TD ready to erase any doubts

They have come close in the past few years.

Their time is now.

“We are coming in as the underdogs. Not many people are expecting anything out of us,” Honald said. “Knowing that gives us that drive to do well. When you have so many people doubting your team, the players and coaches, you are driven to prove them wrong. We look forward to that opportunity.”

Last season, The Dalles lost 4-3 to Pendleton in the semifinals, and they went on to defeat Salem/Keizer 11-4 to secure third-place honors at the Babe Ruth State Tournament at David Douglas High School in Portland.

Much of that core group is back with the likes of William Justesen, Jose Gonzalez, Bradley Moe, Bales, Bailey Keever, Connor Uhalde and Tylan Webster leading the way along with newcomers KC Ratliff, Courtland Strizich, Timmy Fransen and White Salmon, Wash. native Shad Curtis.

Through 14 preseason games, The Dalles All Stars have a record of 11-3 in eight games against an 18U team from Portland, a 15U squad from Clackamas, four games with Milton-Freewater and one versus a 17U Irrigon group.

The lone losses have come to Milton-Freewater and a junior team out of Portland.

That slate of games showed Moe what kind of club The Dalles is and what elements they possess that can boost them to the top of the standings.

Moe said this team prides itself in being a group of hustlers – Not just because of the name of the legion team, just because that is a quality the roster possesses.

“At the end of the day, you may not always be the most skilled on the field, but you can always be the hardest worker and the best hustler,” Moe said. “We feel like in baseball and in other sports and aspects of life, hustle is something that will reward you in the end. We feel that with our hustle and our determination, the ability of not getting down on ourselves, the way we carry ourselves as a team and as teammates, it is something that gets us past the competition.”

TD head coach Jeff Justesen has penciled in Bales, Honald and Keever as his main starters on the mound, with William Justesen, Gonzalez, Webster, Ratliff, Strizich and Uhalde each seeing a few innings during competition.

One player who could see time is Peters, who did not play last season due to an arm injury.

“He has pitched a couple of games for us and he looks good,” Coach Justesen said. “He’s not expected to throw a lot of innings, but in the right spot he can throw an inning or two. I have a lot of confidence that he can throw strikes.”

One key element of the game Justesen is looking towards is defense. A lot hinges on limiting errors and shortening pitch counts for the pitching staff.

Peters, Curtis, Gonzalez, Keever and Uhalde will see time in the outfield, with Peters, Curtis and Gonzalez as the main starters.

“Defensively, one of the things I feel strongly about is the speed and ability of our outfielders,” Coach Justesen said. “We have four or five guys that can really cover a lot of ground out there. Those guys can run, they all got great gloves, they all take great angles to the ball and they all catch the ball.”

Uhalde and Honald are set for play in the middle infield slots, William Justesen will play either third base or first base, Ratliff can play a utility role on the field, and both Moe and Webster are two players who can play catcher to handle the pitching staff.

In the last couple of years, The Dalles has had speed throughout its lineup, so it opens up Coach Justesen with more options in terms of stealing bases, bunting, using hit-and-run plays or moving guys from first base to third base on singles to the outfield.

If those quick players in the top and bottom of the order can get on base, the middle of the order bats in William Justesen, Bales, Moe, Honald and Ratliff can be put in prime positions to drive in runs.

“I really think our strength is how we hit the ball. We have had games this year and last where we just pounded it,” Coach Justesen said. “We have guys who can hit the ball hard. You hear a lot of coach’s talk about this, but it holds for this team, that we don’t have a weak spot in the lineup.”

Along with The Dalles, Glacier, Riverton, Longview, Columbia Basin, Klamath Falls, Union County, Meridian, Alberta and Snake River Valley are the teams vying for the top trophy.

Coach Justesen said, one motivating factor for his squad is past successes posted by 15U teams in the recent memory.

Last season, Coach Sean Herriges led his team to a state championship, and the year before Matt McCall skippered his 15U group to a top state finish.

“These guys are a host team. They want to prove that just because they are a host team, it isn’t about them getting a free pass, they really deserve to be there and they have the same abilities as some of the other teams to be there,” Coach Justesen said of his players.

Last season’s 4-3 loss to Pendleton still resonates in the hearts of The Dalles players.

This is their last time to make it right.

Coach Justesen and his staff of Dean Dollarhide, Marcus Denney and Jose Gonzalez Sr. have been working hard to get this group prepared for a week of competitive baseball in The Dalles.

Coach Justesen said his squad needs to play well, but also have some lucky breaks go their way.

Honald talked underdog status and how that breeds desire, Moe brought up being hungry to go out every day like it was their last.

“As a team, we feel that we deserve this. We have put in the preparation and time to be able to earn this,” Moe said. “We all know that in the last few years we have had such a huge rate of success. Being matched against some tough teams we haven’t been dealt cards in our favor, but at the end of the day, we believe in our work ethic and preparation, to be able to get us past the rest of the competition. All of those things show how badly we want this championship.”

At 7 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, The Dalles hosts pool play games. At 4:30 p.m. Saturday, TD hosts Riverton.

In TD’s pool are Alberta, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.

In the other pool are North and South Washington, Southern Oregon, Snake River Valley and state champion La Grande.

The top-2 teams from each bracket advance to the semifinals on Sunday, Aug. 2. The championship is scheduled for 5 p.m.

All games are slated to be played at Quinton Street ballpark on Bob Williams Field.