Wednesday, May 12, 2021 Columbia Gorge News www.columbiagorgenews.com 11 SPORTS Rollercoaster-like ride continues for Riverhawk baseball team Weber ■ By For Mike Columbia Gorge News Following an 8-3 Intermountain Conference loss at home May 4 to a Crook County Cowboy squad that had an 0-9 record prior to the game, The Dalles High Riverhawks baseball team probably felt somewhat embarrassed. Many Riverhawk players, including sophomore Braden Schwartz, said after that contest that they would come back and beat the Cowboys in the next meeting between the two teams. That’s exactly what they did. Three days later on Saturday, the Hawks snapped a seven-game losing streak with a come-from-be- hind 5-4 win in Prineville. “It was a nail biter in the bottom of the seventh when Crook County had the tying run at third base, which really made it an exciting game at the end,” said assistant coach Ed Ortega. “Our team never gave up though and we got a big win, led by Riley Brock, who pitched really well. It looked like they (Cowboys) were going to beat us again. Their pitcher was really good until the seventh inning and he actually got our first batter out and they were still up 4-1.” The win solidified the Hawks’ position in the six- team IMC standings with the upcoming district playoffs looming May 17-21. The Dalles (3-4 IMC, 3-9 over- all) remained tied for third place with the Redmond Panthers (3-4 IMC, 3-7), who they meet today at 4:30 p.m. in the final regular season home game at Quinton Street Ballpark. The Dalles faced the Hood River Valley Eagles (6-2 IMC, 8-4) May 11 at home in the first of a three-game series with their Gorge-area rival (results came after the print- ed edition deadline). The Dalles concludes the regular season with 3 p.m. double- header May 14 versus the Eagles at Hood River Valley High School. The Dalles will face a yet- to-be-determined oppo- nent (likely Crook County or Ridgeview) in the IMC District quarterfinals at home May 17, tentatively scheduled for 4:30 p.m. The May 17 winner plays in the May 19 semifinals at the site of the higher seeded team. It was a hard-earned win for sure for The Dalles on Saturday. Crook County took an early 1-0 lead before the Hawks knotted it with a run in the third. The Cowboys responded by scoring three runs in the fifth to take a 4-1 advantage. Following a score- less sixth, the Cowboys were still in control of the game going into the seventh with the three-run lead. But the Hawks scored three runs, including a game-tying RBI single by Brock, knotting it at 4-4. Riverhawk freshman Sam Shaver (1-for-2) singled, then Cowboy pitcher Tyson Martinez walked Luciano Alvarado and Nolan Donivan to load the bases. William Hoover was then hit by a pitch from Martinez which allowed Shaver to score the game-winning run and put The Dalles ahead 5-4. Brock scattered six hits, with two walks and a season-high 11 strikeouts in five innings, The Dalles Riverhawks freshman Nolan Donivan gets a hit during the Riverhawks baseball game versus Crook County May 4 at Quinton Street Ballpark. Mike Weber photo before being relieved by Schwartz in the sixth. On May 5, the Riverhawks lost on the road at Redmond, 16-3. Redmond took control of the contest early with a 7-0 first inning lead. Sophomore Riley Brock (2-for-3, single, double), freshman William Lee (1-for-2, single) and sophomore Diego Gonzalez each drove in runs for the Riverhawks. The Dalles had four errors and Riverhawk pitchers issued six walks. hot-hitting Schwartz (3-for-3, two singles, triple, three RBI) and sophomore Evan Baldy (2-for-3, single, triple, three RBI). “We actually played better In the first game of the May 8 doubleheader at Crook County High, the Class 6A Bend Lava Bears (9-3) won 18-8 over The Dalles. The Riverhawks were led by the than indicated by the score,” said Ortega. “We hit the ball well and we made some good plays, but we also had a few errors (eight total) that cost us some runs.” IMC baseball, softball playoff seeds will be decided this week PRE-REGISTRATION BEGAN MONDAY, MAY 10 GIVE THE GIFT OF LIFE! Join Skyline Foundaon for its annual virtual event “SHINE ON!” Harrison Howell sits in the dugout. Be Ready! Sign in! Explore the event! Make a donaon! View & Bid on Aucon Packages! Pre-Registration began Monday, May 10 at: ! auc bidpal.net/shineon on ca t a l o g i s al s games this week against The Dalles to clinch at least a home game in the first round of the playoffs. The Eagles are tied with Crook County (4-4) for third place, but the Cowgirls face unbeaten Pendleton (7-0) in their final two league games. The Dalles (3-5) can vault from fifth to third with a sweep of HRV and if Pendleton takes care of busi- ness against Crook County. Saturday, May 15, 10 a.m. through Sunday, May 16, 9 p.m. I N E O N o ava and No. 4 seeds hosting No. 5s. Those games take place May 17. Winners advance to play road games on May 19. The 3-6 winner plays at the No. 2 seed and the 4-5 baseball winner will play at Pendleton (8-0). May 19 win- ners advance to the league championship games, May 22, at the site of the higher seeded team. A number of possible play- off scenarios remain in soft- ball. HRV (4-4) needs one win in its final two league Walker Sacon photo/file T h e SH The Dalles and Hood River Valley, along with the rest of the Intermountain Conference teams, are jockeying for position in next week’s season-ending championship tournaments for baseball and softball. HRV’s baseball team has solidified at least third place in the IMC standings behind top-seeded Pendleton with two league games against The Dalles remaining. HRV (6-2 league) needs to win at least one game against its rival to the east to secure the No. 2 seed in the confer- ence playoffs which begin Monday, May 17. The Dalles (3-4) has three games remaining – vs. Redmond (also 3-4) on May 12 and two against HRV (May 11 and 14) – and can finish as high as second and as low as fifth. If the Riverhawks win out, they will finish in a tie with Hood River for second place and will be the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. In that scenario, HRV will be the three seed. The IMC playoff format has league No. 3-seeded teams hosting No. 6 teams ilabl line h THANK YOU 2021 SHINE ON! PARTNERS CHAMPION PARTNERS: A&E Heang & Air, Inc. Cerner Howard S. Wright Stevenson Family Trust eal t h. o r g / f o und @MySkylineHealth ven My Skyline Health WARRIOR PARTNERS: Best Western PLUS Hood River Inn Blue Room Architecture & Design First Interstate Bank FLYNN BEC, LP USI n / e @skyline_health a o ts/ is an equal opportunity educator and employer. y s ky Please RSVP with Matt Fitzpatrick at 541-506-6042 or email: mfitzpatrick@cgcc.edu Columbia Gorge Community College a t : m Training will delve into the organization’s mission, adult learning, tutor expectations, general learner profiles and potential tutoring opportuni ties. 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