Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (June 6, 2016)
10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JUNE 6, 2016 Loggers: They have earned fi ve 20-win seasons in a row Continued from Page 1A The senior right-hander, headed for Trea- sure Valley Community College, gave up just one hit in his six innings on the mound, with six strikeouts and six walks after throwing 113 pitches in the stifl ing valley heat. “Ty got a little tired, and (the Loggers) did a good job at the plate,” Feist said. “They were disciplined and they didn’t chase pitches … it’s a state championship game, and nobody’s going to roll over.” Hueckman had to overcome his share of adversities to fi nish his career as his team’s Player of the Game. “He’s been injured all year, and he’s just kind of got back into shape,” Feist said. “After he got back in shape, he had his appendix taken out, so it’s been a tough year for him. He battled really well and threw a great quarterfi nal game, and then did a great job here.” After striking out at least one batter in each of the fi rst fi ve innings, Hueckman walked two in the sixth and one in the seventh, before being replaced by Justin Lewellen. And the stage was set for another Logger win, as No. 1 hitter Jason Miller drew a lead- off walk, with Takalo, Reuben Cruz and Noah Kinney due up. “Where else do you want to be, except the top of your order, last inning, to tie or win a state championship game,” coach Miller said. “We got to the point we wanted to.” A Takalo bunt was popped up and caught by Burns catcher David Vinson, Cruz fl ied out to left fi eld, and Kinney grounded out to short- stop. And just like that, the game was over. “What a spot to be, to have that guy (Kin- ney, Knappa’s only senior) in that spot … he wanted to be there and we wanted him there,” Miller said. “It just doesn’t always work out.” Kinney still “has a legacy of winning,” Miller said. “He’s going to be missed dearly. He’s been a great player and person for us to have around in the locker room and on the fi eld.” Trace Tiller had a key two-run single for Burns in the second inning, while Lewellen earned the save, retiring Takalo, Cruz and Kin- ney on just eight pitches. Photos by Danny Miller/The Daily Astorian Knappa’s Logan Bartlett attempts to beat out a dropped third strike. SCOREBOARD BASEBALL Class 2A/1A State Championship at Volcanoes Stadium Burns 4, Knappa 3 Knappa 000 003 0—3 1 0 Burns 120 100 x—4 7 3 Dale Takalo and Andrew Goozee; Ty Hueck- man, Justin Lewellen (7) and David Vinson. W: Hueckman. L: Takalo. S: Lewellen. RBI: Knappa, Goozee 2; Burns, Tiller 2, Hueckman, Goss. 2B: Knappa, Goozee; Burns, Hueckman, Reid. WP: Hueckman 2. HBP: by Hueckman (Jason Miller); by Takalo (Talon Case). Pitches/strikes: Takalo 98/57; Hueckman 113/68; Lewellen 8/5. E: Burns, Bryce Goss 2, Talon Case. DP: Knappa. LOB: Knappa 7, Burns 5. SB: Burns, Trace Tiller. CS: Burns, Zane Bailey. Umpires: HP-Doug Groat. 1B-Cecil Schwalb. 3B-Jason McGuire. OSAA/US Bank/Les Schwab Tires Moda Health Players of the Game: Andrew Goozee, Knappa; Ty Hueckman, Burns. State Championship Scores Class 6A Jesuit 9, Oregon City 3 Class 5A Summit 12, Hood River Valley 2 Class 4A Henley 3, Estacada 2 Class 3A Stanfield 5, Santiam Christian 4 Class 2A/1A Burns 4, Knappa 3 Knappa’s rally Knappa fi nished with just one hit, by Andrew Goozee in the sixth. Cruz drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third when an errant toss from the Hilanders’ second baseman resulted in a two-base error, putting Mason Hoover at second. Goozee followed with a two-run double down the left fi eld line, which earned him Knappa’s Player of the Game honors. Another Hilander error just seconds later allowed Goozee to score the third run. After giving up a few hits early on, Takalo settled down and matched Hueckman pitch- for-pitch, inning-for-inning. Takalo only allowed one run after the sec- ond inning, retiring eight of the fi nal nine bat- ters he faced. “It took a little while to fi gure out the zone,” Miller said of Takalo. “He’s a 16-year- old sophomore who was in the biggest game of his life, and all I know is that he handled it really well. “Some days it’s easy to look great. To have a rough start, and maybe not have your very best stuff, and to get stronger and have a day like that … I have nothing but admiration and respect for the game Dale threw. He was outstanding.” The Hilanders had seven hits off Takalo, who threw 98 pitches in the fi rst and only loss of his high school career. For all we know, it may the last loss of his career. “Dale’s a good pitcher, he hit his spots, kept the ball down and changed speeds,” Feist said. “And we hit some balls to guys, and they made good plays. It was just a good high school baseball game. “I knew it was going to be a great game,” he said. “Knappa had only lost one game all year, and they came back and won every play- off game that they were behind in. In baseball, you don’t have a clock. You have to get that 21st out, and they battled to the end.” Miller said, “our kids had good approach at the plate all day, overcame a tough start, and obviously Burns is a great team. They made Knappa fans cheer after a play. SOFTBALL State Championship Scores Class 6A Jesuit 9, Glencoe 1 Class 5A Churchill 11, Lebanon 3 Class 4A Banks 5, McLoughlin 2 Class 3A Rainier 5, Dayton 4 Class 2A/1A Pilot Rock 9, Union/Cove 2 “It’s not easy to get out of your league, not easy to get through the playoffs. Our kids understand that, and they put the work in and see where it takes us next time.” The Logger Dynasty Knappa’s Reuben Cruz embraces coach Chad Harrington after the game. a few more plays than we did. The last three or four innings, we’re right there with the best team in the state. “Our kids battled and competed,” he added. “As the game moved along, we started to make Knappa players wait to take the field before the game. outstanding plays in the fi eld, and it looked like Knappa baseball in the last few innings. Hopefully we can carry that momentum, con- tinue to get better, and see what happens. “It’s never easy to get here,” Miller said. When the Loggers’ streak of 20-win sea- sons (currently fi ve in a row) comes to an end, Miller’s program will certainly have to be included in the “best ever” of the decade. Knappa’s accomplishments over the last four years include one state title, an over- all record of 101-9, and a remarkable 76-2 in league play. Burns fi nishes 25-5, and ends the season on a 20-game win streak.
