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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2016)
HERMISTON Wednesday, March 16, 2016 East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald Page 5 Bulldogs hope competition leads to wins 2016 SCHEDULE B ULLDOG B ASEBALL COACH: Lance Hawkins, 2nd year 2015 SEASON: 11-15, 4-8 CRC (3rd) POSTSEASON STORY: Hermiston lost 1-0 to St. Helens in play-in round. They last missed the playoffs in 2012. LOSSES: OF/C Jay Lindeman, C Landon Gammell, OF/RHP Cole Smith, 2B Kyler Mikami, OF/RHP Michael Gossler, OF Chase Knutz, 1B Dylan Caldwell. RETURNERS: OF/ LHP RJ Robles, sr., OF/ RHP Hayden Edmiston, sr., INF Caden Schwirse, soph., 1B Kaden Caldwell, jr., OF Mitch Brown, jr., 3B/RHP Lukas Tolan, jr., U/RHP Daniel Gossler, jr., SS/RHP Chase Root, sr., 1B/RHP Tyler Sexton, sr. By SAM BARBEE East Oregonian W hen Pete Carroll took over as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2010, he instituted a policy of team-wide competition, a system he used while in charge at USC. The policy states that no position is set in stone, each is up for competition between the potential starter and potential back-up. With only a Mar. 15 at Ridgeview 4 p.m. Mar. 18 vs. Central Catholic (DH) 4 p.m. Mar. 19 vs. Roosevelt (DH) noon Mar. 25 at Kamiakin 2 p.m. Mar. 25 at Kennewick 4 p.m. Mar. 30 at La Salle Prep 4:30 p.m. April 1 vs. Rex Putnam (DH) 4 p.m. April 8 at Parkrose 4 p.m. April 16 vs. The Dalles (DH)* noon April 19 at The Dalles* 4:30 p.m. April 23 vs. Hood River (DH)* noon April 26 at Hood River* 4:30 p.m. April 29 at Pendleton (DH)* 4 p.m. May 3 vs. Pendleton* 4:30 p.m. May 6 at The Dalles (DH)* 4 p.m. May 9 at Hood River* 4:30 p.m. May 13 vs. Pendleton* 4:30 p.m. *League game File Photo RJ Robles, a senior lefty for Hermiston, leads a staff that head coach Lance Hawkins is relying on in 2016. handful of seniors lots of underclassmen, second- year Hermiston baseball coach Lance Hawkins will employ the policy of competition this season with his Bulldogs. “It’s constant battle. We need that everyday competition, because that’s how you get better,” Hawkins said. “And I think we get complacent. We’re gonna put some guys in uncomfortable positions and go, ‘Let’s battle it out.’ ... It’s the Pete Carroll: Compete, compete compete.” Hermiston has talent, but most of it is young. The Bulldogs are buoyed by lefty RJ Robles, who, as a junior, might have been Hermiston’s best and most consistent starting pitcher. Along with senior side-armer Hayden Edmiston, Robles will consistently be at the top of the rotation, and Hawkins is depending on them. “I’m relying on our pitchers,” Hawkins said. “I’m relying that our pitchers do what they did last year. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t. The league’s gonna be tougher than hell, again.” A bright spot on last year’s squad was third baseman Lukas Tolan. He accrued the most varsity innings of any player last \HDUDQG¿JXUHVWRKDYH the inside track on the penultimate bag. However, that policy of competition still rings true at the hot corner. “He’s gotta carry himself, hate to say it, like more than a sopho- more,” Hawkins said of Tolan. “I tell you what, there’s some guys who are gonna push him, even though he started every game.” The Columbia Basin Conference is traditionally a good league, with Pendleton, The Dalles and defending state champ Hood River Valley all returning hefty portions of their lineups from last season. Hawkins knows the league schedule will test his club, but is optimistic his new policy of competition can cultivate a winning culture in Hermiston. “We gotta win. We gotta win now. We haven’t had a CRC championship or an IMC championship since ‘82. It’s time. There’s no reason why we can’t be right in the mix. Just gotta have these guys start believing it.” Anders Lind is one of the top returning golfers for the Herm- iston boys this eason. H ERMISTON G OLF • Farm & Crop • Personal 455 E. Main St., Hermiston • 541-567-8834 • www.wheatlandins.com Alecia Funk We are a full service irrigation dealership. Whether you are a farmer, landscaper, irrigation district or homeowner we have the right products and services for you. • Service Organization • Health & Life • Worker’s Compensation Wendy Snyder W HEN E VERY D ROP C OUNTS Irrigation Specialists has served the Oregon and Washington markets since 1970 - over 40 years of quality service and support. • Business • Industrial Dallas Bolen GOOD LUCK HERMISTON BULLDOGS! With ten offices in Northeastern Oregon, our experienced agents can offer complete insurance programs in the following areas: Luke Swanson at The Dalles 8 a.m. Portland Golf Course TBD Eagle Ridge GC 1:30 p.m. Eagle Ridge GC TBD at Pendleton noon at Hood River 10 a.m. at Pendleton noon at La Grande 1 p.m. Big River GC 9 a.m. Central Valley (WA) 9 a.m. Corvallis Tourney 8 a.m. SD Qualifier (Hood River) TBD Special District Qualifier TBD Special District Qualifier TBD 10 a.m. 10 a.m. 8 a.m. TBD 11 a.m. TBD TBD 10 a.m. TBD 9 a.m. 11 a.m. 8 a.m. TBD DP 7%' 7%' Judy Rowbury 2016 SCHEDULE Mar. 15 Mar. 21 April 1 April 2 April 4 April 6 April 7 April 12 April 20 April 22 April 28 May 8 May 19 May 20 EO File photo 2016 SCHEDULE Mar. 18 at The Dalles Invitational Mar. 21 vs. Sunnyside Mar. 31- April 2 at Raven Rumble April 4 at Wildhorse Invite April 10 at Bend Invitational April 11 at Bend Invitational April 14 vs. Pendleton April 18 at Mountain View Tourney April 19 at Mountain View Tourney April 21 Hermiston Invitational April 25 at Crook County Tourney April 26 at Corvallis April 27 at Corvallis 0D\ DW$5HJLRQDO4XDOL¿HU 0D\ DW$5HJLRQDO4XDOL¿HU 0D\ DW$5HJLRQDO4XDOL¿HU Steve Bertelson T he Bulldogs graduated their top varsity five from last season, and have a whole new group for the 2016 slate. Juniors Sydney Adams and Makenzie Lind were FORVHWRWKHYDUVLW\¿YHODVWVHDVRQDFFRUGLQJWRKHDG coach Josh Brown, and played in a couple events. He’s KRSHIXOWKDWWKHJLUOVFDQJDLQFRQ¿GHQFHDVWKHVHDVRQ goes and advance to state. “The girls are doubtful (they can get to state) because they’re young,” Brown said. “They’re doubtful, but I keep painting that target. It’s defi- nitely feasible.” BOYS COACH: Aaron Lind, 1st year 2015 SEASON:7KH+HUPLVWRQER\V¿QLVKHG fourth at the state tournament last season. Paden /DFRXUVLHUH ¿QLVKHG WLHG IRU WK DQG =DF $GDPV DQG .HHJDQ &UDIWRQ ¿QLVKHG WLHG IRU 18th. Anders Lind came in tied for 27th, and Jared Thacker was tied for 38th. LOSSES: =DF $GDPV 3DGHQ /D&RXUVLHUH Keegan Crafton. KEY RETURNERS:$QGHUV/LQGMU=DFK Thacker, jr. Michelle Jurcich GIRLS COACH: Josh Brown, 1st year 2015 SEASON: The Hermiston girls did not advance out of districts last season. LOSSES: Madison Welch, Taunie Brock, Saige Smith, Lyndsee Anderson, Britnee Hayden. KEY RETURNERS: Sydney Adams, jr., Makenzie Lind, jr., Grace Blackhurst, soph., Sonja Peterson, soph., Alexis Lambert, jr. TEAMWORK...WE CAN HELP YOUR PROJECT BECOME A WINNING EFFORT! GO www.irrspec.com 541-567-6370 • 81156 N. Hwy 395 • Hermiston, OR B ULLDOGS! General Contracting & Electrical Contracting Pump Stations & Excavation • • • • (541) 567-5005 14 SE Campbell Drive, Hermiston Commercial Ag • Industrial Design/Build Parking Lot Lighting CCB# 146995
