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The Dalles slugger Dylan DesRochers watches his three-run home run clear the left field fence at Bob Williams Field Friday to give The Dalles a 7-2 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Riverhawks rode that first-inning onslaught to a 10-6 victory over the 5A Redmond Panthers.
The Dalles slugger Dylan DesRochers watches his three-run home run clear the left field fence at Bob Williams Field Friday to give The Dalles a 7-2 lead in the bottom of the first inning. The Riverhawks rode that first-inning onslaught to a 10-6 victory over the 5A Redmond Panthers.
Dylan DesRochers slugged his first high school home run to cap a seven-run first inning and the Riverhawks defeated 5A Redmond 10-6 in a non-league baseball contest played Friday at Quinton Street Ballpark.
The junior first baseman and pitcher said it was all coaching that allowed him to accomplish such a feat.
“Coach (J.R.) Runyon changed my approach at the plate,” DesRochers said. “He really help me a lot this week in hitting. I feel a lot more comfortable.”
In that opening frame, TD fell behind 2-0, but quickly rebounded.
The Hawks had their first five batters reach safely, as a walk to Colin Noonan, a fielder’s choice by Gordy Harris and a single by Payton Eaton loaded the bases.
Kellen Mathisen drove in Noonan and Harris with a two-run single to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead.
Eli Holeman reached on an error, and one out later Boston Bate was hit by a pitch to put two runners on for DesRochers.
On a 1-2 pitch, DesRochers hammered the next offering over the leftfield fence to increase the lead to 7-2 after one inning.
“It was the first time this year we came out and jumped on somebody,” said DesRochers, a junior. “Scoring seven runs in the first inning, definitely set the tone for the rest of the game.”
Up by five runs in the third, DesRochers and Kristian Lucas started another rally with back-to-back walks.
They were later cashed in on hits by Harris and Eaton to increase the lead to 9-2.
Redmond inched closer with two runs in the fourth and another in the fifth to make it a 9-5 score, but the Riverhawks added an RBI sacrifice fly by Eaton to score Noonan to swell the lead to 10-5.
The offensive breakthrough was more than enough for Bate, the Riverhawk starter.
Bate allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits and five walks.
The junior found himself in several jams in his four innings, but stranded nine Panther base runners.
After Bate departed, Johnny Miller and Eaton finished the final three innings and surrendered just two hits and two unearned runs with a combined five strikeouts.
DesRochers went 1 for 2 with a home run, a walk, two runs scored and three RBIs to lead the Riverhawks, who had six hits and received six walks.
Noonan added a hit, a walk and two runs scored, Harris went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI, and both Eaton and Mathisen had a hit, a run and two RBIs.
“The great thing about our team is our hitting,” DesRochers added. “Any given player, on any given day can rise to the occasion and produce.”
In their first 11 games of the season, the Riverhawks (4-7 overall) have faced a tough schedule with games against Bend, Central Catholic, Summit, La Salle Prep and Redmond, all teams with a combined 25-13 record.
The Dalles lost 7-3 to No. 1-ranked and undefeated Summit, lost 5-3 to La Salle Prep in its last two games leading up to Friday’s win.
It has served as a learning lesson early in the year, but DesRochers and his teammates are encouraged with their progression with 14 regular season games still left on the docket.
“We are a better ball club than our record shows,” DesRochers said. “We have played some tough teams and lost some close games that we should’ve won, but the season is still early. Coach Runyon has kept us motivated and positive. We are looking forward to entering league play (first game is April 18 at home versus Hermiston).”
The Dalles next plays at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday versus 6A West Albany (3-3).
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