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.