Hustlers wrap season at state tournament

The Hustlers’ program hosted a charity game on July 20 against the Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue team to raise money for the victims of the Rowena Fire. They raised nearly $4,500 that was donated to United Way of the Columbia Gorge.

On Wednesday, July 23, Hood River Valley sophomore and Hustler utility man Landen Pratt took the mound versus the home team, North Jackson Royals. Pratt and the Hustlers’ defense held the Royals in check until the top of the third inning when North Jackson scored five runs.

Clark said it was, “A combination of a couple walks, a couple errors, a couple mental mistakes, mixed with them hitting the ball,” that contributed to the Royals’ five-run inning.

The Royals would add two runs in the sixth inning and Hustlers would attempt a comeback but ultimately fell short. The North Jackson Royals won the game, 7-4, and advanced in the tournament. Pratt struck out seven, walked four and allowed three earned runs against the Royals. Drake Dark pitched one inning and recorded one strikeout. Five Hustlers recorded at least one hit and were led by shortstop Evan Ortega (2-for-3, two walks, one RBI, one run) and first baseman Gunner Bustos (2-for-3, two walks, one hit, one run). Other Hustlers who recorded hits were Pratt (2-for-4, one hit, one walk), outfielder Hunter Kelley (1-for-1, one hit, one RBI), outfielder Wyatt Bolton (1-for-2, one hit) and designated hitter Cameron Collins (2-for-3, one walk, one hit, one RBI).

Following the loss to North Jackson, Clark challenged his team, and the players responded.

“Our boys did not want to be the first team to go home,” Clark recalled.

The next day, the Hustlers were up against the Everett St. Mechanics, with whom they had split two games on July 16. The Hustlers took control of the game from the first inning. Seven runs for the Hustlers in the first inning would’ve been enough to separate them, but Clark’s team did not stop there. They scored two runs in the third, seven in the fourth and one more for good measure in the fifth.

“Their pitchers started struggling and it just kind of snowballed in our direction,” Clark said.

The game ended after five innings, and the Hustlers stayed alive with a 17-4 win. Most of the scoring came from the sophomore duo of Sawyer Case (3-for-4, two doubles, three RBI, five total bases) and Kale Beardmore (3-for-4 with a triple, double, two RBI, four runs and six total bases). Clark praised his underclassmen and their development this summer.

“They both had huge games,” he said. Case, who did not play in the Hustlers’ first game vs. North Jackson, stepped up when they needed him most against Everett. Clark said he was the “spark plug” for their offensive explosion.

The Hustlers got a taste of their own medicine as they met the Klamath Falls Falcons on Friday and lost, 16-1.

“I knew coming in that would be a tough one just because they’re a good, experienced club,” Clark said. “It’s essentially Henley’s varsity team with a couple other kids mixed in.”

Two Hustlers (Thatcher Dray and Gunner Bustos) recorded hits. Dray went 1-for-1 with an RBI and Bustos was 2-for-2 with a single and a walk.