Modest bunch leads Dogs offense

Team outscored opponents by 200 runs this year

MOSES LAKE — The Senior River Dogs bring a potent offense to Newark, Ohio and the Babe Ruth Senior World Series. They are led by third baseman and fourth year Dog Sonny Garza. He hits fourth in the lineup and for players with more than 100 at bats, he leads the team in batting average, home runs, RBI and on base percentage.

Garza started swinging a hot bat in the three weeks leading up to the World Series. He won MVP in two out of the past three River Dog tournaments, including in the regional tournament when he hit almost .600 and had a grand slam in the semi-final game.

Now Garza will have to lead the River Dogs in Newark.

"I do feel pressure but I don't want to think about it," Garza said. "I just try to sing a song and find a good rhythm at the plate."

Leading off for the River Dogs in the World Series is Kyle Wilmot. He recently took over the job as his bat started to heat up. Earlier in the year Wilmot lost his leadoff spot to Curran Redal. As the leadoff, hitter it is Wilmot's job to get on base and use his speed on the base paths to disrupt the defense.

Now with Wilmot back in the leadoff spot and Redal is at his more comfortable position of batting second. He does not like the pressure of batting leadoff. Redal has been to the world series before but does not count it because it was an invitational.

Hitting third in the order for most of the season is Hawkins Gebbers. He is second on the team in on-base-percentage, slugging percentage and batting average for players with more than 100 at bats.

He points out how everyone contributes and no one person stands out on the River Dogs offense.

"We all like each other," Garza said.

Hawkins is well known on the team for his pre-game rituals.

All four of them are modest, don't feel any extra pressure, contend offense is a team effort and that no one shines more than anyone else.

They also point out that no one has any rivalries with each other and that everyone on the team likes one other and gets along. They contribute that camaraderie to the coaching staff and their ability to teach the players an unselfish playing style.

That takes care of the top of the order and head coach Randy Boruff lauds his team's depth. Every position in the field offers a good bat at the plate.

Probably his best hitting lineup is when Chad Hunter pitches. That leaves Michael Ratigan to play first base, Hawkins at second, Severo Rodriguez at short, Garza at third, Edward Rodriguez in left, Wilmot in center, Redal in right and Brad Tracy behind the plate.

"No one has shut us out or shut us down this year," Boruff said. "We have beat drafted pitchers and college players this year."

Their only poor performance this year came in the first game of the regional tournament when the Dogs scored just one run on five hits.

As a team the offense has hit .342, 36 home runs, scored 402 runs and had an on base percentage of .424. The numbers are even more impressive when compared to what the team surrendered to opponents.

The River Dog's opponents hit just .240, 27 home runs, scored 202 runs and had an on base percentage of .319.