River Dogs fall to Rawdogs

EPHRATA - With one swing of the bat the Columbia Basin River Dogs' chances of advancing in the Babe Ruth World Series took a tremendous blow Sunday.

Tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, searching for extra innings, River Dogs left-hander Tristin Parton delivered a pitch to Alabama Rawdogs left fielder Hunter Beard that sailed over the left field fence at Johnson-O'Brien Stadium.

Sunday's 4-3 loss drops Columbia Basin to 1-2 in pool play and sets up a must-win game today against the Tri Township Falcons.

"Number three (seed) is going to go to whoever wins between us and Pennsylvania," head coach Randy Boruff said.

After two scoreless innings, the River Dogs looked to take an early lead against the Rawdogs in the top of the third with runners on second and third with no outs.

However, back-to-back strikeouts by Matt Sutherland and Colton Kelly and a ground out by Cam Walker ended the threat.

Even with a majority of the game still to be played, Boruff and fellow coach Dave Johnson knew the team had missed a serious opportunity.

"Seems like that in the first game and this game here that the guys who are feeling confident swinging the bat aren't at the plate at that time," Boruff said. "Coach Johnson and I just looked at each other and you just feel like that will always come back and haunt you. When you have guys at second and third with nobody out and you don't score."

Boruff's bad feeling was realized when the Rawdogs touched up starting pitcher Junior Ledgard for three runs in the bottom of the third.

After loading the bases, Alabama broke the tie when Rob Perteet's sacrifice fly scored Paul Chisholm who led off with a single.

Brian Lane followed with a two-run double that gave the Rawdogs a 3-0 lead after three innings.

"Pitching-wise Junior didn't have really good stuff," Boruff said. "He had a little tough inning there because he walked and hit the guy so they got on us for three runs, but we came right back and got three runs."

The River Dogs indeed rallied in the top of the fourth, beginning with a Timbo Taylor RBI single that scored Chandler Gribble.

Tyrel Panter followed with a bunt single that scored Kyle Kilian.

Sutherland's RBI single later in the inning brought the River Dogs all the way back and both teams remained deadlocked until the seventh.

Ledgard was relieved by Parton after 4 1/3 innings. Parton lasted 1 and 2/3 innings before Beard sent his pitch over the left field fence to give Alabama the 4-3 win.

It was the only hit Parton allowed in relief.

Columbia Basin now faces the exact same situation it was in a year ago at the 2013 Babe Ruth World Series in Covington County, Ala.

In a "win or go home" game after falling to 1-2 in pool play.

Last year, the River Dogs lost to Gulf Coast, Ala., 3-0, and were eliminated.

This year, Boruff will call upon Moses Lake ace Hunter Boyd to get his team into the quarterfinals.

But he also knows he will need multi-hit games from the team's top bats.

"He's (Boyd) had big games all year," Boruff said. "It isn't going to be whether Hunter Boyd throws a one-hitter or four-hitter or shuts them out or whatever. It's all going to be about whether we come to the park to swing the bat."

The Tri Township coaches were in the stands during Sunday's game, freshly removed from routing the Charleston Fighting Squirrels, 11-1, in the previous contest.

Both teams know what's at stake and both coaching staffs are looking for the slightest edge.

"They know what the situation is," Boruff said. "They beat us and they're in. They lose they're out, plain and simple. We have to play and get after them tomorrow night."

Weekend action

The River Dogs scored their lone win of the tournament Friday against Charleston, 5-0.

Gribble and Kelly provided two RBI each for Columbia Basin. Walker pitched a complete game one-hitter.

The Desert Dogs bounced back from an opening night loss to Klamath Falls with a pair of wins against Tri-County, Texas (2-1) and the Hammond Hurricanes (7-3) over the weekend.

Against Tri-County, Alec Martin was 1 for 2 with an RBI. Austin Murdock led the way against the Hurricanes, finishing 3 for 4 with three RBI.

The Desert Dogs, who are 2-1 in the National Division, will conclude pool play today at 5:30 p.m. against Team Cape Cod.