River Dog Blue shows moxie
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald A NW Blaze baserunner glides in under the tag of River Dog second baseman Zac Berryman during Saturday’s game at the High Desert Tournament at Johnson-O’Brien Stadium.
EPHRATA — Despite a summer of players bouncing back and forth within the organization, players missing games because of graduation, basketball camps or other excused absences, the Columbia Basin River Dog Blue team still had enough competitive edge to go out and win the High Desert Classic on Sunday at Johnson-O’Brien Stadium.
The River Dogs (4-2) held off the NW Blaze from Bremerton 2-1 in eight innings in the early game, then beat Lakeside of Issaquah 9-1 to nail down the title in the three-team, three-day tournament.
It was just a funky, little tournament that saw all three teams go into the final day with 2-2 records. But Columbia Basin put together back-to-back wins on Sunday, getting the most out of a pitching staff that was riding on fumes.
Duncan Favor, who pitched for the River Dog White team (June 20), struggled early against Lakeside, walking two in the first inning and giving up a run. But the Eastmont right-hander settled in for the complete game.
“Not having a full team (so far this season) has us all a little unsettled,” Favor said. “I pitched for the (White team) in Pullman on Wednesday, then turned around and came back here Thursday.
Right now were just waiting for the (select team) announcement, and at that point we have no reason why we shouldn’t play well.”
The Blue coaching staff of Randy Boruff, Dave Johnson and Mike Rios, along with the White staff of Greco Signorelli and Donnie Lindgren hope to have the roster for the Select team put together by Tuesday.
“We have a pretty good idea of the top 10 or 12, but we’ve spent a lot of time taking a look at the bubble players,” said Boruff, who was the Lefty Gomez national Babe Ruth League volunteer of the year in 2017. “We had guys in the outfield today that don’t normally play there, but we really want to take a good look and see who can help the (Select team)”
Both what Boruff is calling the A and B teams will play in the Washington Senior Babe Ruth League state tournament July 13-15 at Johnson-O’Brien Stadium. Because of other team’s inability to participate in the regional tournament, should they advance, all three teams from the Senior Division will automatically advance.
“The state tournament doesn’t mean much this year, but it will give us a chance to play together,” Favor said.
High Desert Classic scores
Friday
Lakeside 6, River Dogs 3
NW Blaze 7, Lakeside 5
River Dogs 12, NW Blaze 4
Saturday
River Dogs 7, Lakeside 9
Lakeside 9, NW Blaze 4
NW Blaze 7, River Dogs 3
Sunday
River Dogs 2, NW Blaze 1 (8)
NW Blaze vs. Lakeside (unavailable)
River Dogs 9, Lakeside 1