By Keeghan Gittins
For The New Era
Sweet Home’s baseball team posted a split last week, beating North Salem 17-7 on Tuesday, April 1, losing 15-5 to No. 4 Molalla on Thursday, and then going 1-1 at Siuslaw Saturday.
In Florence the Huskies won 6-4 in the top half of the double-header, then lost a squeaker 8-7.
Against 6A Division North Salem, the Huskies broke away from a 3-3 tie in the bottom of the third, erupting with a nine-run scoring spree that blew the game wide open, ending in the sixth inning on the mercy rule.
Coming after three straight losses at the Hidden Valley Tournament over Spring Break, Coach Evan Teter saw some improvement in the batter’s box and on the base paths.
”We went into the game ready to bounce back from our tough weekend,” Teter said.
Sweet Home capitalized on the Vikings’ five errors and never let up, North Salem had no answer to the Huskies’ offense.
Every player in Sweet Home’s batting lineup crossed home plate in the victory, with six of the nine players scoring at least two runs – freshman Damon Lawrence, sophomore Kyle Zajic, juniors Lynkin Royer, Luke Rosa, Cohen Gutierrez, and senior Jason Funk.
One of the standout performances came from Zajic, who showed his dual-threat ability. He went 3-4 at the plate, scoring three runs and recording two RBIs. He also took the mound, pitching five solid innings, throwing 46 strikes, and tallying five strikeouts. Royer closed out the game in the final inning, gaining the last strikeout.
Thursday, April 3, Sweet Home hosted Molalla, which came into the game with a 4-2 record. The Huskies matched the Indians’ defense, allowing only two runs in four innings. But Molalla produced six straight hits that turned into seven runs in the top of the fifth. Sweet Home bounced back with four of its own in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn’t keep up the success, going scoreless the next two innings.
“We played a solid game through the first four innings. Molalla is one of the top-ranked teams in the state at this point, and we hung with them well. It showed us that, regardless of our opponents’ rankings, we can play with anyone.”
Multiple times in the early innings Sweet Home had the bases loaded, but the Huskies weren’t able to capitalize at the plate.
Molalla’s starting pitcher, senior Mason Mead, gave Sweet home trouble, striking out nine players in his four innings. Sophomore Tregon Francis provided some help in the Huskies offense, recording two RBIs and one hit in his three at-bats.
Four players took the mound in Thursday’s contest, Rosa having the best game among them, pitching two innings and only allowing two hits, but they had to save him for Siuslaw.
“We had to limit our pitchers due to our double-header on Saturday, which hurt when we had to take Rosa out. He was pitching a great game, but we needed him for Saturday and had to pull him.” Terter said.
Saturday, April 5, the Huskies traveled to the coast and played two games at Siuslaw, the first a 6-4 win and losing the nightcap 8-7.
Sweet Home started the first game against the Vikings with one run, and added to its lead in the third inning, emerging with a 4-0 lead. Siuslaw bounced back with three runs of its own, getting close to the Huskies but always being one step behind, and never taking the lead.
Sweet Home then shut out hosts in the final two innings, winning the game 6-4.
Gutierrez pitched the first half of the game allowing six hits, three runs, and striking out two batters. Royer came in to relieve him for the final half, striking out three players and only allowing three hits.
“Cohen Gutierrez and Lynkin Royer combined for a great game on the mound; we limited free bases and errors well, and turned three double plays.” Teter said.
On offense the Huskies were up and down, recording eight hits and three RBIs as a team, but they struck out 12 times. Rosa, in his four at bats had two hits, two runs, and a RBI.
“We had two of our key starters out for these games but we had some other people step up in big ways.”
The Huskies played from behind most of the second game, scoring two runs, but then had a drought, not recording a single run for five straight innings. The Huskies started the seventh inning down by four runs, but then scored five more.
“The last one (came) on a risky squeeze bunt by Damon Lawrence that scored Jake Smith to put us ahead,” Teter said.
Only needing three outs to secure a comeback victory in the final inning, with the score tied at 7-all and a runner on third, Siuslaw hit a ground ball into left field, and the runner scored and got the win for the Vikings.
“We showed a lot of grit in that last inning, but came up short.” Said Teter
Rosa pitched four innings in that game, recording six strikeouts. Rosa threw 99 pitches with over half of his throws being strikes. Sophomore Bradyn McCLure added a strikeout in his two innings, with Royer coming in to relieve him in the final inning.
However, Sweet Home showed improvement in the batters box by out hitting Siuslaw 15-10. Seven Huskies recorded RBIs in Saturday’s game. Cole Ogbin and Kaidence Greer having two each. Tregon Francis had three hits with two runs and an RBI, Rosa tacked on 2 runs of his own, then Gutierrez added three hits, a run, and an RBI.
“We challenged our guys… and learned a lot about ourselves in the process.” Teter said.
Sweet Home was scheduled to play at No. 12 Cottage Grove Tuesday, April 8, t before returning home Wednesday, April 9, against Harrisburg. Then in the final game of the week, the Huskies are scheduled to travel to Marshfield on Friday, April 11.