Hustlers go 3-2, prepare for state tournament

THE DALLES — The Columbia Gorge Hustlers 18U squad went 3-2 last week and now will focus on preparation for the 2026 Oregon Legion A state tournament on July 23, after facing the Klamath Falls Falcons on July 22.

The Hustlers started the week with a home doubleheader against the Yakima Pepsi Beetles on July 14, losing game one 4-3, and winning game two, 14-7. The Hustlers then hit the road against the Pepsi Beetles for another doubleheader on July 15, winning game one, 14-9, and dropping game two, 6-5. The Hustlers closed out the week of games with an 8-6 win against the Baseballism Wet Sox from Hillsboro on July 17 at Quinton Street Ballpark in The Dalles.

In game one at home against the Pepsi Beetles, White Salmon’s Ryder Graves got the start on the mound, pitching four innings with four strikeouts, giving up three hits and two runs. The Dalles’ Daylee Miller and Hunter Kelley stepped in for Graves. Miller pitched two innings with four strikeouts and gave up one hit and two runs. Kelley stepped in late and finished the game with a strikeout.

From the plate, Kelley went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, Hood River’s Bodie Stuben went 2-for-4 with a run scored and The Dalles’ Kale Beardmore went 2-for-2.

In game two against the Pepsi Beetles at home, the Hustlers had several standout performances from the plate. Stuben had two hits, two RBI and scored twice. Beardmore went 1-for-3 with three RBI. The Dalles’ Gunner Bustos went 2-for-2 with three runs scored. Hood River’s Trevor Jacobs went 2-for-3 with two RBI and four runs scored.

In the second set of games against the Pepsi Beetles, the Hustlers continued to hit the ball well. In game one in Yakima, Stuben went 3-for-5 from the plate with three RBI and three runs scored. The Hustlers scored 14 runs off nine hits.

In game two, Hood River’s Landen Pratt led the way at the plate, going 3-for-4 with an RBI, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the series split with the Pepsi Beetles.

Against the Baseballism Wet Sox from Hillsboro on July 17, the Hustlers came to life at the plate in the fifth inning, scoring five runs. Pratt went 1-for-4 with two RBI, Bustos went 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored and The Dalles/Dufur’s Chase Peterson went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Pratt got the start on the mound, pitching four innings with eight strikeouts, giving up three hits and three runs. Bustos stepped in for Pratt, pitching five innings with six strikeouts, giving up five hits and three runs.

The team finished the weekend with an alumni game on July 18 at Quinton Street Ballpark in The Dalles.

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