Confidence is the name of the game

Columbia Basin Junior River Dogs pursue Babe Ruth World Series bid

The last time the Columbia Basin Junior River Dogs entered the 16-year-old Babe Ruth World Series, they took second place.

That was four years ago and the field was a familiar one. Moses Lake was chosen as the site for the series and Larson Field was surface of choice.

Well, the World Series is still a tournament off as the Junior River Dogs have to push through the regional tournament to enter their haven. Yet, the field will still be as familiar as the 2000 World Series as Moses Lake and Larson Field is the chosen site.

"They are ready as far as fundamentals and how to play the game," said Columbia Basin manager Chuck Hansen. "After we get through with practice, they should be ready to go."

Hansen prepares to take the Junior River Dogs through the regional tournament and back to the World Series.

In 1996, Hansen helped coach that 16-year-old team to a World Series fifth-place finish and in 1998, with the same core of players, Hansen helped coach the River Dogs to a Senior Babe Ruth World Series title.

In 2000, his assistance on the bench led Columbia Basin to a second-place finish. What lies ahead is well known for the coach responsible for leading the Junior River Dogs back to its biggest tournament of the year.

To make things a little easier, Hansen added Gabe Boruff, former Kansas City Royals player and son of the River Dogs manager Randy Boruff, to the coaching staff.

"He can relate his experiences of what it takes and it will help the kids to be a little more focused," Hansen said.

Boruff played with the 1996 and 1998 teams, then appeared in three College World Series with Lewis and Clark State College, winning two national titles.

Along with his professional baseball experience, Boruff feels he can prepare a bunch of 16-year-olds for the mental and physical demands of such a tournament as the regional and World Series tournaments.

"This game is 90 percent mental and most of these kids don't know that and I am trying to bring in a mental aspect of the game," Boruff said.

With the coaching staff in place and ready for a weekend of grueling, testing baseball, it is the players who have to meet the demands of actually performing on cue.

According to Hansen, that shouldn't be a problem.

At the No. 1 pitching spot stands Jorge Reyes of Warden. Hansen has relied on his arm to clinch key victories for Columbia Basin through the season and into tournament play. Plus, utilizing his range at the shortstop position while not occupying the mound has helped solidify a middle infield.

Backing Reyes on the mound is Ephrata's No. 1 pitcher Mike Ratigan. The core, Hansen said, that tops his pitching staff. With 11 players out of 18 on the roster used for pitching, Hansen said he can use his two No. 1 arms to put Moses Lake into a championship clinching situation.

"I have 11 guys out here that can start and 15 guys that can pitch and we are sitting better than a lot of teams," Hansen said.

The expectations rise above the pitching. Hansen said his batters are capable of exploiting pitchers and uses his teams performance in the West Coast NTBA Championships as proof.

Columbia Basin won the championship game with a 16-6 victory and before that put up 25 runs combined in the previous two games to put the Junior River Dogs in a position to win.

Boruff said the team speed is a definite advantage, but added the teams willingness to learn has increased their chances of advancing to the World Series.

Yet, Boruff's biggest concern is to keep 18 16-year-olds mentally focused for four days. But, he added, their desire has shown otherwise.

"They are fast and learn quick and they want to learn and they work hard and that is their best quality as a team," Boruff said.