The Dalles completes nonleague schedule with two wins in three games

THE DALLES — The Dalles High Riverhawks concluded their OSAA Class 4A baseball nonleague schedule by winning two of their last three games.

The No. 10-ranked Riverhawks traveled to Klamath Falls for an April 18 doubleheader versus the No. 15-ranked Mazama High Vikings (6-7). The Riverhawks extended their win streak to four with a 5-4 win in the first matchup.

The Riverhawks built a 5-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning. The Vikings responded by outscoring the Riverhawks 3-0 over the final two and a half innings for the final one-run margin.

The Dalles pitchers — starter Gunner Bustos and reliever Chase Peterson — combined for five strikeouts and one walk. Bustos pitched the first five innings to help the Riverhawks build the four run fifth-inning margin. Peterson, a Dufur High sophomore, followed by pitching the final two innings.

Both teams had seven hits. The Riverhawks were led offensively by Bustos (2-for-3, three RBI), freshman Thatcher Dray (2-for-3, double), Peterson (RBI) and sophomore Sawyer Case (2-for-3, RBI, double).

The Riverhawks, guided by fifth-year Coach Pat Clark, had their win streak end at four, losing the second game, 10-9, in 10 innings.

“It sure was a wild second game against Mazama,” said Clark. “Going on a long road trip like that and then getting a split was a goal that we had, so it was nice to get one win. We had our chances to win game two, but then we just let it slip away. We battled hard all the way … We were disappointed that we didn’t win it, but it was a good learning experience for the boys.”

The seesaw type of contest included three ties and four lead changes. After the Riverhawks went up 3-0 in the top of third, the Vikings scored five runs in the bottom of the frame for a 5-3 advantage. The Riverhawks led 8-5 after six innings, but the Vikings bounced back and got three in the seventh to force extra innings.

Following two scoreless innings, the Riverhawks scored a run in the top of the 10th for 9-8 lead. The Vikings responded by scoring two in the bottom half of the frame to get the victory. The Riverhawks recorded a season-high of 19 hits — the most for The Dalles in the last five years. However, mistakes hurt the Riverhawks who had seven errors compared to one for the Vikings.

Five Riverhawk pitchers, Peterson, Dray, Bustos, Evan Ortega and Kale Beardmore, combined on the mound to allow seven hits, with six strikeouts and eight walks. The Dalles was led offensively by Bustos (3-for-7, RBI, double), Sawyer Dray (5-for-6, two RBI, double), Thatcher Dray (3-for-5, RBI), Beardmore (3-for-5, RBI, triple) and Ortega (2-for-5, RBI, double).

Prior to the long road trip to Klamath Falls, the Riverhawks won 7-4 at home April 14 over the No. 11-ranked Class 3A McLoughlin High Pioneers (9-3).

The Riverhawks have won four of their past five games. “We had a pretty successful nonleague schedule, so we’re right where we want to be,” said Clark. “We’re looking forward to starting our league schedule now. We feel like we can be one of the top contenders in the league, and, of course, we’re hoping to reach the state playoffs. We still have some things that we have to improve on, but all-in-all, I think we’re in a pretty good spot right now.”

The Riverhawks begin their 12-game Tri-Valley Conference (TVC) schedule April 23 with a 5:30 p.m. home game against the Madras High White Buffaloes (4-5). The contest will mark the third game in four days for Madras.

“I like our chances in the league opener versus Madras, and they’re going to be a little weary after playing so many games, so it will definitely be an advantage for us,” said Clark. “We still have to play our game, though. Our guys have to understand that if they do things the way the coaches want them to do ...  then things will work out well for us.”

The Riverhawks took second place in the TVC last year behind the defending league champion Molalla High Indians, who have an experienced squad with nine seniors. A young Riverhawk squad has just two seniors in Bustos and Ortega.