After falling 6-4 to the Sisters Outlaws in their final game of the league at home on May 8, the Huskies wound up third in the Sky-Em League and will travel to Brookings Harbor for a play-in game at 5 p.m. Friday.
“I think we got a pretty good draw,” said Coach John Best. Brookings Harbor has been winning some games – a five-game winning streak – but it’s a good draw.
“Other than having to travel for a play-in game, I think we’re in a good spot,” Best said. “You’re name is on the bracket, you’re 0-0. I like our team. I like our chances a lot. We just as good as any team out there right now.”
Looking back at the season, the Sweet Home lost to the current top-ranked team, Henley, 8-3.
That was one inning where the Huskies weren’t ready, Best said. The rest of that game was competitive.
“If we’re playing Husky baseball, I think we have a shot against anybody,” Best said.
Brookings Harbor is 20th in Oregon School Activities Association rankings. The team has an overall record of 17-8 and a 10-5 record in the Far West league, finishing second behind North Bend, 15-0, and ahead of Douglas, 9-6.
Sweet Home, 10-5 and 14-8 overall, tied with Sisters, 10-5, for second place in the Sky-Em. Sisters won two of three games against Sweet Home breaking the tie to win the second seed. The Huskies are ranked 14th in statewide.
Sisters came from behind in league standings to win second seed.
“Zach Morgan happened,” Best said. “He pitched really well, kept us off balance. His fast ball was alive. He was pumping good heat. That makes his curve ball look a lot better.”
On the other side of the plate, Morgan knocked out two two-run home runs, racking up four RBIs.
“They were tough,” Best said. “They played a really good game. That team has continually improved. They’re going to be tough in the playoffs.”
Sisters is matched up against Newport in the play-in round.
On one out in the opening inning, pitcher Fisher Anderson walked one and gave up a home run to Morgan, giving Sisters a 2-0 lead, before grounding out the next two batters. The Outlaws scored another run in the third inning.
The Huskies put their first run on the board in the third inning. Down one run, Austin James was hit by pitch and advanced to second base on an error. Nathan Virtue singled on a line drive to center field, scoring James.
Morgan homered again in the top of the fifth to give Sisters a 5-1 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, Keegan Holly singled on a bunt. He advanced to second on a single by Zach Luttmer. Travis Thorpe walked, loading bases; and Colton Smith doubled on a line drive to right field to score Holly and Luttmer. Thorpe scored on a balk by Morgan.
The Outlaws scored their final run on an error in the top of the seventh.
Recording one hit each were Holly, Virtue, Luttmer, Thorpe and Smith. Smith had two RBIs. Virtue had one. James, Holly, Luttmer and Thorpe each had one run.
Morgan led at bats for Sisters, going 3-4, with two home runs, two runs and four RBIs.
Fisher Anderson went five innings on the mount, giving up one walk, five hits and five earned runs with two strikeouts. Smith pitched two innings in relief, giving up one hit and one unearned run.
Mortan pitched a complete game for the Outlaws, giving up two walks, five hits and four runs, three of them earned, with eight strikeouts.
The Huskies were scheduled for a non-league “tune-up” game at South Albany Monday evening.
Sisters 201 020 1 – 6 7 1
Sweet Home 001 003 0 – 4 5 2