Stephens stellar in River Dog victory

River Dogs 5 Pilots 1

EPHRATA - After two games at the Babe Ruth state tournament, the River Dogs are perfect following Thursday night's 5-1 win over the Seattle Pilots.

The River Dogs scored two runs in the top of the first inning and River Dog manager Randy Boruff said he wanted to put the pressure on the Pilots early.

"We try to create pressure," he said. "Take the extra base."

In the top of the first inning, with a runner on third, River Dog second baseman Eric Tinnell laid down a suicide squeeze to score shortstop Devin Thaut.

Boruff said the squeeze was part of his game plan for his team.

"We like to play a little small ball," he said. "Bunting, putting guys in motion. Try to get the defense moving, put pressure on them."

The suicide squeeze is a tactic Boruff said he uses to maintain a psychological edge over his team's opponents.

"The squeeze bunt, even though it's only one run, it kind of deflates the other team," he said. "It tells the other team we are willing to bunt at all times."

River Dog third base coach Jerry Thaut said his focus at third base is to help his team be aggressive.

"To be successful you have to keep the pressure on at all times," he said. "It's an exciting play."

Baseball is a game of strategy and will use plays like the suicide squeeze to maintain an edge, Thaut said.

"Baseball is not a raw-raw, smash mouth type of thing," Boruff said. "It's more about focusing and preparing yourself for the next play."

Boruff said mistakes defensively are a huge part of baseball, and his team was flawless Thursday night.

"Whoever makes the least mistakes will win," he said. "We are very good defensively. We are strong up the middle and you gotta have that."

Moses Lake graduate Troy Stephens started for the River Dog's in Thursday night's victory.

Stephens has lost only one game for the River Dogs this season, and Boruff said he is confident in his pitcher.

"He is not a power pitcher," he said. "He competes. He throws strikes. And that's what you ask your kids to do. Throw strikes."

Stephens scattered eight Seattle hits over his seven innings of work to earn the victory. He said his focus during the game was to keep the ball down.

"I kept the ball low," he said. "I changed arm angles, changed speeds. I tried keeping them off balance."

Boruff said Stephens' performance Thursday night was typical of his right-handed pitcher.

"He doesn't ever shake," he said. "He realizes he has a good defense. The only way he can get beat is to walk batters, and he didn't walk anyone tonight."

The River Dogs are focused on performing well at the state tournament, Boruff said.

"They know what's on the line," he said.

Boruff said his River Dog team is hitting the ball well, but doesn't want his team to get into a high scoring game.

"We hit the ball pretty well," he said. "But you don't want to get into a slugfest, you want to take advantage and score four or five runs and hope our defense holds it."

Boruff said he is confident in his team's opportunity to advance to Sunday afternoon's state championship game.

"The way I feel about this team is that in order for us to lose, we have to beat ourselves," he said.

The Columbia Basin River Dogs play Fat Burger of Seattle tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Ephrata High School in the team's third Babe Ruth state tournament game.