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About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 30, 2018)
10 Wednesday, May 30, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Rehabber explains nature of work Zach Morgan named co-Player of the Year By Rongi Yost Correspondent Six Outlaws earned all- league recognition this year, including Zach Morgan, who was a first-team pick and co- Player of the Year. Morgan was selected first- team all-league pitcher, and batted .527 for the Outlaws this past season, with seven home runs and 24 RBI. He walked 26 times and scored 23 runs for the team. On the mound, he was four-for-two, with a 2.585 ERA (earned run average). Zach struck out 56 batters in 43.1 innings pitched, with only 16 walks. Coach Reed Rainey said, “Zach had an outstanding senior season. Offensively, he was the best hitter in the con- ference, and was one of the top pitchers in the league as well. Without Zach, we don’t win 17 games this year.” Seniors Austin Morss and Pherry Luz were also first team selections. Morss was a first-team pick infielder and hit .437, with a team-high of 38 hits. Austin scored 22 runs and recorded 10 RBI. He also stole 13 bases on the season, despite the fact he struggled with a pulled hamstring the entire time. “Austin was tremendous defensively at both shortstop and third base, and was the catalyst for us offensively,” said Rainey. “He was hav- ing a really good year on the mound as well, before being hampered by his hamstring injury. He’s a great team player, and is a role model for the younger players.” Luz earned his first-team recognition as an outfielder. Pherry hit .411 overall with 30 hits and 24 runs in only 23 games, and in addition stole 13 bases. “I really enjoyed Pherry’s demeanor and competi- tive spirit this season,” said Rainey. “He’s a gifted ath- lete who can do a number of things on the baseball field. He pitched well for us down the stretch.” Turner Stutzman, Austin Lake (seniors), and Taylor Fendall (sophomore) were second-team all-league selections. Stutzman was a second- team all-league pitcher, and was four-for-two with two saves this year. He had an ERA of only .778 and threw 44 strike-outs in 45 innings pitched, and only gave up 27 hits. “Turner is a great com- petitor on the mound,” said Rainey. “He wanted the ball every game, and never backed By Jim Anderson Correspondent down from any challenge. Because of his arm angle, he was very tough on hitters.” Lake was second-team as a utility player. Austin played first base, left field, and was a designated hitter for the Outlaws this year. He had a 1.658 ERA and batted .225. Austin was second on the team in RBI with 17. “Austin was a pleasant surprise this season,” said Rainey. “He had not played baseball for four years prior to this season, and provided a spark for us at many dif- ferent positions. Late in the season he became a domi- nant pitcher, and shut down La Pine on Senior Day.” Fendall rounds out the second-team picks as catcher. Taylor hit .324 for the season and knocked in 15 RBI. “Only a sophomore, Taylor developed into one of the better catchers in our con- ference,” said Rainey. “He received and blocked well all season long, and really improved over the course of the season. I expect him to be a leader on the team the next two years.” Saturday before last, Sisters native bird rehabber Elise Wolf had the oppor- tunity to have a free lunch and the floor at the Women’s Community Luncheon at Sisters Community Church. More than 100 women from throughout Sisters Country assembled at the church to learn what must be done — and done right — to bring small native birds back to health. Wolf talked about the native birds she works with, and those she hopes others will care about. Raptors, such as hawks, owls and eagles are on her no-contact list. Most of them require bigger facilities than she has. She used a slide show to bring her audience closer to the beauty and details of her work, showing photos of the birds she cares for, includ- ing small and large shore- birds, waterbirds, woodpeck- ers, nightjars, songbirds and such. Before Wolf began her talk, Carol Hodges, mas- ter of ceremonies for the luncheon, introduced two Spring Fling $300 Discount FOR THE MONTH OF MAY when you start a comprehensive treatment program. New patients only. Flexible fi nancing available. Call now to schedule your complimentary consultation Smile by Lauren & The Brace Place! 541-382-0410 410 E. Cascade Ave., Sisters CentralOregonBracePlace.com talented young women who gave well-received perfor- mances. First was teenager Laura Clem who sang the hymn “Be Thou My Vision,” followed by Lexie Miller, a student at Sisters Dance Academy, who performed a dance number that was as graceful as a swan landing on the still water of a pond. During her talk, Elise tuned in the audience as to what she believes and the eth- ics she is beholden to as she does her best to provide the best care for the birds that are brought to her for treatment: • We believe our ethical obligation to the animals, whose lives depend entirely on us, is to provide the best care possible. • Through the year, we take in a variety of birds from tiny kinglets songbirds to swans, and all receive the best care possible. • In summer, we receive a lot of baby birds; warblers, grosbeaks, robins, bluebirds, doves, hummingbirds, nut- hatches, chickadees and others. All are treated under the most natural methods possible. • In addition, our facility specializes in window-strike treatment, cat-caused inju- ries, orphans (the first baby bird for this year was a snipe) and waterbirds such as loons, grebes, swans and wading birds. Wolf ended her hour-long talk with the bare-bones facts of how costly it is for her and her husband to do the work she loves to do. The rehab facility cost about $60,000. And then there’s the $5,000 they spent on meal worms and other food items to keep birds under repairs alive, not to mention the money for spe- cialized equipment, like the huge water tanks to help keep the swans healthy when they are recovering. Going to her website, www.nativebirdcare.org, will give you more details on the life and times — and needs — of one of Oregon’s small- bird rehabbers. Learn more about Elise Wolf’s small-bird rehab work at www.nativebirdcare.org.
