With enough break in the rain Monday evening, the Huskies finally opened their baseball season with a 5-2 win at home against Cascade.
“They’re a tough team,” said Coach John Best. “Usually they’re competing for a league championship. This was a good test for us. I thought the kids played very well. They played hard. Very good defense considering the (wet) conditions.”
Sweet Home struggled at bat early on, Best said. The coaches challenged them to be more aggressive on pitches in the strike zone, and they did, turning in solid at bats.
The Huskies scored the first run of the game and took the lead in the third inning when Nate Virtue singled up the middle. He moved to second on a balk. The Huskies walked on the next at bat, and then Kobe Olson shot a single to right field to score Virtue.
In the bottom of the fourth, Best said, Devin Stafford had a great at bat, taking eight pitches and fouling them off until he walked. Virtue doubled to center field to score him.
The Cougars scratched out a run in the top of the sixth, but the Huskies answered with three more runs in the bottom of the inning.
Keanue Aiona started the Huskies off with a double. Colton Smith was hit by a pitch and reached first base. Austin James hit a big double to right field to score Aiona. Smith scored on a passed ball. Keegan Holly shot a ground to the middle to score James on a fielder’s choice.
Daniel Virtue pitched a complete game, throwing the ball 87 times, Best said. “He did an outstanding job.”
Virtue struck out seven batters and scattered six hits across seven innings, giving up no walks and two runs.
The Huskies attempted to open their season March 13, getting in 3 ½ innings at home against Yamhill-Carlton. The game was called for rain at the top of the fourth inning.
At that point, the Huskies led 8-3. To count the game, they needed 4 ½ innings.
“I’m just really happy we got it in today,” Best said. “And the kids played very well.”
The Huskies were scheduled to play at Pleasant Hill Wednesday, at Siuslaw Friday and then play in a tournament in Newport Monday and Tuesday.
Cascade 000 001 1 – 2 6 0
Sweet Home 001 103 x – 5 5 2