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S PORTS www.hoodrivernews.com Hood River News, Saturday, May 30, 2015 A7 Ward’s no-hitter propels HRV over Dallas Eagles shut out Dragons, 5-0, advancing to quarterfinals for home game against Putnam on Friday Photos by Ben Mitchell RYAN WARD (above) hurls a pitch at a Dallas batter in Wednesday’s playoff game, during which he pitched a no-hitter and struck out 17 batters. At top right, shortstop Skyler Hunter rounds third base on his way to scoring one of his two runs. At bottom right, outfielder Riley Van Hoose stretches out on his way to making a successful catch. By BEN MITCHELL News staff writer On paper, Wednesday’s playoff game fea- turing the HRV Eagles and the Dallas Drag- ons seemed like it might be a good matchup. A No. 7 against a No. 10. A team that gives up the fifth-fewest runs in 5A versus a team that scores the fifth-most runs in 5A. But it wasn’t. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Eagles took the fire out of the Dragons, extending their lead to 5-0 in the third inning and keeping it safe thanks to starting pitcher Ryan Ward, who had his best game of the season, throwing a no-hitter and just one walk away from a per- fect game. HRV had eight hits to Dallas’ none, and no errors to Dallas’ three. But HRV coach Erich Harjo “wasn’t really surprised” by the victory, nor by Ward’s game on the mound. “He’s taken pretty much everyone all was really good,” Harjo said of Ward’s game. year,” he said. “His off-speed pitches were really working Ward’s pitching confounded everyone in and that really sets up his fastball. He hides Dallas’ lineup, as batter after batter left the the ball pretty well too.” plate in frustration and went to go sulk in the On offense, Skyler Hunter led HRV with Dragons’ dugout. No amount of practice two hits in four at-bats, both bunts, including swings or glove-adjusting seemed to make one that started off the first inning. Harjo any difference. In noted that the “ability seven innings, Ward to bunt the baseball struck out 17 batters was really big for us be- and only on five occa- cause we knew defen- sions did Dallas bat- sively (the Dragons) ters make contact weren’t very strong.” with his pitches, forc- Hunter scored a ERICH HARJO ing HRV’s defense to team-high two runs, go to work, which it tied with Ward, who hit did. Ward tore an RBI-triple in the bot- through Dallas’ lineup at breakneck speed, tom of the first. Patrick Harvey led in RBI starting and finishing innings in just a few thanks to a two-run RBI single he hit in the minutes. bottom of the third, which was his lone hit of “His tempo was really good and his pace the night. ‘(Ryan Ward’s) taken pretty much everyone all year.’ Other hitters for HRV included Chase Lar- iza (1 for 2, single, run), Kam Walker (1 for 4, single), Adam Cameron (1 for 3, single), and Kellan Duffy (1 for 2, RBI single). HRV’s offense matched up well against Dallas’ left-handed pitcher, Logan Hatley, of whom Harjo spoke highly. “They were good; that’s a good baseball team, with that guy they have on the mound, he’s one of the best in the state,” he said.” No. 7 HRV was scheduled to face No. 15 Putnam in Hood River Friday at 4:30 p.m. since the Kingsmen won a surprise 7-6 victo- ry over No. 2 Churchill Wednesday night. Another interesting upset was No. 14 Pendle- ton’s 10-3 defeat of No. 3 Corvallis. Pendleton faces No. 6 Crescent Valley on Friday and if both Pendleton and HRV win on Friday, the two teams will have a Columbia River Con- ference showdown in Hood River on Tuesday in a semifinal game. Boys lax rolls Rex Putnam in Cascade Cup’s opening round Eagles unhorse the Kingsmen in 18-3 victory to set up second-round game with Grant on Friday in Hood River BY BEN MITCHELL News staff writer Photos by Ben Mitchell HRV SHOWED NO MERCY against Rex Putnam, unloading shot after shot and scoring goal after goal. Clockwise, at top: Torsenn Brown winds up for a shot, Levi Glass is badgered by a Kingsmen defender, and Jackson Lebsack fires a shot on net. For the second year in a row, the HRV boys lax team faced Rex Putnam in the opening round of the Cascade Cup. And for the sec- ond year in a row, the Eagles wiped the floor with the Kingsmen, this time by a score of 18-3, to advance to the second round. HRV had already faced Rex Putnam this season, but the score was much tighter, 8-5, after what coach Matt Luchsinger said was an uncharacteristically “sloppy game” for his squad. In this meeting, however, HRV never let its opponent come close to jeopar- dizing its victory. “I thought we started off really well, we came out firing, which is key,” Luchsinger said. “Lots of times, we came out pretty flat- footed and played down to certain teams’ lev- els. Within five minutes (of this game), we figured it out.” In front of the home crowd at Henderson Community Stadium, the boys lax team put on a show, scoring nine unanswered goals over the first two periods — a run that was kicked off by attack Levi Glass with just over seven minutes remaining in the first period. The Eagles, who had dominated posses- sion of the ball and dictated the pace of play for the majority of the game, let the momen- tum of the game tilt toward the Kingsmen in the latter half of the second period, giving up two goals in less than 90 seconds to put the score at 9-2. Luchsinger made an adjustment on de- fense, switching from zone to man and putting more pressure on the Kingsmen, who were putting a fair amount of pressure on the Eagles with some hard checking and viciously contested ground balls. “Personally, I felt like Rex Putnam was rid- ing our backs pretty hard,” Luchsinger said. “I think our guys did a really good job keep- ing their heads. I preached really hard to our guys this season that we don’t let guys get in our heads. The way we get back at them is by putting balls in the back of the net.” The strategy seemed to work, with Rex Putnam bottled up for the rest of the game, with the exception of a goal that came in the second minute of the third period. Besides outscoring and outshooting their opponents, the Eagles grabbed the vast majority of ground balls and all but one of the face-offs. The victory was “a team effort,” according to Luchsinger, with seven members of the Eagles roster scoring. Attack Torsenn Brown led the way for HRV with five goals and an as- sist and middie Jackson Lebsack led in as- sists with three. Long stick middie Alex El- lifritz led in ground balls with six, followed by defenseman Kiefer Kreps, who had five. Following up Brown in scoring were Levi Glass (3), Bruce Ostler (3), Cody Wheat (3), Elliot Cramer (2), Sam Newton (1), and Hunter Klien (1). In net for HRV was Mikey Hall, who had seven stops. No. 3 HRV was scheduled to face fellow Portland Leaguer, the Grant Generals, ranked sixth in the Cascade Cup, on Friday at 7 p.m. in Hood River (results not available at press time). HRV played Grant once this season, which resulted in a 10-5 victory at home for the Eagles April 23. SPORTS BRIEFS Eagle youth soccer camp June 22-25 HR 7/8 girls lax headed to playoffs The Hood River 7/8 girl’s lacrosse team — ranked No. 2 in the state — are headed to the playoffs. They face Eastside Portland in the quarterfinals May 30 at Westside Elementary at 9:45 a.m. Semifinals will be either be held June 1 or 2. Pictured from left to right, Front row: Eva Jones, Ariana Munoz, Jihan Ziada, Frances Dickinson, Soleil Pelletier. Middle Row: Rebecca Kiyokawa, Bella Read, Eleanor Barton, Frances Melby, Elena Kroll, Camille Buschauer, Josephine Dickinson, Reed Bauer, Josie Peterson, Sonja Clay, coach Al Barton. Back Row: Coach Margaret Koenig, coach Bill Norris, Terra Mikkelsen, Payton Bunch, Nina Bockius, Lily Simpson, Payton Kincaid, Katie Koenig, Alex Willis, Brooklyn Holman, Emma Norris, Abby Bartles, Katie Lohr, coach Kateri Os- borne Lohr. free June 6-7 at the 26 parks that charge a day-use parking fee. Campsite reservations may be made by calling 800-452-5687 be- fore 5 p.m. June 5. Or, reserve online at www.oregonstateparks.org. Of the 52 state park campgrounds, 40 take reservations. Visitors will also be able to fish, crab and clam without a license June 6-7 for Oregon’s Free Fishing Week- end, hosted by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). ODFW will provide the gear, bait and instructions at some state parks, including Champoeg, Detroit Lake, Jessie Hon- eyman and parks in the Columbia River Gorge. All events are list- ed at dfw.state.or.us/education/angling/free_fishing. Parks throughout the state will host activities including guided hikes, open houses, tours, special barbecues and guest appearances by J.R. Beaver, Oregon’s State Park mascot. For a complete list of events, go to oregonstateparks.org and click on “Things to Do.” Eagles boys and girls soccer coaches Jaime Rivera and Kevin Haspela will be hosting a soccer camp for those in grades K-5 from June 22-25. The four-day camp lasts five hours a day and will help kids learn the fundamentals of the game, increase their understanding, establish practice routines, and encourage team- work — along with playing fun and engaging games. All camp participants will receive a free soccer ball. Students should bring soccer shoes, athletic shorts and shirt, soccer ball, shin guards, water bottle, a healthy lunch and snacks, sunscreen, and a posi- tive attitude. All ability levels are welcome. The camp runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Westside Elementary. The cost is $100 (50 percent non-refundable) and $75 for students on free and re- duced lunch, but no student will be turned away due to price (call Rivera at 541-490-0699 to make arrangements). All proceeds help fund HRV boys and girls soccer programs. Register online at Hole-in-one at Hood River Golf Course www.hrcommunityed.org or in person at 1119 Eugene St., Hood Devin Hobbs, of Hood River, River, or call John Rust at 541-386-2055. landed a hole-in-one on No. 3 at the Hood River Golf Course, play- Free camping, fishing next weekend State parks throughout Oregon invite the public to camp and ing the blue tee box, (148 yards) play for free the weekend of June 6-7 in celebration of State Parks using an 8 iron. His witnesses were Dennis Day and Free Fishing Weekend. Camping is free the night of June Redmond and Pete Talmage. Con- 6 in traditional sites—full hookup (sewer, electricity and water), gratulations to Devin Hobbs on electrical hookup (electricity and water), and tent sites. Yurts, cab- his achievement! ins and tepees are available at regular price. Parking will also be
