Columbia Gorge Hustler third baseman Payton Eaton fires a ball to first base during practice Wednesday at Bob Williams Field in The Dalles. Eaton and the Hustlers host Pendleton in a one-game playoff at 6 p.m. tonight for a spot in the Super Regionals this weekend in Dallas. Ray Rodriguez photo
Columbia Gorge Hustler third baseman Payton Eaton fires a ball to first base during practice Wednesday at Bob Williams Field in The Dalles. Eaton and the Hustlers host Pendleton in a one-game playoff at 6 p.m. tonight for a spot in the Super Regionals this weekend in Dallas. Ray Rodriguez photo
Needing to win three of four games this past weekend, the Hustlers nearly swept a pair of league doubleheaders, but still won three games to set up a one-game playoff against Pendleton at 6 p.m. tonight at Bob Williams Field.
“What I have noticed most about these young men is that they seem to perform their best when their backs are against the wall,” said co-head coach Doug Sawyer. “They showed me this weekend that they did not want the season to end.”
Kellen Mathisen, who slugged a pair of home runs over the weekend, injured his ankle on Sunday, so he is out of the lineup, and now Bailey Ortega will fill in at catcher.
All of the arms are ready to roll, said Sawyer, so Colton Walker, William Justesen, Boston Bate, Patrick Harvey, Kolbe Bales and even Bailey Ortega can be used in any form.
“One thing we have always had this summer is pitching. We have the depth to compete with anybody and that depth will be put to the test if we have to play four nine-inning games over the next four days,” Sawyer said.
Offensively, the Hustler coaches plan to use Morgan Williams, Colin Noonan, Walker, Dallas Buckley, Johnny Miller, Bate, Payton Eaton and company to keep up their current hot pace.
“We have been hitting the ball well in these last couple of games, and we have executed well on our bunts, so guys are really doing whatever it takes to score runs,” Coach Justesen said. “We will need to continue with that if we are going to advance.”
If the Hustlers win, they will play two games on Saturday and then a third game on Sunday in Dallas, if necessary.
Commented
Sorry, there are no recent results for popular commented articles.