River Dogs extend win streak to 13 games

Regionals up next for streaking Dogs

The Columbia Basin River Dogs allowed just six runs as they swept through the competition in the Spokane Classic, July 13 to 17. They finished the tournament with a 6-0 record.

With the sweep, the River Dogs pushed their winning streak to 13 games and overall record to 41-10 on the season.

Edward Rodriguez of Warden took home MVP honors for the tournament and also received the award for Most Outstanding Hitter. He finished the tournament with a .600 batting average.

Derek Shoemaker led the way for the River Dogs pitching staff. He was 2-0 during the tournament and pitched five innings in the championship game. His overall record for the season is now 10-0.

Sonny Garza got the save in the championship game.

Severo Rodriguez received the award for most outstanding defensive player of the tournament. As a team the River Dogs committed just three errors during the tournament and have just five errors in the past 13 games.

In their first game the River Dogs defeated the Seattle Bombers by a score of 3-0.

The River Dogs faced off against the White Rock Tritons in the second game of the tournament. They escaped with a 2-1 victory but head coach Randy Boruff admits the Dogs did not play their best.

"We squandered some scoring opportunities," Boruff said. "We missed a few signs."

On the following day the River Dogs offense ignited versus the West Side Gators. They scored nine runs while shutting out the Gators and winning by a score of 9-0.

"They did a better job of situational hitting after the second game," Boruff said. "They focused and did a better job of moving runners and getting clutch hits."

In the second game the River Dogs faced off against the Spokane Heat. It was not a shutout but the results were the same in a 6-3 victory.

On the final day of competition the Dogs faced off against the Gators again. It was more of the same but only better for the Dogs as they scored 12 runs while again shutting out the Gators.

In the championship game the Dogs had to face the Spokane Heat again. The Heat would have to beat the River Dogs twice to claim the tournament title but the Dogs settled things in the first game, defeating the Heat by a score of 4-1.

"We are coming of age," Boruff said.

Next up for the River Dogs is the Senior Babe Ruth Regionals held in Ephrata starting on Thursday, July 28.