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Umpqua Valley wins tourney opener
By Joe Hansen, Sports Writer
Sunday, July 26, 2009 | No comments posted.
NORTH BEND — Trailing 15-2 after the top of the fourth inning, the mostly 14-year-old South Coast Americans could’ve just rolled over to an older Umpqua Valley squad in the opening game of the Southern Oregon State Babe Ruth Tournament at Clyde Allen Field on Friday.
But the Americans fought back instead, building a five-run fourth of their own to push the ballgame to an eventual 20-8 loss in six innings.
“That’s what I’m pleased with — they battled back,” said South Coast coach Quintin Hall. “They can learn they’ve got to compete to the end.”
Two South Coast teams entered the four-team tourney this year, with the Americans including mostly younger players and the region’s other squad, the SouthCoast Nationals, picking up the South Coast’s older players.
The Nationals beat Klamath Falls 17-5 in the late game Friday. Tanner Canaday and Tyler Davidson had big games at the plate and Clint Burris and Doug Molzahn combined on a two-hitter for the Nationals.
Things started rough for the Americans, as Umpqua Valley used three walks, two errors and a base hit to take a 6-0 lead after the top of the first.
South Coast responded with a run from Alex Dew in the first when he reached on a throwing error, moved around the bases on walks and came home on a balk.
But Umpqua Valley responded with a run apiece in the second and third innings, setting up the disastrous fourth for the Americans.
Up 8-2, Umpqua Valley started the frame at the top of its order, and Zack Odoud singled, setting up an RBI single from Austin Blanchfill. South Coast, already on its third pitcher of the day, then hit a batter and walked one before Matt Miller smacked a three-run double to center with no outs. Then an error, a walk and a sacrifice fly put the visitors up 15-2, and it looked like the game would end in five innings via the mercy rule.
“We weren’t surprised,” Miller said. “I’ve been playing with these guys for awhile. It’s a good group.”
But the Americans found some offense of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Melton walked, Austin Flood reached on an error at first, Skyler Woody singled, Michael Benitez walked and Dew smacked the team’s lone RBI hit on the day, a two-run single to left to close the score to within 15-7.
“We got the momentum shift for a little while. Then they came back and shut the door,” Dew said. “It was just two bad innings we lost it on.”
The teams scored a run apiece in the fifth — South Coast scored when Tate Church came home on a wild pitch — before Umpqua Valley piled on four more runs in the sixth, including an RBI triple from Ty Ellis and a two-run single by Miller, and the game was called due to the 10-run rule at 20-8.
“The key was we kept our heads,” Miller said. “We kept our intensity and kept playing ball.”
Umpqua Valley got a lot of help from South Coast’s four pitchers, who combined for 15 walks. The Americans also allowed 14 stolen bases.
“The biggest thing here is we aren’t very deep in the pitching aspect,” Hall said. “But they’re improving every game, that’s what we’re striving for.”
Miller was Umpqua Valley’s lone multiple hitter in the game, going 2-for-5 with his five RBIs. Blanchfill scored four runs for the team, with a single and three walks, and three other players on the squad scored three runs.
Devin Muir and Church combined for the three-hitter for Umpqua Valley.
Dew reached base in all four of his at-bats in the game for South Coast, scoring two runs in the process. Catcher Travis Gallagher had the squad’s third base hit on the day, a single in the sixth.
“Everyone’s been intimidated,” Dew said of the young team entering the tourney. “It’s good experience to play in the older tournament.”
The Americans are scheduled to play at 2 p.m. today against Klamath Falls, while Umpqua Valley was slated to take on the SouthCoast Nationals at 11 a.m.
To win the double-elimination tournament, either the Americans orKlamath Falls would have to win four straight games.
Canaday and Davidson each had three hits and scored four runs for the Nationals on Friday night. Davidson had four RBIs and Canaday drove in three runs.
Jason Atkins also had three hits.
“Offensively, we hit the ball really well and we ran the bases well,”said Nationals coach Doug Veysey. “Clint pitched well and got a little tired, and then Doug pitched great to finish it.”
Burris pitched into the third inning, when Brian Shirts had a three-run double for Klamath Falls. Molzahn pitched the rest of the way.
Umpqua Valley 20,
South Coast Americans 8, 6 innings
Umpqua Valley 611 714 — 20 6 3
SC Americans 110 510 — 8 3 5
Devin Muir, Tate Church (4) and Zack Odoud; Ryan Clardy, Michael Benitez (3), Austin Arrant (4), Alex Dew (6) and Travis Gallagher. 2B—UV: Matt Miller. 3B—UV: Ty Ellis.
SouthCoast Nationals 17, Klamath Falls 5
Klamath Falls 023 00 — 5 2 4
SCNationals 353 6x — 17 10 2
Byron Thomas, Conner Hickey (3) and Ryan Verling; Clint Burris, Doug Molzahn (3) and Raymond Jones. 2B—KF: Brian Shirts; SC: Tyler Davidson.
But the Americans fought back instead, building a five-run fourth of their own to push the ballgame to an eventual 20-8 loss in six innings.
“That’s what I’m pleased with — they battled back,” said South Coast coach Quintin Hall. “They can learn they’ve got to compete to the end.”
Two South Coast teams entered the four-team tourney this year, with the Americans including mostly younger players and the region’s other squad, the SouthCoast Nationals, picking up the South Coast’s older players.
The Nationals beat Klamath Falls 17-5 in the late game Friday. Tanner Canaday and Tyler Davidson had big games at the plate and Clint Burris and Doug Molzahn combined on a two-hitter for the Nationals.
Things started rough for the Americans, as Umpqua Valley used three walks, two errors and a base hit to take a 6-0 lead after the top of the first.
South Coast responded with a run from Alex Dew in the first when he reached on a throwing error, moved around the bases on walks and came home on a balk.
But Umpqua Valley responded with a run apiece in the second and third innings, setting up the disastrous fourth for the Americans.
Up 8-2, Umpqua Valley started the frame at the top of its order, and Zack Odoud singled, setting up an RBI single from Austin Blanchfill. South Coast, already on its third pitcher of the day, then hit a batter and walked one before Matt Miller smacked a three-run double to center with no outs. Then an error, a walk and a sacrifice fly put the visitors up 15-2, and it looked like the game would end in five innings via the mercy rule.
“We weren’t surprised,” Miller said. “I’ve been playing with these guys for awhile. It’s a good group.”
But the Americans found some offense of their own in the bottom of the fourth. Ryan Melton walked, Austin Flood reached on an error at first, Skyler Woody singled, Michael Benitez walked and Dew smacked the team’s lone RBI hit on the day, a two-run single to left to close the score to within 15-7.
“We got the momentum shift for a little while. Then they came back and shut the door,” Dew said. “It was just two bad innings we lost it on.”
The teams scored a run apiece in the fifth — South Coast scored when Tate Church came home on a wild pitch — before Umpqua Valley piled on four more runs in the sixth, including an RBI triple from Ty Ellis and a two-run single by Miller, and the game was called due to the 10-run rule at 20-8.
“The key was we kept our heads,” Miller said. “We kept our intensity and kept playing ball.”
Umpqua Valley got a lot of help from South Coast’s four pitchers, who combined for 15 walks. The Americans also allowed 14 stolen bases.
“The biggest thing here is we aren’t very deep in the pitching aspect,” Hall said. “But they’re improving every game, that’s what we’re striving for.”
Miller was Umpqua Valley’s lone multiple hitter in the game, going 2-for-5 with his five RBIs. Blanchfill scored four runs for the team, with a single and three walks, and three other players on the squad scored three runs.
Devin Muir and Church combined for the three-hitter for Umpqua Valley.
Dew reached base in all four of his at-bats in the game for South Coast, scoring two runs in the process. Catcher Travis Gallagher had the squad’s third base hit on the day, a single in the sixth.
“Everyone’s been intimidated,” Dew said of the young team entering the tourney. “It’s good experience to play in the older tournament.”
The Americans are scheduled to play at 2 p.m. today against Klamath Falls, while Umpqua Valley was slated to take on the SouthCoast Nationals at 11 a.m.
To win the double-elimination tournament, either the Americans orKlamath Falls would have to win four straight games.
Canaday and Davidson each had three hits and scored four runs for the Nationals on Friday night. Davidson had four RBIs and Canaday drove in three runs.
Jason Atkins also had three hits.
“Offensively, we hit the ball really well and we ran the bases well,”said Nationals coach Doug Veysey. “Clint pitched well and got a little tired, and then Doug pitched great to finish it.”
Burris pitched into the third inning, when Brian Shirts had a three-run double for Klamath Falls. Molzahn pitched the rest of the way.
Umpqua Valley 20,
South Coast Americans 8, 6 innings
Umpqua Valley 611 714 — 20 6 3
SC Americans 110 510 — 8 3 5
Devin Muir, Tate Church (4) and Zack Odoud; Ryan Clardy, Michael Benitez (3), Austin Arrant (4), Alex Dew (6) and Travis Gallagher. 2B—UV: Matt Miller. 3B—UV: Ty Ellis.
SouthCoast Nationals 17, Klamath Falls 5
Klamath Falls 023 00 — 5 2 4
SCNationals 353 6x — 17 10 2
Byron Thomas, Conner Hickey (3) and Ryan Verling; Clint Burris, Doug Molzahn (3) and Raymond Jones. 2B—KF: Brian Shirts; SC: Tyler Davidson.
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