Long ball wins it for River Dogs

Columbia Basin's three home runs clinches High Desert Baseball Tournament

The River Dogs faced off against the Sea Dogs in a rematch for the tournament trophy.

With the help of solo home runs from Severo Rodriguez and Josh Walker, and a two-run shot from Brady Lamb clinched the High Desert Baseball Tournament at Larson Field with a 4-2 win over the Sea Dogs in the championship game.

Sonny Garza returned from an all-star football game and took the mound on a game-time decision by Columbia Basin manager Randy Boruff.

"We are not noted for our home runs and only had 11 going into the game," Boruff said. "We knew we had some guys who had some pop, though."

The River Dogs opened the tournament against the Sea Dogs and unloaded for 10 runs in five innings of work and allowed one run by the potent Sea Dog offense.

"We jumped on them in the first game because they traveled three hours and weren't quite ready," Boruff said, but added, "I thought that was a quality team that we beat and I was glad we came back and won."

Boruff noted Garza's performance on the mound, pitching six innings after expecting not to suit up for the game. Ryne Phillips was expected to start for the River Dogs, but hurt his arm at the same football game and Garza pitched in his stead.

Garza allowed four hits and one earned run during his time on the mound, before Kyle Chamberlain pitched a one-hit seventh inning and eventually pick up the win.

"He was consistently 86 to 87 mph," Boruff said about Garza's fastball. "He

is a competitor and a coaches dream. He will give you everything he's got."

Rodriguez led off the bottom of the second inning and erased a 0-0 tie with a first-pitch solo home run over the left field wall. The Sea Dogs threatened to add a run to the board in the fourth with a bases loaded two-out situation, but Garza got Chris Owens to strike out to end the inning.

In the fifth, the Sea Dogs were able to get Derek Jennings on with two outs. Jennings stole second and right fielder Jeff Ching walked, bringing up Paul Fisher who drove Jennings in with a single past a diving Hawkins Gebbers at second base.

Ching scored on a single back up the middle by Tyler Sandland that hit Garza in the foot. Garza later walked Brian Meisenheimer to load the bases, but struck out Mike Stubblefield to end the inning.

Walker tied the game at 2-2 in the sixth with a one-out home run and Brady Lamb's two-run shot that bounced on top of the left field wall clinched the victory. The tournament win was the third in four tries for the River Dogs, who opened the season with a first-place trophy at the Memorial Classic, followed by a Mid-Season Classic at Pullman.