Host Columbia Basin 2-0 at Babe Ruth World Series
Columbia Basin's Griffey Halle rounds third base and heads home during the 2016 Senior Babe Ruth World Series at Johnson-O'Brien Stadium in Ephrata. Columbia Basin beat Wayne County 7-1 in its first game.
EPHRATA — Competitor.
That was how Columbia Basin head coach Randy Boruff referred to starting pitcher Hunter Boyd. Because Boyd — sick and all — was never in doubt to take the mound Saturday night.
Despite some brief hiccups, Boyd was dominant in a complete game four-hitter against Wayne County and Columbia Basin won its Senior Babe Ruth World Series opener 7-1.
“He (Boyd) was sicker than a dog yesterday — he was in bed and he really wasn’t feeling very good today,” Boruff said. “You take that on and say, ‘OK, he threw a four-hitter and did a complete job,’ but he’s a competitor. I guess that’s what I’m trying to say. He competes and that was a good deal and I’m real proud of him.”
Boyd admitted it took him a couple innings to become all the way comfortable on the mound after a two-week layoff even though he looked sharp from the first pitch, striking out the side in the first inning.
“It’s been a year since we’ve been in the World Series, there’s a lot of fans here, a lot of families so it took an inning or two to get used to and once I got used to it I just kept on rolling,” said Boyd, who finished with 12 strikeouts.
The veteran River Dogs — who are making their fourth straight World Series appearance — were of stark contrast to the Wayne County Lumberjacks.
The lights were too bright for Wayne County, literally and figuratively.
Columbia Basin began its romp in the third inning when a routine fly ball by Griffey Halle was lost in the Johnson-O’Brien Stadium lights. The ball fell harmlessly behind Wayne County’s center fielder and Halle coasted into second base. Justin DeHoog poked a RBI single to left field for the game’s first run.
Boyd led off the fourth inning with a double that was about five feet short of leaving the yard. Walks by Mitch Boesel and Kaeden Murphy loaded the bases, allowing Zach Askin to smack a two-run single. Askin led the way with three RBI.
“They gave us a lot of runs,” Boruff said. “They made mistakes. We’re a veteran team, we’re a veteran World Series team so you can’t make a lot of mistakes and give us a lot of chances and so we’ll take advantage of that.”
The Wayne County thread that began to fray in the fourth inning completely unraveled in the fifth as the River Dogs were able to score four runs on one hit.
Glen Gosse came home on a throwing error at third base and Boyd hit a RBI infield single to put Columbia Basin ahead 5-1. The River Dogs loaded the bases for the third inning in a row before Joe Taylor and Askin were hit by pitches, plating two more runs.
The Lumberjacks plunked five batters total and were charged with two errors.
“Here (Ephrata) we have everyone here that’s used to the big crowds,” Boyd said. “I believe that the little error right there the pressure got to them and they kind of went the wrong way for them and the right way for us.”
Columbia Basin 7, Union County 3
EPHRATA — Columbia Basin improved to 2-0 at the Senior Babe Ruth World Series with a come-from-behind effort against Union County.
Down 2-0 in the sixth inning, the River Dogs struck for seven runs in the frame. Griffey Halle drove in two runs and the River Dogs took advantage of three errors by Union County.
“They fell apart and they gave us a chance,” Boruff said. “We have a belief so we just don’t ever quit.”
Kaeden Murphy pitched six innings, striking out seven.
More, Murphy allowed only two hits and both runs scored by Union County were unearned,
Glen Gosse allowed one run in the seventh and notched two strikeouts.
“It starts on the bump,” Boruff said. “That’s the truth.”
Columbia Basin plays Blue Lick, Kentucky today at 8 p.m.
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