By Mike Weber
For Columbia Gorge News
The No. 6-ranked The Dalles High Riverhawks extended their win streak to four following a 4-1 home win over Gladstone in a Tri-Valley Conference baseball game April 11.
The victory snapped a four-game losing streak to Gladstone, which eliminated The Dalles from the state playoffs last year with a 4-0 quarterfinal win.
The Riverhawks, guided by second-year Coach Pat Clark, built a 3-0 lead in the second inning, highlighted by an RBI double by senior Sam Shaver (1-for-3). The defending league champion Gladiators (0-3 TVC, 4-10 overall) trimmed the margin to 3-1 in the fifth inning.
“Looking back to last year, those guys [Gladiators] had our number … This was kind of one of the games that was circled on the calendar for a while, and it’s another monkey off our back,” said Clark.
Junior relief pitcher Will Booth (three strikeouts) had a key strikeout in the top of the sixth inning to halt a bases-loaded threat by the Gladiators. In the bottom of the inning, Evan Ortega drew a leadoff walk, stole second base, stole third base, and later scored on an error. The Riverhawks, who outhit the Gladiators 8-5, were led offensively by Avery Schwartz (3-for-4), Booth (2-for-2), Cody Agidius (1-for-4) and senior catcher Cooper Klindt (1-for-2, double, two walks).
Klindt said the focus is on winning the Tri-Valley title. “We’ve all been playing together since we were little kids, we all grew up together, we know each other well, and we have good team chemistry. … Avery threw a beautiful game on the mound and then Will came in and shut the door. We couldn’t have asked for a better performance from both Will and Avery.”
Schawrtz, the starting pitcher, had nine strikeouts, three walks and he scattered five hits.
The Riverhawks (3-0 TVC, 9-4 overall) got off to a good start in their 15-game TVC schedule winning their April 8 league opener 6-0 at Madras.
Shaver threw a complete game, allowing two hits with 14 strikeouts and two walks. The Riverhawk eight-hit attack was led by Shaver (1-for-4, two RBI), Schwartz (1-for-4, two RBI), Klindt (1-for-2, RBI), and Nolan Donivan (1-for-4).
The Riverhawks then faced the White Buffaloes again at home April 10, coming from behind to win, 14-7. The Dalles built a 5-0, first-inning lead before Madras scored seven runs in the second. The Riverhawks took control of the game with a six-run fourth. The Riverhawks outhit the White Buffaloes 10-8 and were led offensively by Schwartz (2-for-3, three RBI, three runs), Donivan (1-for-3, RBI), Klindt (1-for-3, RBI), Shaver (1-for-4, RBI), and Finley Corbin (1-for-1, RBI, two runs).
Donivan relieved starting pitch Klindt (five hits allowed, walk) in the third inning and he pitched five innings and with eight strikeouts, a walk and three hits allowed.
The Riverhawks play their next contest April 15 at 4 p.m. at Molalla (3-0 TVC, 8-4 overall), followed by a rematch at day later a 5:30 p.m. at Quinton Street Ballpark in The Dalles.
