The Dalles shortstop Johnny Miller (top) skies high in the air for a throw on a steal attempt by Caleb Nutting Wednesday against the 6A Reynolds Raiders. The Riverhawks could not get things going offensively or defensively in taking an 8-0 loss.
The Dalles shortstop Johnny Miller (top) skies high in the air for a throw on a steal attempt by Caleb Nutting Wednesday against the 6A Reynolds Raiders. The Riverhawks could not get things going offensively or defensively in taking an 8-0 loss.
Just two days after posting 14 hits and scoring eight runs in a lopsided win over 6A Glencoe, The Dalles baseball team could not find its way Wednesday in an 8-0 shutout loss in another non-league matchup at Quinton Street Ballpark.
The Riverhawks posted four hits, received four walks and had two batters hit by pitches, but stranded nine runners on base and also committed five errors that led to six unearned runs.
“It was a lack of focus,” said Dawson Hoffman. “We came in our first game with 14 hits and today we only had four hits. You know, that is not us. We got to play a better offensive game and defensively we cannot have five errors. We just got to get back to work.”
TD went 0 for 7 with runners on base, also struck out five times and stranded five runners in scoring position through seven innings.
Coming off a game where they left eight runners on base, the Hawks added nine Wednesday, so the hitting department needs to iron out the kinks down the road to take advantage of scoring opportunities.
“We know we are a good offensive team and we can compete with the best of them,” Hoffman added. “We have to come out more aggressive. We cannot let the pitcher dictate our at-bats. We want to hit the ball and we got to execute when we get our chances.”
While the Riverhawks scuffled at the plate, Reynolds managed just enough on the offensive end with seven hits, three walks and three hit batters, and left eight runners on base.
Caleb Nutting went 2 for 5 with two runs scored, Steven Verdieck tacked on two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs, and Abel Osoria chipped in with a hit, two runs scored and an RBI in five plate appearances.
TD starter Bailey Ortega picked up the loss on the mound. The right-hander allowed four runs on two hits, two walks and a hit batter.
“We weren’t fired up to play and that comes with experience. We got to take today as a lesson learned and we will come out swinging in the next game,” said Matt Strizich. “This is very unacceptable. We have to practice well and be ready to play on game day. We cannot afford to have another game like this. We know we can be a very competitive team, but if we have more games like this, we are letting each other down.”
Nutting gave up four hits and walked four, but struck out four and retired seven of the 18 batters he faced on fly balls.
From his leadoff spot in the batting order, Colin Noonan went 3 for 4 with a double. In two games, the Riverhawk senior has reached safely seven times in eight at-bats.
Tyler Westin reached base once, Spencer Honald added a hit, and Johnny Miller, Colton Walker, Cash Mathewson and Boston Bate each went hitless, but received walks.
The 3-4-5 hitters in the lineup went 0 for 8 with a walk, a sacrifice bunt and also struck out two times and stranded six runners.
The schedule does not let up for the Riverhawks, as they hit the road for a doubleheader starting at noon Saturday against the Bend Lava Bears.
These players are looking for an adequate response in these next two games.
“We got to have fire in our bellies to come out and hit. We didn’t have that today,” said senior pitcher and infielder Dylan DesRochers. “We have to come out with more of a sense of urgency and we have to come out ready to win. I think we can definitely come back in our next two games against Bend and show what we got.”
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