The Huskies handled three out of four teams in their league over the past week, defeating Cottage Grove 13-7 at home on Monday. They weren’t quite able to catch Sisters, losing 6-5 on April 9 on the road.
Cottage Grove took a 2-1 lead in the first inning, then stretched its lead to 4-1. The Huskies responded in the bottom of the second and tied the game at 4-4. The Huskies broke open the game in the fourth and built an 8-4 lead on a triple by Austin Rice.
“First off, Cottage Grove is a heck of a baseball team this year,” said Coach Matt Matuszak. Cottage Grove has recently turned in two no-hitters and defeated a top-notch Philomath squad.
“They had a lead going into the fifth against Sisters,” Matuszak said. “They’re athletic. They throw strikes. We really stepped up to the challenge today. Our kids were ready, and we got the job done.”
The Huskies collected 14 hits, with Rice leading the way, going 3-3 with two runs, four RBIs and a triple. Keenon went 3-4 with two runs, four RBIs. Colyn Van Eck went 3-4 with a run, two RBIs and two doubles. Brett Blachly had a pair of hits and runs. Kevin Sieber had two hits, with a run, two RBIs and a double. J.T. Weld recorded a hit and two runs.
Also scoring runs were Keanu Aiona and Dylan Elder, with two each, and Cole Aschraft with one.
Ashcraft pitched all six innings, giving up six earned runs, 10 hits and four walks. He struck out two batters.
Friday on the road, the Huskies defeated La Pine 12-1. La Pine opened the game with a run, but the Huskies scored three in the second, four in the fifth and five in the sixth to win the game under the 10-run rule.
Seiber led the Huskies with three hits, including a double, while Keenon hit a two-run homerun. Ashcraft had two hits with an RBI, while Justin Tow hit a single with an RBI. Colyn Van Eck went 2-3 with three RBIs and a run, and Jake Long recorded an RBI.
Keenon pitched five innings, giving up two walks, a hit and one earned run while striking out four.
The Huskies just missed catching Sisters in a seventh-inning rally on the road.
Sisters scored in the first inning and built a 4-0 lead in the third. The Outlaws scored two more runs in the sixth before the Huskies drove in five runs to get within striking distance.
Second-ranked Sisters is a tough team, but a 6-5 loss isn’t good enough for Matuszak.
“I”m not one for moral victories,” he said. “I don’t think our kids are either. We could have beaten them. We know we can play with these guys. It was disappointing.”
They expected to win last week, and next time the Huskies see the Outlaws, they expect to win, Matuszak said. That said, the Huskies faced a pitcher who has signed with Oregon for next year, and they won’t face a better pitcher in the state this year.
Hitting against Sisters, Austin Rice went 2-3 with an RBI. Tow went 2-4 with two RBIs and a double. Blachly, Keenon and Elder also recorded singles, with Ashcraft recording an RBI and a run.
The Huskies opened league on April 7 by defeating Elmira 14-2 at home, winning under the 10-run rule in the fifth inning.
“We’re playing good baseball,” Matuszak said. “I’m really happy. The kids are stepping up and responding to the challenges.”
They’re swinging the bats well, and the center is strong, Matuszak said. In the four league games, the Huskies have four errors. Last year, they might have averaged four errors per game.
The strong center starts with Blachly at catcher, Matuszak said. He is doing a phenomenal job defensively, and “also hitting the crud out of the ball.”
Rice took over shortstop this year, and is doing a great job there, while Tow is holding down second base, with Weld in center field.
Senior leadership from Rice, Weld and Elder has been phenomenal too, Matuszak said. “Team chemistry has been awesome.”
Keenon has stepped up at bats and on defense, Matuszak said. In his first year on varsity as a sophomore, he’s working as a solid utility player who is solid on the mound and getting the job done.
In personnel, junior Hunter Jutte left the team with the opening of league play.
Monday the Huskies were 8-3 overall and 3-1 in league. They were eight in OSAA rankings.
Sweet Home hosts Junction City on Wednesday, travels to Elmira on Friday and hosts Elmira on April 22.
“Thanks for all the support in the community,” Matuzak added. “We’ve had great crowds. Parents have been very supportive. We’ve just got a lot of support right now, and we really appreciate it.”
To follow more about the Huskies, Matuszak invites fans to follow at sweethomebaseball.com and on Facebook.
Cottage Grove 220 002 1 – 7 10 1
Sweet Home 130 405 x – 13 14 0
Sweet Home 030 045 – 12 10 1
La Pine 100 000 – 1 2 3
Sweet Home 000 000 5 – 5 8 2
Sisters 103 020 0 – 6 8 2
Elmira 200 00 – 2 4 1
Sweet Home 172 4x – 14 13 0