Polk County Sports
Polk County Itemizer-Observer • August 2, 2017 13A
State: Dirtbags fall to Medford twice during tourney
Continued from Page 12A
“Jaret Stewart pitched a
complete game for us and
retired the last 13 batters of
the game,” McDonald said.
“He was tough.”
The Dirtbags, which fea-
tured players from Dallas
and Central high schools, as
well as others in the
Willamette Valley, received
key experience that will
serve them — and their high
school teams — well.
“Some of these kids had
not been a situation like that
before,” McDonald said. “It’s
a great experience to take to
their teams. You give up a big
inning then you have a big
inning. It can be really
tough, and it makes you
learn how to handle things.”
For Dirtbags players re-
turning to Dallas, the experi-
ence gained competing
against the state’s best play-
ers will be invaluable.
“Jaret didn’t lose all sum-
mer,” McDonald, who also
coaches Dallas’ baseball
team, said. “He wants the
ball. He’s a guy you can go
out and know you can win
with him on the mound be-
cause he’s going to perform.
Eric Kessler got an opportu-
nity to pitch a lot. We’ll be
able to incorporate that
m o re n e x t y e a r. Tre v e
(Earhart) is a leader behind
the plate. He also had some
big, clutch hits for us.”
While the Dirtbags’ trip to
state didn’t end with a title,
the team advanced to the
championship round for the
first time in program histo-
ry.
“I think that’s a pretty
awesome accomplishment,”
McDonald said. “Obviously
you want to win it, but it is
what it is. We had tons of
compliments about how we
played the game. I think we
demonstrated what a true
Dirtbag player is.”
JEREMY MCDONALD/for the Itemizer-Observer
The Demarini Dirtbags advanced to the title round in the American Legion state tournament in Klamath Falls.
Bike MS returns to Monmouth
By Lukas Eggen
The Itemizer-Observer
COURTESY PHOTO/Itemizer-Observer file
Bike MS returns to Western Oregon University this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
MONMOUTH — Come
for the fun; persevere for
the cause.
Bike MS returns to Mon-
mouth on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday to bring cyclists
together to ride for a cure.
“It’s gorgeous here,” Bike
MS manager Amy Harris
said. “The roads are beau-
tiful. Western Oregon is an
amazing host to us. The
campus is beautiful.
There’s plenty of room for
everything we need. When
you pair the beauty of the
Willamette Valley with the
friendliness of the commu-
nity, it’s a no-brainer.”
Money raised from the
event goes to the National
MS organization to fund re-
search.
Multiple Sclerosis is an
often disabling disease that
affects the central nervous
system by disrupting the
flow of information within
the brain and between the
brain and the body, accord-
ing to the National MS Soci-
ety.
Any last-second cyclists
can sign up through Friday.
There is $250 minimum
fundraising amount, but
that can be paid out of
pocket, Harris said.
On Saturday, there are a
number of different routes
ranging from a mile to
more than 100 miles. All
rides begin and end at
Western Oregon University.
“We like to say it’s a ride
anyone can do,” Harris
said.
Each route has support
vans and rest stops along
the way stocked with ice,
drinks, neck wraps and
water misters.
There will also be events
for participants, including
karaoke, a family movie
night, food and drinks.
All the fun creates a
sense of community, Harris
said. And although every-
one has a blast, the reason
they are there is never far
from their minds.
“The majority of the our
folks do it because we know
and care about someone
who lives with MS,” Harris
said. “We use the weekend to
highlight and celebrate
those people. We’ve seen
some real successes. When
this event started 30 years
ago, there weren’t any treat-
ments for MS. Not one. Just
this year alone, the FDA ap-
proved an MS medication,
which is the 15th one, and it
attacks the most severe
form. Fundraising is work,
but when you meet these
folks and hear their stories, it
brings it all home that what
you’re doing is changing
lives.”
For more information
about MS or to get in-
volved: www.nationalmsso-
ciety.org/.
Summerfest Kids’ Triathlon
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Talenea Heil swims during the annual Summerfest Kids’
Triathlon at the Dallas Aquatic Center.
LUKAS EGGEN/Itemizer-Observer
Joshua and Caleb Heil get ready for the start of the Kids’ Triathlon on Friday morning.
Central volleyball camp coming
Itemizer-Observer staff report
IND EPENDENCE — Central
High School will host a youth
volleyball camp Aug. 7-10 from
5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Central
High School gym.
Cost is $30. Campers will be
split into two age groups: Fourth
through eighth grade and ninth
through 12th grades.
The fourth through eighth
graders’ camp will run from 5 to
6:30 p.m. each day; the high
school students’ camp will run
from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
For more information: Clau-
dine Mendazona, cmenda-
zona@central.k12.or.us.
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