After a tough week in baseball opening against three top-five teams, Sweet Home swept its first Oregon West Conference rival, Woodburn, in a three-game series last week.
The Huskies beat Woodburn, 9-1 with Colton Smith throwing a no-hitter on the road March 18, 11-1 at home March 20 and 16-4 on the road Thursday.
In the first game, “we really didn’t play very well,” said Coach John Best. “It was just close the whole way through. Then we kind of turned it on a little bit late.”
Neither team fielded ball very well, Best said. “We weren’t swinging the bats very well.”
The wind was “crazy” and in the Huskies’ faces all day long, Best said, making it hard to hit the ball past the infield.
Nate Virtue led off, singling on a line drive to the pitcher. Zach Luttmer reached on an error, and then Smith grounded into a fielder’s choice to third base, putting Virtue out and reaching fist base.
Aiden Tyler reached on an error, scoring Luttmer and advancing Smith to third base to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.
Travis Thorpe walked, loading bases. Gavin Nichols knocked in Smith on a ground ball to third.
Sweet Home added a run in the fourth inning and then two in the top of the sixth to lead 5-0.
Woodburn scored its only run on an error, catcher’s interference and a walk. Sweet Home responded with four runs in the final inning.
The Huskies collected five hits on the game, with Zach Zanona leading the way at bat, going 2-3 with two runs. Virtue, Luttmer and Nichols each had one hit.
Smith and Tyler each had two RBIs. Also recording an RBI each were Thorpe and Nichols.
Luttmer scored twice. Virtue, Smith, Treyson Smith, Dawson Armstrong and Cole Mizsei each scored once.
Michael Masters scored Woodburn’s only run.
Smith went the distance, giving up just one walk and no unearned runs. He struck out six batters.
For Woodburn, Jose Ortiz gave up three hits and two walks, striking out eight and giving up no earned runs. Masters pitched the last two innings, giving up two hits, five walks and four earned runs while striking out 11.
Sweet Home 200 102 4 – 9 5 3
Woodburn 000 001 0 – 1 0 6
In game two, the Huskies beat Woodburn 11-1 under the 10 run rule in the fifth inning.
They started hitting the ball hard, Best said, putting up four runs in the bottom of the first.
“This was a typical game, I think,” Best said. Whenever the Huskies were scoring, they were hitting. Woodburn looked a lot better too.
Virtue reached on an error in right field. Luttmer and Smith were hit by pitches to load bases.
Tyler popped out to first base, and then Thorpe singled on a ground ball to right field, scoring Luttmer and Virtue and taking the lead.
Smith scored on a ground out by Nichols. Thorpe scored on a double by Austin Olin, giving the Huskies a 4-0 lead going into the second inning.
Woodburn scored a single run in the fourth, while the Huskies scored twice more in the fourth and five times in the fifth to win the game.
“The last play of the game, Colton hit the ball,” Best said. “It stayed fair but went the distance and rolled all the way to the fence through the grass.”
That kind of shot is usually seen on artificial turf, Best said.
Sweet Home recorded 12 hits, led by Smith, who went 3-3 with Three RBIs and two runs.
Virtue went 3-4 and scored three runs. Luttmer went 2-2, scoring two runs and collecting an RBI. Olin went 2-3 with a run and an RBI.
Thorpe and Zanona each had a hit, with Thorpe collecting two RBIs and scoring once and Zanona scoring once. Mizsei also scored a run, and Nichols had one RBI.
Zanona and Olin each had a double, while Smith recorded a triple.
Eghan Ing led Woodburn at bat, going 2-3.
Virtue threw a complete game, giving up five hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out three.
Reese Miller got the start for Woodburn, giving up nine hits, six earned runs and a walk with one strikeout. Gavino Murillo threw the last two outs, along the way giving up two hits and an earned run.
Woodburn 000 10x x – 1 5 2
Sweet Home 400 25x x – 11 11 0
In game three, Woodburn “started hitting the ball a little better,” Best said. “We scored a run, then they put up a three spot and then a fourth run in the second.”
Best challenged his team: “They are flat out beating you.”
Sweet Home didn’t let another run go in, tying the game in the top of the third on a sac fly by Virtue to score Nichols. Smith scored the game-winning run when Thorpe bunted and reached on an error in the top of the fourth.
Sweet Home went on to score another 10 runs and then two more in the top of the fifth to close out the game under the 10-run rule.
“I don’t think we started out slow,” Best said. “Credit Woodburn for being ready.”
Sweet Home had 12 hits on the game, with Virtue and Smith collecting three each. Each scored two runs, Smith with three RBIs and Virtue with four, to lead the Huskies. Virtue had a triple.
Luttmer and Nichols each had two hits. Thorpe and Zanona each had one hit.
Woodburn had five hits, with Ing doubling.
Tyler started on the mound, giving up five hits, one walk and one earned run while striking out one. Zanona entered the game in the third, giving up five hits, two walks and one earned run with five strikeouts.
Jackson Pickett started for Woodburn, giving up three hits, two walks and three earned runs while striking out three in three innings.
In relief, Masters threw one out, giving up four hits, two walks and six earned runs.
Murillo closed out the game for Woodburn, giving up four hits and two earned runs with two strikeouts.
Sweet Home 103 (10) 2x x – 16 11 3
Woodburn 310 0 0x x – 4 5 6
Sweet Home was scheduled to play in a tournament at Hidden Valley this week, facing Sutherlin, Hidden Valley and Marshfield Monday and Tuesday.
The eighth-ranked Huskies play their next league series against fourth-ranked Philomath next week, 4:30 at home Monday, at Philomath April 3 and 4:30 p.m. at home April 4.
The Huskies are 3-0 in league, tied with Newport and Philomath, and 4-3-1 overall.