River Dogs fall one game short of World Series
Columbia Basin River Dogs
OREGON CITY, Oregon — Despite a strong run through to the Babe Ruth Northwest Regional Tournament championship game, the Columbia Basin River Dogs fell one win short of a World Series berth and a trip to Ohio next month.
On Sunday, the Portland Baseball Club pulled out a 7-4 win to end the River Dogs’ run to the regional title and a return appearance at the World Series.
“It was a great season and we competed very well,” River Dogs coach Randy Boruff said. “The Portland club is a very fine team with five or six kids going D1. We had our opportunities we just didn’t get any clutch hits at key moments.”
To get to the finals of the Regional tournament, the River Dogs swept through pool play with a 4-0 record and a big 2-1 semifinal win over their old nemesis the Kent Bulldogs, on Sunday.
Cody Johns (Naches Valley HS) pitched a complete game five-hitter while giving up five hits and striking out seven to earn the win.
It was the River Dogs’ third straight win over Kent — after winning the final two games of the Babe Ruth North State Tournament between the two teams to advance.
Dylan Signorelli (Moses Lake HS) went 2-for-3 from the plate and Brett Gray (Big Bend CC) finished 2-for-2 to lead the Bulldogs’ offense.
The River Dogs ran rampant over their fellow pool competitors to set the stage for their appearance in the tournament’s final four.
They defeated the Missoula (Mont.) Pioneers, 14-4, behind the pitching of Josh Snider (Moses Lake HS) who threw five innings of six-hit ball while allowing two earned runs and striking out six.
Cameron Alvarado (Moses Lake HS) finished 3-for-3 and Signorelli went 2-for-3 for the River Dogs’ offense which was aided by seven Missoula errors.
On Friday, Columbia Basin ripped past Snake River Valley (Ontario, Oregon) 16-6.
Mitch Yada (Moses Lake HS) recorded the win with six innings of pitching in relief. Yada allowed four hits, two earned runs, and one walk while striking out seven.
Stockton Taylor (Brewster HS) finished 2-for-4 with four RBI, Alvarado went 3-for-3 with three RBI, and Signorelli ended up 3-for-5 with five RBI to spark the River Dogs’ win.
They also won on Thursday, defeating Mound Time (Beaverton, Oregon) 7-2.
A five-run second inning was more than enough for Chris Walker (Naches Valley HS) to record a complete game win behind an eight strikeout performance.
Shon Valdez (Othello HS) batted 2-for-3 with an RBI, Herbert went 2-for-4 with three RBI, Signorelli completed a 2-for-3 day with an RBI, and Gray ended up 1-for-3 with an RBI.
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