River Dogs to play for Baden Showcase championship

SEATTLE - Columbia Basin's 1-4 dud at the Taylor Baseball Classic must feel like a lifetime ago.

Since struggling in Seattle in late June, the River Dogs have placed first in two straight tournament and are riding a 14-game winning streak.

The River Dogs returned to Seattle this past weekend to exorcise some westside demons.

The team won its first six games of the tournament and will play Taylor Baseball today for the championship.

The River Dogs' pitching staff was dominant in pod play, only allowing six runs in the first six games.

Columbia Basin finished 6-0 in its pod before defeating the Boys of Summer, 7-5 in the quarterfinals and the Federal Way Buzz, 4-3, in the semifinals.

It took extra innings and a come-from-behind win for the River Dogs to punch their ticket to the championship game.

The team trailed 3-1 entering the bottom of the eighth before Drew Loera hit a bases loaded walk-off double. Colton Kelly also had a RBI triple in the contest.

Head coach Randy Boruff has liked the balance from his team during this hot stretch.

Taylor Baseball was able to beat Columbia Basin 8-1 at the Taylor Baseball Classic earlier in the season. However, Boruff believes Monday's meeting will be much different.

"One thing that we have that is a glaring strength is that we have tremendous speed," he said.