An early lead Monday night turned into a dominating lead and an easy win at home under the 10-run rule in baseball for the Huskies in a 14-3 victory over La Pine.
Sweet Home scored eight runs in the first inning, led off by a run-scoring single by Kory VanDeusen and a solo homerun by Cole Ashcraft, followed by a run-scoring singles by Brandon Marquez and Kevin Seiber.
By the end of the second inning, the Huskies were ahead 8-1. La Pine scored two runs in the third, and the Huskies got things going again in the fourth inning, when Seiber singled again to score a runner.
Photo by
Sean C . Morgan
With the win, the Huskies remain within striking distance of third place in league.
It’s really in our own hands,” Matuszak said. “We’re starting to play better, starting to come together as a team.”
The Huskies have faced some adversity recently, “and a lot of people are stepping up,” Matuszak said. He started three sophomores Monday night.
Austin Rice broke a finger Friday, Matuszak said. “Ashcraft came off the bench. He’s done a good job, three hits, including a homerun (in two games).”
Justin Rice also recently left the team.
Monday night, La Pine had four hits, while the Huskies collected 10. Going 2-3 were VanDeusen with an RBI and a run and Seiber with two RBIs and a run. Also recording hits were Colton Holly with a triple and an RBI; Drayson Scott with two runs; Marquez with an RBI and two runs; J.T. Weld with a run; Ashcraft with a homerun; and Hunter Jutte with two runs. Nate Melcher scored three runs.
Ashcraft pitched four innings, giving up three hits and three walks while striking out one. Scott closed out the game, pitching one inning and giving up one hit and one walk. They gave up no earned runs.
The Huskies are 3-8 in league and 8-12 overall with two games each against Cottage Grove and Junction City. They are currently in fifth place, ahead of Cottage Grove, 2-9 and behind La Pine, 5-6, and Junction City, 5-6. They need to reach fourth place to compete in playoffs.
La Pine still faces two games each against Elmira and Sisters, the top teams in the league. Junction City still faces Sisters as well as Sweet Home.
The Huskies could finish third if they win out and both La Pine and Junction City lose at least two of their remaining games.
Sisters carries an 11-0 league record, while Elmira is 7-4.
We could end up third,” Matuszak said. “That’s kind of our goal right now. We certainly control our own destiny. It’s in our hands.”
But if the Huskies lose again, it’s got to be only one game against Cottage Grove, Matuszak said.
That would keep them ahead of Junction City as long as they beat Junction City both games next week.
The Huskies are on the road against Cottage Grove Friday and playing their final home game against Junction City on Tuesday.
La Pine 102 00 – 3 4 3
Sweet Home 260 6x – 14 10 3
Sweet Home 14, La Pine 3
The Huskies set up an early lead at La Pine Friday too, but the Falcons were able to whittle down the lead and take the game into an extra inning.
The Huskies scored in the eighth to secure their win 6-5.
The Huskies scored one run in the first and second innings. They added two more in the fourth and another in the top of five.
La Pine scored its first three runs in the bottom of five and then added a run in the sixth and the game-tying run in the seventh.
In the top of eight, Ashcraft singled. Ashcraft advanced to second on a sacrifice from Holly. Marquez was intentionally walked. Ashcraft advanced to third on a passed ball, and Scott singled on a ground ball to centerfield to score Ashcraft.
Scott closed out the game on the mound, striking out one and giving up no hits or walks. VanDeusen pitched seven innings, giving up seven hits and two walks, striking out three and hitting two batters.
At bat, Holly led the Huskies going 3-4 with two doubles, with an RBI and a run. Ashcraft went 2-4 with a triple.
Also collecting hits were Marquez with a double and an RBI; Austin Rice with a double; VanDeusen; Scott with an RBI; Weld; Jutte; and Melcher with a double.
La Pine had seven hits.
Sweet Home 110 210 01 – 6 12 3
La Pine 000 031 10 – 5 7 1
Sisters 11, Sweet Home 5
Sisters defeated the Huskies 11-5 in Sweet Home on April 23.
Sisters scored two in the first inning and led 4-0 by the top of the fifth. The Huskies scored their first run in the fifth and two each in the sixth and seventh, but Sisters kept scoring, keeping the lead out of reach, with three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh.
Weld and Melcher led at bat for the Huskies. Weld went 2-3, and Melcher went 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Also hitting were Marquez with a run and an RBI; Rice; VanDeusen with a double; Jutte with an RBI; Holly with an RBI; and Seiber.
Holly pitched the first six innings, walking six batters and giving up six hits and three earned runs while striking out 10, with two hit batters.
Scott pitched the last inning, giving up two hits and a walk, while striking out one batter and hitting one batter.
Sisters 200 203 4 –11 8 2
Sweet Home 000 012 2 – 5 10 7