Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (April 12, 2000)
The CI ac I íamas P rínt Sports __ ___________ 9 WedNEsdAy, ApRil 12, 2000 Cougars leap into first place Tatentedhitters leadsquadtobest start in years MANDV GOOD Sports Editor The Clackamas baseball team is off to a hot start—they are leading the league 4-1 and are 15-6 overall. Clackamas, Lane and Linn Benton are the top three teams in the league, and each team will play each other in the com ing week. According to Head Coach Robinson, by next Tues day the squad will see where they stand in the league. Last week, the team played two games on its home field. Tuesday, the team played Mt. Hood and was defeated by a score of 5-7. On Saturday, Robinson’s team played Chemeketa in a game that was full of entertain ment with a Cougar win of 8-7 in 11 innings. “Our top hitters are still Ryan Boyle, Todd Boyle, Mike Armstrong and Ryan Oliver; those are the guys that have hit the best in the past two weeks,” noted Robinson. “As far as player to player the kids are getting along pretty well, they are comfortable with each other and they are starting to be confident in each other which is crucial. "Of our 15 wins, I bet that we have won at least eight or 10 of them in the last inning or two," added Robinson. "That is a good sign—that we are good and that we can trust that it is going to happen. In baseball, that is a big thing, to believe in each other.” According to Robinson, you can go out inning after inning and never get anyone on base and all of a sudden in one in ning it all happens. The key, according to Robinson, is to be patient enough and to trust that even if the first three hit ters don't get it done, the next JOHN THORBURN I Clackamas Print Jason Farrimond takes a big swing at the ball but misses in a game two weeks ago. Farrimond and the Cougars have plenty to be happy about as they sit at the top of the league standings with a 15-6 overall record. Clackamas baseball stays true to America's game players are good enough to get the big base hit there,’’said it done. Robinson smiling., “One of the biggest things in Clackamas started off this baseball is for the players to week with tough games against start believing in each other—; Mt. Hood yesterday afternoon. It is America’s game. that someone Results were For the players, it’s the smell of will get it done not available at —-- ---------- — the grass, the crack of the bat, the eventually," press time. We are getting noted Top pitcher scent of a leather glove. It’s the lac- Robinson. "We Aaron Shanks ing of the spikes, the buttoning of better and we are are getting who is 3-0 was the uniform—the thrill of the game. getting healthier there, we're slated to pitch against the getting really • •• close. Saints. Ac Robin Robinson "On Satur cording to Head Coach Robinson he is day [in the 8-7 win over the best Chemeketa], we pitcher statisti were down till the last innings cally, so he is the pitcher that of the game,” continued will lead the way in a tough Robinson. “We finally won the game. For fans, it’s the dog at the game with two outs and guys Robinson feels in order to on second and third base with look at a win in the NWAACC ballpark, it’s anticipating that final a base hit. That is a great base championships that the pitch strikeout, the sight of watching a player round the bases and touch ball situation. Chris Silva got ing staff will have to step up. “We are getting bet home after hitting one out. It’s do ter and we are getting ing “the wave” as it circles the sta healthier and I think dium, it’s having your dad teach that we are going to you how to keep score in the get better on the bleacher seats—the thrill of the mound. We are still game. America’s game is like no other. winning games be cause we are still hit It is unmatched in its mystique, ting well and playing there are no more loyal fans any good defense right where else. Towns have gained fame be now,” said Robinson. The Cougars take on cause of their teams. Books have been written. Lane this Saturday in Movies have been filmed. Eugene before head For decades, fathers have told ing to Albany to take on the Linn-Benton their sons bedtime stories late at Roadrunners next night. They've talked about this game. They've talked about their Tuesday. Clackamas returns to heroes. JOHN THORBURN / Clackamas Print Playing catch with your dad is a their home field on Will Schwisow leads off from first base against Linfield two weeks ago. ritual every spring across the na Baserunning has been a key to victory for the Cougars this season. April 29. From the Editor’s desk..« tion. Those young boys who grew up watching and playing baseball were the lucky ones—for this is America’s game. The Clackamas baseball players under- stand this. I f JohnThorbum you're not Editor-in-Chief familiar with community college baseball, you should check it out. It's pure baseball. More often than not, the pitch ing isn't strong enough to com pletely dominate a game and not very many individual hitters stand out either. It's a team game—the squeeze bunts, the sacrifice flys, the great infield work. Community college baseball is the style of baseball that was played when the sport first began. There are no Griffey-esque or Nolan Ryan-esque players. It’s baseball at its finest. These are not players being paid by the millions, but rather just struggling to extend their careers a few in nings longer. Like any other athletes, they've invested their lives in a sport that they love. It's the love of this game that makes them special.
