By Mike Weber
For Columbia Gorge News
THE DALLES — The No. 14-ranked The Dalles High (TDHS) Riverhawks enjoyed won two-of-three Tri Valley Conference contests last week and are in third place in the five-team league standings.
That positions them in a spot to possibly reach the 16-team, OSAA Class 4A state playoffs beginning May 26.
The Riverhawks (2-2 TVC, 12-7 overall) won 8-7 on the road April 27 at Madras (1-5 TVC, 5-10), snapping a two-game losing streak. The Riverhawks, guided by fifth-year Coach Pat Clark, built a 5-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The Riverhawks led 8-3 in the top of the seventh, but the White Buffaloes rallied with four runs in the bottom half of the inning to make it a close outcome.
“I don’t know what the problem is about being in Madras, but traditionally, we never play well there, but it’s just a weird thing,” said Clark. “It was good to rebound and get a win after dropping two straight. We kind of let our lead slip away at the end, but a win is a win.”
Pitchers Gunner Bustos, Evan Ortega and Dufur High’s Chase Peterson combined on a five-hitter with eight strikeouts and three walks. The Riverhawks had nine hits and they were led offensively by Ortega (1-for-4, two RBI), junior Cannon Stocks (1-for-4, two RBI) and Peterson (2-for-3, RBI).
Following the contest at Madras, the Riverhawks had a day off before facing the No. 11-ranked league leading Gladstone High Gladiators (4-2 TVC, 12-7) on consecutive days. The Riverhawks lost on the road 12-2 to the Gladiators on April 29, falling behind 9-0 in the third inning. Gladstone outhit The Dalles 13-9. The Riverhawks were led offensively by sophomore Kale Beardmore (1-for-3, two RBI), freshman Thatcher Dray (3-for-3) and Bustos (2-for-3).
Clark said: “We took our lumps in the game at Gladstone. We didn’t play very well there, and I’ll give them credit because they [Gladiators] kicked our butt. It just didn’t feel like the two teams were separated by 10 runs though. It was just one of those games where everything went their way and we didn’t play very good defense, which really hurt us.”
The Riverhawks bounced back the next day with a 5-2 home win over the Gladiators. The Riverhawks played error-free defense and they were outhit 5-4, but they were able to capitalize on five Gladiator errors.
Bustos had an outstanding performance on the mound in tossing a five-hitter with eight strikeouts and one walk. The Riverhawks were led on offense by Beardmore (RBI), Stocks (1-for-2, RBI), Hunter Kelley (RBI) and freshman Joel Ortega (1-for-3, RBI).
Clark said Bustos “has just been nothing short of phenomenal all year.”
“He really helped set the pace and we were able to get three quick outs in the first inning,” Clark said. “Then we scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning for the early lead to give us the momentum and we were able to hold onto it for the entire game.
The Riverhawks will be seeking to extend their win streak in their next home game, May 6 at 5:30 p.m. versus the No. 18-ranked Estacada High Rangers (2-2 TVC, 9-9). They’ll follow with another home game May 7 at 5:30 p.m. against the No. 7-ranked Molalla High Indians (3-1 TVC, 12-6), which will mark their third game in four days. They’ll face the Indians again May 11 on the road in a 5:30 p.m. match-up.
“Estacada is a tough team with some really good pitchers,” said Clark. “We’re going to have to play clean baseball and it’s just that simple. If we play the way we played against Gladstone at home, then I like our chances of getting a win against Estacada on Wednesday.”
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