By Keeghan Gittins
For The New Era
Sweet Home’s baseball team lost its series last week against Cascade, 2-1. All three games were decided in the final innings.
The opening game remained close through much of the contest, with the score sitting at 4-3 through six innings. The Cougars broke things open in the seventh, scoring four runs, while the Huskies were unable to answer, resulting in an 8-3 loss.
The second game proved to be the turning point of the series, as Sweet Home suffered a collapse in an extra-inning defeat despite out-hitting Cascade 14-9 and committing just one error compared to Cascade’s four.
The Huskies built a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but Cascade responded with three runs to cut into the deficit.
Sweet Home’s offense stalled, as a line out followed by a double play ended their opportunity to extend the lead.
On the mound, Luke Rosa entered in the seventh to close things out. After allowing a walk and a single, he recorded a strikeout, but an error allowed Cascade to tie the game at 5-5. A line out sent the contest into extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, the Huskies put runners on second and third but were unable to capitalize, as a fly, and ground out kept them scoreless. In the bottom half, Rosa walked the first batter before Brayden McClure entered in relief, hitting the next batter and allowing a single. Conner Northern was then brought in, but with the bases loaded, he walked the next batter, ending the game 6-5.
Northern led the Huskies offensively with three hits and three RBIs. Kyler Bondesen, Kyle Zajic and Tregon Francis each recorded a double, while Damon Lawrence added three stolen bases. Six different pitchers took the mound for Sweet Home, with Mason Rosa throwing four innings, allowing one hit and one run, while walking five. Zajic gave up five hits and three runs in one inning, and Colton Lindsey threw just four pitches in his appearance.
“Even though Colten didn’t throw many pitches he did what we needed him to do and got us out of a jam… “ said Teter
In Game 3, Sweet Home bounced back to take the series finale despite Cascade collecting 11 hits off Luke Rosa over seven innings. Strong infield play and multiple executed pickoff traps limited Cascade to four runs.
Offensively, the Huskies totaled five hits but capitalized on smart baserunning, Rosa was able to steal home. The team overall scored five runs. Bondesen led the team with two hits, while both McClure and Rosa recorded doubles.
“That was a designed play that we practice and have had in place for a while,” Teter said. “It doesn’t always work, but obviously, it went our way in that moment,”
The game-winning tag-out at third was made by Bondesen, a sophomore who has had a newfound role on the team.
“Kyler had a great week,” Teter said. “We put him at third this week to see how he did. He struggled a bit in the field but his bat came up clutch in multiple situations.
“It was awesome to see him step up and be successful. The bunt he laid down in Game 3 was beautiful. He’s one of the most skilled bunters on the team and I was pumped when he was able to showcase that in a big moment.”
Across the series, tight games ultimately went against the Huskies until the finale.
“We keep coming back to wanting to be on the big stage in those moments,” Teter said. “Late in tight games we can shrink and shut down, or want to be the guy that breaks the game open. I think early in the week we weren’t wanting those moments, but when Game 3 rolled around there was a shift and we had some guys come up clutch.”
Zajic’s struggles on the mound were also a factor in the series.
“Kyle had an off week on the mound, which I know got to him a bit,” the coach said. “He’s a very talented athlete and hasn’t had to encounter a lot of failure, but I think this will be beneficial in the long run.
“Baseball is a game of failure and it isn’t fair for us to assume we’re going to be perfect all the time. What matters is how we bounce back from those moments of failure.”
Pitching changes throughout the second game reflected both strategy and circumstance.
“In an extra inning game like that, that may happen. Macen started off great for us. We gave up some free bases which we try to avoid, but after Macen came out we had to do some shifting around,” Teter said.
“When we had a couple guys go in late in the game, it was a Hail Mary situation.”
Free bases also played a role throughout the series.
“It was more so pitchers missing their spots,” he said. “We have struggled a bit on the mound the last couple weeks, but we have done great on the mound for a majority of the season. Baseball players go through slumps, and we’re hoping we’re back to our normal selves on the mound this week.”
Despite the series loss, the Huskies remain focused moving forward.
“We feel good going into the Newport series,” Teter said. “Our backs are against the wall with our end of the year goals, and we have done well so far this year in those situations. I’m excited to see how they perform and compete.”
