EAGLES VS. EAGLES: The No. 2 HRV Eagles racked up the runs against the No. 15 Eagle Point Eagles in Wednesday’s first-round playoff game, defeating the Eagles 17-3. Above, shortstop Skyler Hunter makes a play at second base while second baseman Morgan Williams backs him up.
First baseman Montana Kurahara catches a foul ball later in the game. The win sent HRV to a quaterfinal matchup with the No. 7 Ashland Grizzlies Friday in Hood River.
EAGLES VS. EAGLES: The No. 2 HRV Eagles racked up the runs against the No. 15 Eagle Point Eagles in Wednesday’s first-round playoff game, defeating the Eagles 17-3. Above, shortstop Skyler Hunter makes a play at second base while second baseman Morgan Williams backs him up.
Ben Mitchell
Dallas Buckley (No. 9) and Kellan Duffy clink helmets after Duffy hit a two-run homer in the first inning.
Ben Mitchell
First baseman Montana Kurahara catches a foul ball later in the game. The win sent HRV to a quaterfinal matchup with the No. 7 Ashland Grizzlies Friday in Hood River.
The HRV Eagles baseball team made quite the opening statement to accompany what they hope will be another deep playoff run, clobbering the Eagle Point Eagles 17-3 in Hood River Wednesday evening in the first round of the OSAA 5A state tournament.
It may have been the six-hour bus ride, or it may have been the fact that a 15-seed just didn’t match up well against a two-seed defending its state title, or it could have been that HRV built a demoralizing 10-0 lead after just two innings — whatever it was, Eagle Point never looked like it was ready for HRV. The team’s energy seemed sapped, while HRV’s dugout enjoyed a rollicking good time as they strolled into a Friday quarterfinal matchup with another team from southern Oregon, No. 7 Ashland, that was to be held at 4:30 p.m. at Traner Field (results not available at press time).
HRV Head Coach Erich Harjo struggled to find anything the team needed to improve on in advance of the quarterfinals.
“I was satisfied, we were just happy to play somebody else,” he said Wednesday evening, watching the team spruce up the field following the game. “I mean all the scrimmages and practice and just getting a home playoff game in the first round is so much fun and we get the opportunity to do it again Friday. That’s one of my all-time favorite things is home games on Fridays.”
If one were to find a minor disappointment in Wednesday’s game, it was that HRV’s streak of shutting out opponents in the playoffs came to an end. The Eagles didn’t allow a single run in last year’s four-game playoff series. That being said, the team scored more runs Wednesday evening than they did throughout all of last year’s playoff series (12 runs in four games), and Harjo was pleased with the team’s offensive production. There wasn’t anything that HRV could not hit, with all nine players in the batting rotation getting at least one hit, totaling 16 on the night. Meanwhile, Eagle Point cycled through four pitchers in six innings and made other defensive substitutions to no avail.
“I just liked the aggressive approach at the plate… I mean Eagle Point, that’s awesome for them making it to the round of 16, but I think the arms that they put out there, we’ve seen so many times that we were just on time right off the bat,” Harjo explained, adding that, “If it was in the zone, we were swinging at it.”
It’s hard to single out a player from Wednesday’s game, as it was a true team effort. However, Harjo said he was particularly impressed with third baseman Kellan Duffy, who hit a two-run homerun in the first inning and scored after running the bases following a walk in the second, contributing to HRV’s two five-run innings that started the game. He went 2-for-4, adding a double to his homer and tallying a team-high three RBI and four runs scored.
“Opposite field homer, double right down the line, productive (at-bat) here for an RBI — he’s really been coming on strong and we’ve needed him too,” Harjo said of Duffy. “He’s showing his ability and it’s been really, really nice to see.”
Also putting up hits for HRV were (get ready): Skyler Hunter (1-for-4, double, two runs, two stolen bases), Chase Lariza (2-for-4, single, double, three RBI, run, stolen base), Montana Kurahara (1-for-3, double, three RBI, run), Dallas Buckley (2-for-4, singles, two RBI, three runs), Morgan Williams (1-for-3, single, RBI, run), Patrick Harvey (3-for-5, single, two doubles, two RBI, two runs), Adam Cameron (3-for-3, single, two doubles, RBI, three runs), and Andrew Roberts (1-for-4, single, RBI).
As good as they were on offense, the HRV defense was equally as capable. Harvey started on the mound and pitched six innings, during which he gave up three hits and one earned run while striking out three and walking one. Isaiah Enriquez closed out the game for HRV, striking out one and surrendering two hits and an earned run.
HRV was looking to dispatch the Ashland Grizzlies on Friday, who had some hot bats of their own in Wednesday night’s quarterfinal showdown with No. 10 Wilsonville, whom they beat 16-10. HRV and Ashland have not played each other at all this season and have no similar opponents, with the exception of Eagle Point, who is in the same league as Ashland. The Eagles will be looking to pack their home park once again with supportive fans, who clustered around the Traner Field fences as spots on the bleachers were quickly gobbled up Wednesday evening.
“I thought it was good for a first-round game… it’s fun, these guys embrace the fact that their fans come out and support them,” Harjo noted. “It’s fun right now to be an Eagle.”
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