The Three Rivers Sandblasters are back from Alaska and set for the American Legion baseball regular season.

The Sandblasters concluded their trip north with a pair of 5-0 losses to the Peninsula Oilers in Kenai.

In Tuesday's game, the Oilers scored once in the first inning and four times in the second, but managed just six hits against four Three Rivers pitchers. The group of hurlers for the Sandblasters included both Collin McLaughry and Kenny Crow who will be with the team for the rest of the season. The other two pitchers Tuesday, Scott Carpenter and Michael Meacock, were college players hoping to get spots with teams in the Alaska League.

The league features a lot of the nation's top college players, and the squads took advantage of their advanced experience to post a 10-0 record against the Sandblasters.

“It was exactly what I thought it would be,” said Three Rivers coach Corky Franklin. “I think it was a pretty good eye-opener for a lot of guys.”

But for the players joining the Sandblasters for the rest of the summer, it also was a chance to sharpen their skills against top-level talent. Franklin hopes that carries over to wins as the 15-game league schedule starts Monday at home against defending state champion Post 9 of Salem.

The game starts at 5 p.m. at Siuslaw High School in Florence.

Three Rivers returns a number of players from the past few seasons, plus several talented newcomers.

Former Junction City star David Deutschmann, who played for College of the Siskiyous this spring, had two hits in Tuesday's loss and two more in Wednesday's defeat to the Oilers.

Travis Anderson, who played his high school ball for Central Linn and played at Feather River Community College this spring, also had two hits Wednesday.

Siuslaw students Drew Rainwater, Zach Laxague and Tyler Mais also are back, along with Adam Reed and Shane Rose from Marshfield. Newcomers include Ethan Ottemiller of North Bend and Scott Buche from Myrtle Point, as well as several players from Newport's Class 4A runner-up squad.

Zone 3 traditionally has been a tough league, though the Sandblasters made strides in their second season last year. Foes include Post 9 and Withnell Dodge from Salem, Richey's Market from Corvallis, the Albany Rockets and the Springfield Titans. The league format is a triple-round robin, with the Sandblasters hosting Springfield and Albany twice and the other three teams once. All games are 9 innings.

In a change from past years, all six teams will be involved in league playoffs at the end of the regular season.

Three Rivers also hosts Withnell Dodge on Wednesday and visits Richey's Market on Thursday in a busy start to league play.

Notes: Both Three Rivers and the North Coos Waterfront, the area's A-level American Legion team, had doubleheaders this weekend canceled. The Sandblasters had been scheduled to host Clackamas today, while the Grants Pass Miners were going to visit North Coos on Sunday. The Waterfront hosts Ashland in a doubleheader Monday.

Tuesday's Game

Peninsula 5, Three Rivers 0

Three Rivers 000 000 000 - 0 4 1

Peninsula 140 000 00x - 5 6 1

Collin McLaughry, Scott Carpenter (3), Michael Meacock (5), Kenny Crow (7) and Adam Reed, Zach Laxague (4), Travis Anderson (7); Thompson, Carlos (6), Johnson (8) and Patterson.

Wednesday's Game

Peninsula 5, Three Rivers 0

Three Rivers 000 000 000 - 0 5 2

Peninsula 001 112 00x - 5 8 1

Matt Alexander, Jason Reed (4), Jessie Sweet (6), Michael Meacock (7), Evan Nyleen (8) and Zach Laxague, Ethan Ottemiller (4) and Travis Anderson (7). Peninsula battery not available.