The top-ranked HRV Eagles (15-3, 5-0 league) extended their Columbia River Conference win streak to five games after sweeping a doubleheader 3-2 and 19-9 over the Bulldogs (9-8, 2-3 league) on Saturday in Hermiston.
HRV has now won nine straight overall and were seeking a 10th straight win Tuesday at home versus Hermiston (results unavailable at press time).
The Eagles captured the opening contest 3-2 in a low-scoring pitcher’s duel between HRV senior pitcher Patrick Harvey and Hermiston senior pitcher R.J. Robles.
“We knew going into the first game that it would be tough to score runs off of Hermiston’s pitcher,” said HRV Head Coach Erich Harjo. “Robles is a very good pitcher and he’s been doing a good job all year. Nobody has been able to shut us down offensively the way Robles did. Patrick Harvey was equally as good as Robles. Patrick threw extremely well too; he had a low pitch count and he had seven strikeouts. Patrick had a phenomenal hitting performance too. He just made huge contributions for us in the first game.”
Hermiston took an initial 1-0 lead in the first inning and scored a run while capitalizing on an Eagle error. Four scoreless innings followed as it remained a tight, defensive battle with Hermiston continuing to hold onto a 1-0 edge going into the sixth.
Harvey then blasted a leadoff home run in the top of the sixth, knotting it 1-1 and the Eagles’ momentum continued in the seventh.
A leadoff walk to Casey Ward followed by a one-out single by Skyler Hunter (1-for-2, single, walk) gave HRV a scoring opportunity. Harvey connected for sharply hit line drive to left field for a game-winning two RBI triple, as Ward and Hunter scored to make it 3-1.
Hermiston responded in the bottom of the frame and got two baserunners and scored a run, trimming it to 3-2. The Bulldogs had the potential winning run at the plate and a runner on base for the tying run. Harvey struck out the final batter to conclude the contest and help lead the Eagles to the victory. Harvey pitched a complete game and scattered five hits and walked one. Harvey and Hunter had the only hits for HRV, which had a total of just three hits.
In Game 2, Hermiston jumped in front 5-0 in the first inning. HRV (8.16 runs per game average), the third-highest scoring team in the 5A level, responded with five runs in the second to knot it 5-5. Hermiston came back with four runs in the bottom of the second to regain the advantage with a 9-5 lead.
The Eagle defense took over from that point on and relief pitcher Chase Lariza didn’t allow any hits, while he helped hold the Bulldogs scoreless over the last three innings. Lariza walked five and struck out two. Isaiah Enriquez started on the mound and allowed eight hits in the first two innings.
HRV scored four in the third, knotting it 9-9 and then moved ahead 15-9 in the fourth after scoring six runs. The Eagles, who had a season-high 17 hits, got four more in the fifth to conclude the game via the 10-run mercy rule with the 19-9 advantage.
“Isaiah didn’t throw too well in the beginning of the game and Hermiston was able to get some hits and score some runs to get the early lead,” said Harjo. “Eventually, we were able to just come up with an offensive explosion with everyone hitting hard and everything we hit was dropping for base hits. Chase pitched very well the last three innings and we just pounded the baseball. It was one of the most bizarre games that I’ve ever been a part of. There were a lot of weird things that happened, but we responded well to get the win. It was fun to watch the guys hit so well.”
Hunter led the Eagle offense as he batted 3-for-5, with two singles, a triple and six RBI. Junior Adam Cameron hit a homer, a double and had two RBI. Andrew Roberts (2-for-5, single, double, two RBI), Harvey (2-for-4, RBI), Morgan Williams (2-for-4, two RBI), Lariza (2-for-4, two RBI) and Montana Kurahara (3-for-4, RBI) had multiple hits to help lead the potent Eagle offense.
“This team is different than last year’s team, and they’re just more focused on trying to win every game,” said Harjo. “They don’t like to think about losing and they’ve been playing at a very high level to help us continue winning. They all play together for each other as one cohesive unit. We’re very fortunate to be in the position that we’re at right now. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of this team. We’re looking forward to have a rare evening doubleheader Friday versus The Dalles and it should be an exciting night of baseball.”
It marked the highest scoring game in Harjo’s seven years as HRV’s head coach. The 19 runs was the highest scoring output for HRV since April 22, 2010, when the Eagles won 22-4 over David Douglas.
The Eagles’ next contest is a 5 p.m. doubleheader at home Friday against The Dalles (8-9, 2-3 league).
The Eagles are hoping that their momentum will continue as they get ready for what they hope will be another successful OSAA state playoff run, which starts May 25. The Eagles are seeking to reach the championship game June 4, at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer, for a third straight year.
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