Riverdogs fall short at 18U Regional Tournament
Columbia Basin Riverdogs second baseman Zane Harden jumps up to make the catch as the baserunner from Chaffey looks for the steal on Saturday at the Babe Ruth League Pacific Northwest 16-18U Regional Championship Tournament in Ephrata.
Casey McCarthy/Columbia Basin Herald
Riverdogs head coach Donnie Lindgren gives instructions to his runner on first base with Gavin Burns waiting behind him on third base Saturday morning at the Babe Ruth League Pacific Northwest 16-18U Regional Championship Tournament.
Winston Roberts throws a pitch for the Columbia Basin Riverdogs 18U team on Saturday afternoon against Chaffey at the Babe Ruth League Pacific Northwest 16-18U Regional Championship Tournament in Ephrata.
Seth Olson takes a swing at the plate Saturday morning for the Columbia Basin Riverdogs 18U team against Chaffey in the Babe Ruth League Pacific Northwest 16-18U Regional Championship Tournament at Ephrata High School.
EPHRATA — The Columbia Basin Riverdogs 18U team’s run in the Babe Ruth League Pacific Northwest 16-18U Regional Championship Tournament ended Saturday morning, falling in the first round of the knockout stage to Corvallis, Oregon-based Chaffey 18U, 7-2.
The hosting Riverdogs went 3-0 last week in the pool play stage of the tournament, but came up just shy of nabbing one of the top two seeds to receive a bye on Saturday. The Riverdogs brought down their opponents from Lander, Wyoming, 13-0 on Wednesday, won 7-1 against Kelso Premier on Thursday and capped off the week with a 20-8 victory over Lakeside Friday.
Columbia Basin faced off against Lander again on Saturday afternoon in a consolation game, winning 15-2.
Despite not getting to make the trip to Mobile, Alabama, to compete for the Babe Ruth World Series, Seth Olson of Moses Lake said it has been an awesome summer. After getting off to a slow start, Olson said things turned around once the team built some chemistry, overcame some injuries and started having fun.
“Coming into midseason, we’re family out there,” Olson said. “It’s just great to play with these guys, no one better to have out here and play with.”
Olson said he’s ready to make another run next summer and added, “we’re gonna win it next year.”
