By Mike Weber
For Columbia Gorge News
THE DALLES — The No. 3-ranked Tri-Valley Conference champion The Dalles High Riverhawks won their final two regular season games and qualified for a first round, home contest in the 16-team OSAA Class 4A state playoffs this week.
The Dalles (11-1 TVC, 24-3 overall) was scheduled to play No. 14-ranked Hidden Valley High (13-11) on May 26.
The league season-ending wins enabled The Dalles to overcome a 4-3, 10-inning home loss on May 18 to Gladstone. The loss ended the Riverhawks’ winning streak at 14 games. The No. 11-ranked Gladiators (8-4 TVC, 14-10 overall) used a strong pitching performance by junior Ashlynne Franssen at 16th Street Ballpark in The Dalles.
It marked the Riverhawks’ first defeat since an April 7, 5-4, home loss to the No. 8-ranked Greater Oregon League champion Pendleton High Buckaroos (15-9). The Riverhawks’ three losses have been at home — to playoff teams.
The Dalles lost, 6-0, to the No. 1-ranked Cowapa League Champion Scappoose High Indians (23-3) on March 31.
The Riverhawks responded to the setback with a 4-3 win at home May 20 over the No. 7-ranked Estacada High Rangers (8-4 TVC, 17-8 overall), followed by a 14-4 road win May 21 over the Molalla High Indians (3-9 TVC, 13-14 overall).
Second-year Coach Duane Witter said of the 16-team OSAA state playoffs: “I think since we’re the No. 3 seed, it’s possible that we might have to play a road game in the playoffs if we win our first-round game. We could actually play Gladstone again in the playoffs. and if we do, then they’ll play us in The Dalles. It was a really good game against Gladstone. Their pitcher is very good.”
The Dalles had just 10 players against Molalla, yet the Riverhawks scored 14 runs. The Dalles is averaging 11.51 runs per game average), which is ranked No. 1 out of all 28 Class 4A squads. The Dalles pitchers Siyra Faulkner (three innings) and Ainslee Eiesland (four innings) combined on an outstanding game, Witter said.
In the matchup versus Estacada, the Riverhawks celebrated senior night. A pregame ceremony honored seniors Ava Graves, Maddy Sagapolutele, Hailey Johnston, Makenzie Barrett and Faulkner.
Sagapolutele (.535 batting average) suffered a foot injury during the game, and she didn’t play in the match-up versus Molalla the next day. Sagapolutele leads the Riverhawks in home runs with 11 — out of a team total of 40.
Tuesday’s playoff winner advances to a Friday, May 29 quarterfinal home game versus the winner of Gladstone and the No. 6-ranked Oregon West Conference champion, Cascade High (20-5).
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