No district title for The Dalles

“They made the hits when they had to and gained the momentum,” TD manager Ben Donivan said. “That homer was a game changer.”

The fifth inning started with a walk and a TD error. After an infield single loaded the bases, Bend North scored its first run on a single and then cleared the bases with a grand slam.

Bend could have done even more damage in the inning.

After two more Bend hits, TD left fielder Evan Baldy threw out a runner trying to advance to third base. After walking the bases loaded, TD pitcher Styles DeLeon recorded a strikeout and then got a ground ball to second base to get out of the jam.

Bend scored three more runs in the sixth while TD failed to get another hit.

“They pitched really well,” Donivan said. Their shortstop made a couple of great plays that potentially changed the inning from a big inning for us. You’ve got to tip your hat to them. They played really well. Their pitchers, I thought, kept us off balance. We haven’t seen many curveballs and they got us on the curveball and they made the plays defensively.”

Bend nearly broke the game open much earlier. After an easy 1-2-3 first inning that included two strikeouts, starting pitcher Andy Maney lost control and walked the bases loaded.

However, Kade Wilson had his teammate’s back. Pitching in relief, Wilson got a ground ball to second for a force out at home and then back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the top of the second inning unscathed.

Bend also got a runner to third base in the next inning but Wilson recorded another strikeout to end the threat.

TD finally put runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third inning.

Peyton Beeks drove in Maney with a bloop single to left field. Wilson then scored on a Riley Brock walk with the bases loaded to give TD a 2-0 lead.

TD catcher Ian Preston threw out a runner trying to steal second base and Wilson made a diving catch in foul territory to put away Bend in the top of the fourth.

With two outs, TD added another run in the bottom of the fourth. Pinch-hitting, Nathan Anderson singled to left field and then scored on a wild pitch.

TD finished the District 5 tournament 2-2, with wins over South Central and Crook County.

“These guys played their butts off,” Donivan said. “They left it all out on the field and have nothing to hang their heads about. These guys did everything we asked them to do.”