, RBI), Ole Barrs (1-for-2, two RBI) and Chaz Valentine (2-for-4, two runs). The Hustlers were led on offense by Hodges (1-for-4, two RBI), Dray (RBI), Case (2-for-5, RBI) and 2024 The Dalles High graduate Cooper Klindt (1-for-2, RBI).

The Hustlers bounced back and won 12-3 over the Northwest Compounders June 28 at Wells High School in Portland. Dray (2-for-4, two RBI), Chase Peterson (1-for-2) and David Chavez (1-for-3 two runs) led the Hustler offense.

The Hustlers then extended their win streak to three after sweeping a road doubleheader 13-1 and 14-11 June 29 at West Salem. The Hustlers were led offensively by Dray (1-for-4, two RBI), Ortega (RBI) and Hodges (2-for-2, RBI).