River Dogs fall to Taylor Baseball in championship game

SEATTLE - The River Dogs' 14-game win streak ended Monday after the team lost to Taylor Baseball, 8-3, in the championship game of the Baden Showcase.

Columbia Basin was unable to overcome a 5-0 deficit after the first inning.

The two teams played each other virtually even after the opening frame, however, the River Dogs were unable to sustain a rally to make up for the early hole.

"We didn't hit the ball," head coach Randy Boruff said. "We left a lot of guys on. They walked a lot of us and the other team committed four errors. We just couldn't get a clutch hit."

Colton Kelly finished with two hits in the loss.

Fresh off a 14-game win streak, two tournament wins and a second place finish, Boruff is happy with where his team is at 50 games into the season.

A second place finish at a tournament as large as the Baden Showcase is nothing to slouch at.

"There's nothing wrong with losing in the championship game of an invitational tournament that has 45 teams in it," Boruff said. "There's only going to be one that's going to be happy at the end. We just kind of ran out of gas.

"We've been gone for seven days. We've slept in a hotel since last Tuesday night."

The River Dogs will return home for the Washington Baseball Open, which begins 12:30 p.m. Thursday at Ephrata High School's JV field.

Columbia Basin will travel to one more tournament before hosting the Senior Babe Ruth World Series Aug. 7 through 14.