The Sweet Home Huskies (0-7) faced a challenging spring break, enduring back-to-back losses against the Astoria Fishermen (4-6) and the Seaside Seagulls (4-4) on March 27 and 28.
The Huskies’ week began with a tough 3-7 loss against the Astoria Fishermen. “This was an early game, so it took us a bit to really get dialed in. However, we played well,” Head Coach Evan Teter said. A critical moment came in the second inning when Astoria scored six runs, significantly impacted by a torrential downpour, challenging the Huskies’ defense and spirit. “A lot of that can be chalked up to the torrential downpour that we endured,” Teter explained, “[But] If you take away that inning, this is a completely different game.”
The following day, the Huskies went head-to-head with the Seaside Seagulls, culminating in a 10-13 loss. Despite the defeat, the Huskies showcased an offensive game, amassing 10 hits, including 2 doubles, and batting .300 for the game. “This was a great, complete game that we put together,” Teter said. The loss was particularly felt by the team, demonstrating their passion and determination for success. “The guys took this one pretty hard, but that really showed their passion and drive to be successful,” Teter reflected.
The tournament, played at a constant site in Newport, offered the Huskies not just a competitive platform but also a chance for significant team bonding. Staying in a beach house in Lincoln City, the team enjoyed free time together, strengthening their unity. Teter believes this bonding experience will enhance their play as a unified group, a quality the team has already been demonstrating. “We grew closer over the week, and I feel that this will allow us to play as a more unified group moving forward,” he said, expressing pride in the team’s continuous improvement and work ethic.
Jon Holly stood out with an impressive performance, going 5 for 8 with 4 RBIs over the week, including a notable 4 for 5 against Seaside. Despite the week’s losses, Teter’s confidence in the team remains unshaken. “It can be discouraging to be on the losing side as often as we have been, but I have full confidence in our team. This program is moving in the right direction,” Teter concluded.
As the Huskies look forward, the lessons learned and the unity forged during this tournament in Newport are set to be invaluable assets for the matches that lie ahead. The Huskies will be playing their last non-league games April 2 at home against Cottage Grove (7-4) and again April 4 at home against Molalla (3-3). Following these games, the Huskies will be playing their first league game April 8th away against Philomath (1-4).