Sluggers go 1-2 in tournament at Hillsboro

Matt Strizich: 0-5 / 2 HBP / BB / (4) SB / (2) RUNS / AVG. 000.

Preston Klindt: 3-8 / BB / (2) 2B / (1) RBI / (2) RUNS / AVG. 375.

Tyler Westin: 2-6 / (2) BB / (1) RUN / AVG. 333.

Tanner Herriges: 2-5 / (2) BB / (2) RBI / AVG. 400.

Boston Bate: 5-7 / (2) 2B / (3) RBI / (1) RUN . AVG. 714.

Dawson Hoffman: 0-4 / BB / (1) SB / (1) RUN / AVG. 000.

Daniel Peters: 3-7 / (1) RBI / AVG. 429.

William Justesen: 2-8 / (1) SB / (1) RUN / AVG. 250.

Jacob Wetmore: 0-4 / (3) BB / (1) SB / (2) RUN / AVG. 000.

Court Strizich: 1-7 / (2) RBI / (1) RUN / AVG. 143.

Izaac Tapia: 1-6 / (1) HBP / 2B / (2) RBI / (1) RUN.

The Dalles 14U Sluggers played close games in three matchups last weekend but ended up going 1-2 at the Reedville Tournament in Hillsboro.

The Sluggers finished 1-2 overall, with the victory coming in an 8-6 triumph over Barlow.

In a pair of losses to Tigard and Sandy, this group suffered setbacks by an average margin of two runs.

One of those games came in a classic showdown Sunday versus Sandy.

This Sandy squad scored a run in the bottom of the first inning and they held the one-run cushion until the Sluggers threatened in the sixth.

With runners at second and third and two outs, outfield slugger Matt Strizich stood up to the plate.

On a full count, he was hit by a pitch, which opened the door for the hottest hitter on the team, Boston Bate, to move his team in front, but the home plate umpire called Strizich back saying he did not attempt to get out of the way.

After an argument from head coach Sean Herriges, the call stood and Strizich had another swing.

On the next pitch, they struck him out.

“It took the wind out of the sails for me,” Herriges said.

“Boston Bate was hotter than a firecracker and he had been hitting the cover off the ball, so I was thinking grand slam there.”

All was not lost however, as the Sluggers evened the score in the top of the seventh frame.

There were two outs and Jacob Wetmore was on second base representing the tying run with Daniel Peters at the dish.

Peters hit a grounder to third base and he beat the throw to first base.

On the play, Wetmore scurried home and slid headfirst safely to tie the score at 1-apiece.

Sandy wound up winning the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, getting the run off starting pitcher Tyler Westin.

“That game was one for the ages,” Herriges said. “The Sandy game was the best these kids have played in three years. It was just a classic.”

Herriges complimented the complete game pitching effort from Westin in a sterling 86-pitch effort.

Defensively, Matt Strizich made several standout plays in the outfield, and third baseman William Justesen executed a handful of diving stabs to keep Sandy at bay.

“They played a great game with great defense and diving catches everywhere,” Herriges said. “Consistent defense against both Barlow and Sandy made the difference. We hit the ball too.”

Offense played a large role in the Sluggers winning their opening game by an 8-6 margin over Barlow.

Bate picked up the win with six innings of work and Peters slammed the door shut in the seventh frame to pick up the save.

Coming off that big win, the Sluggers suited up for a contest against one of the weaker teams in the tournament – Tigard, but they could not get their game right in an 11-8 setback.

“We shouldn’t have lost that game,” Herriges said. “We played down to their level. These guys respond better by playing up to the level of competition.”

Bate, who went 5 for 7 with two doubles, three RBIs and a run scored, led the Slugger offense.

Peters added a 3 for 7 split with an RBI, Klindt had three hits with two doubles, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored.

The trio of Justesen, Westin and Tanner Herriges had two hits each with a combined four walks, two runs and two RBIs.

All season, the Sluggers have played in the National and American ranks, also hitting the field against top-level Federal teams.

With a bevy of arms to choose from, ranging from Westin, Bate, Justesen, Preston Klindt, Dawson Hoffman and Peters as a closer, Herriges has plenty of options to tackle the opposition in the batter’s box.

“I have been in impressed with our pitching this season,” Herriges said. “We have been consistent all year long even without a dominant guy that throws heat. They have been able to mix it up to keep kids off-balanced.”

The Sluggers (8-8 overall record) are in Forest Grove this weekend.