A8
WEDNESDAY
May 29, 2019
HEARTBREAKER
Steve Tool
Wallowa County Chieftain
There comes a time when every war-
rior has to lay down their sword and
shield no matter how hard they’ve fought
and their dedication to the battle. That
time came on Wednesday, May 22 for the
Wallowa Valley combined softball team
after their heartbreaking 11-8 home loss
to Yamhill-Carlton in the fi rst round of
the 3A state playoffs.
The Outlaws entered the game at the
top of their league and determined to
make their presence known to the rest
of the state. Yamhill-Carlton had other
ideas, scoring a run in the fi rst, while the
Outlaws went blank. By the end of the
third inning, the score stood at 3-3. The
Tigers pitching relied on blazing fast-
balls while Outlaws starter Lexie Gassett
relied on spot pitching, a changeup and
hard-to hit screwball.
In the fi fth, the Tigers went to work,
hitting Gassett hard while two Outlaws
errors eventually resulted in more than a
few runs. When the carnage stopped, the
Tigers led 9-4, and things looked bleak
for the Outlaws. But the ladies clawed
back, one run at a time. The Tigers man-
aged two in the sixth with hard-hitting
centerfi elder Liz Rowley saving the day
with a spectacular catch on a two-out line
drive that brought fans to their feet.
The Outlaws scored two in their half
of the frame, bringing the score to 11-6.
Gassett and her defense held the Tigers
Steve Tool/Chieftain
Wallowa Valley softball standout Claire Falwell sneaks by the Yamhill-Carlton catcher
for a run during the Outlaws’ 11-8 loss in a state playoff game at the Jensen Fields on
Wednesday, May 22.
scoreless in the top of the seventh. Row-
ley opened the inning, smashing a sin-
gle into left fi eld. While the next hitter
struck out swinging, Samantha McFar-
land walked. Aysia Salim then snaked
a base hit up the middle. Catcher Jes-
sie Teeney took a wicked fastball to the
elbow to load the bases with one out and
the tying run at the plate. With the meat
of the lineup coming up soon, every fan
strained forward for the action, seeing the
path to victory.
End of the line for boys baseball
Steve Tool
Wallowa County Chieftain
The Wallowa Valley/
Elgin combined baseball
team, had their storied sea-
son halted after suffering a
second-round playoff loss,
7-1, at the hands of top-
ranked Pleasant Hill on Fri-
day, May 24.
The playoffs started well
for WV/E, as they easily
won their playoff opener
versus the Horizon Christian
Hawks in an 8-0 blowout on
the Wednesday May 22.
Coach J.R. Collier said
the WV/E team brought out
its big guns for the shootout.
The leadoff hitter, Gus
Ramsden, opened the game
with a home run. But it was
all downhill for the Hawks
thereafter.
Ready
Steady
Coy
Aschenbrenner took mound
duties for the squad and
went the distance, fanning
fi ve while walking three
and allowed the Hawks only
three hits.
“He’s pitched well all
year, but this was probably
the best game we’ve seen
him pitch all year,” Collier
said.
The coach said the squad
played excellent defense,
robbing the Hawks of sev-
eral hits. Collier particularly
noted a diving stop from
second baseman Kaden
McClure that forced out a
runner at second base
Flynn Nave led the bat
squad, going 4 for 4 on the
day with an RBI. “They were
all line drive shots,” Col-
lier said. “He really knocked
them out there hard.” Chris-
topher Nobles offered a 2
for plate performance with
Second baseman, Grace Collins, came
to bat with the game on the line and hit a
screaming smoker of a line drive to the
right side. Two feet either way and two
runners score and Collins would have
been on second base. Between that four
feet was the Tigers second baseman who
snagged the drive and tagged out the
stunned runner on the way to second base.
Game over.
Gassett pitched for the duration and
logged three whiffs and two free passes
and six earned runs.
Big guns for the Outlaws included
Claire Farwell, who was 2 for 5 with a
double and a run scored while Gassett
went 2 for 5 with an RBI while Aysia
Salim went 3 for 3 with the big stick
along with two runs scored and an RBI.
Ella Anderson went 2 for 4 with an RBI
while Rylin Kirkland was 1 for 5 with a
double. Defensively, the squad made two
errors that accounted for fi ve runs.
“I thought we played a good clean
game,” Coach Gary Gassett said. “I
didn’t want it to end.”
One thing that helped take the sting
from the loss was the selection of three
Outlaws players for fi rst-team all league.
Lexie Gassett got the nod as pitcher while
Rowley made the cut as an outfi elder
and Claire Farwell joined the elite as an
infi elder. Sam McFarland made second
team at fi rst base as did Rylin Kirkland at
infi eld while Aysia Salim nailed an hon-
orable mention. Gassett and Farwell were
also submitted for all-state honors.
Greens crew, volunteers
get course up to speed
By Rochelle Danielson
For Wallowa County
Chieftain
Teah Jones
From the dugout at Pleasant Hill: Coy Aschenbrenner, Zeb Ramsden, Gus Ramsden, Trace
Evans, Jackson Decker, and Kaden McClure
Teah Jones
Trace Evans batting
Horizon Christian.
at
two RBIs and Aschenbren-
ner aided his cause with two
RBIs of his own.
“The guys came out on
fi re, swinging the bat,” Col-
lier said. “We were aggres-
sive and played well on
defense. It’s how you want
your playoff game to go.”
Unfortunately, the high–
powered offense didn’t
show up for the battle
against Pleasant Hill on Fri-
day the 24th. WV-E lost the
game 7-1 on the Hill’s turf.
“We just couldn’t put the
ball in play,” Collier said.
“Every time we hit it, it went
right to them.”
David Salim laced the
team’s lone hit in the sev-
enth inning. WV-E scored
its only run in the sixth
when brothers Gus and Zeb
Ramsden got base through
a walk and a hit batsman
respectively. Both runners
advanced on a bobbled ball
and Gus Ramsden scored on
a passed ball.
WV/E garnered several
walks, but couldn’t capital-
ize on the passes.
“We only had fi ve strike-
outs the whole game,” Col-
lier said. “It wasn’t like their
guy was just fanning us.”
Nave took the loss for
WV/E, striking out two
while walking seven and
doling out four hits. Gus
Ramsden came on in relief,
pitching the fi nal 1 2/3
innings. He tallied no strike-
outs or walks and gave up a
single hit.
“We had a pretty good
season overall, especially
considering some of the
guys we lost from last year,”
Collier said. “We made it
to the second round of the
playoffs two years in a row
and been defeated by the top
team in the state. There’s no
shame in that.”
Although wind, water
and wicked skies played
havoc to Alpine Meadows
Golf Course during April,
neither fl ooding nor a
lightning strike could keep
a good course down.
That’s not to say its
seasonal opening went
smoothly.
The course opened to
the public in mid-April
on a Monday, but closed
again the next day — and
remained closed for four
days due to major fl ood-
ing issues. Most of the fair-
ways were playable, but
certain greens along Trout
Creek required waders.
To add to AMGC
weather woes lightning
struck the tree to the left
of the No. 1 green. Not
only did it destroy the huge
old tree, the strike wiped
out 5-6 sprinkler control-
ler boxes. On a heavy note
… a big expense. On a
lighter note … one golf-
er’s lament, “I wish the
lightning had hit the tree to
the right. That’s where my
drive usually goes.”
Mother Nature may
have landed its punches,
but the greens crew and
volunteers worked with
diligence to get the course
up to speed. Activities such
as Thursday Men’s Days,
Tuesday Ladies Days, and
Skins (two-person team)
on Wednesday evening,
are already in progress.
Anyone interested in join-
ing one of the above men-
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welcome. Check with the
clubhouse or go to the web
site golfalpinemeadows.
com for more information.
The golf ladies held
their fi rst monthly morn-
ing meeting of the sum-
mer with President Karen
Coppin, presiding. Dis-
cussions ranged from seri-
ous to silly. After meeting
adjournment the gals were
able to play 9 to 14 holes
of golf before the rain
returned.
Several tournaments are
planned for the season. The
5th Annual Triple Six Golf
Tournament will take place
Saturday, June 8th. It’s a
2-person team event. The
format consists of 6-Holes
— Best Ball; 6-Holes –
Scramble; 6-Holes – Chap-
man. It’s a fun time and
a challenge just to keep
score. The payouts — net
and gross — for each fl ight
are worth the entry fee of
$85 per person.
As of January 2019,
there have been import-
ant changes in the USGA
Rules of Golf. Three such
rules are: Putting with fl ag
stick in hole is now per-
mitted. Measuring a drop
– use longest club except
putter. Dropping – drop
from knee high rather than
shoulder.
Enjoy the game. Know
the rules. Save time.
Rochelle Danielson
belongs to the golf course
and loves to play golf.
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