Stayton 8
Sweet Home 2
Stayton ended the Husky baseball team’s eight-game winning streak 8-2 Thursday afternoon at home.
“Stayton made bit plays when they needed them, and we didn’t,” Coach Dan Tow said. “It was a very close game until they broke it open in the sixth inning.
“We had some individuals, Randy Wunker and B.J. Emmert, play very well, I thought; but we also had a number of errors that kind of opened the door for them, and they capitalized.
“We are now in a situation where, with a win against Central, we will tie for second place. Otherwise, we will be in third. Then we’ll know if we’ll be in the league or state playoffs.”
“Prior to that game, we won eight in a row. We started out the year, we lost our first six games.”
The team was 2-3 in league going into that streak, Coach Tow said. Going into the Stayton game, the Huskies were 7-3. Now they are 7-4.
“We just had an incredible turnaround,” Coach Tow said. That started happening with a comeback win over Central in the first half of league. Central led 11-4 going into the final inning. The Huskies scored 11 runs to take the win.
“From then on, we just kept winning games,” Coach Tow said. “A lot of them were nailbiters. A month ago, if you told me we’d be where we are, I’d probably have had my doubts;” although he knew the team had the ability to win games.
Part of that success is due to improved pitching from Emmert, Wunker and Mike Nagamatsu.
“It’s been quite a turnaround from early in the season and last year too,” Coach Tow said. “The one thing that really stands out, you can’t really look at one guy and say that guy is the key. We’re a team. Not one or two guys stand out as an Alex Rodriguez or a Ken Griffey Jr.”
At bats during the Stayton game, Emmert went 3-4 with an RBI. Wunker went 2-3 with a triple and scoring one run. Nagamatsu scored the other run. Andy Ellis singled him in during the first inning.
Roger Benefiel led Stayton in hitting, going 3-4 with a double, a triple and two RBIs.
At the mount, Nagamatus struck out two and walked one. Emmert pitched in relief. For Stayton, Ken Leming struck out four Huskies and walked five.
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Sweet Home 4
North Marion 3
The Huskies defeated North Marion 4-3 on May 8 at home to notch their second win against that team this year.
“Randy Wunker was outstanding today,” Coach Tow said. “He had 11 strikeouts and only two walks. I thought he threw all of his pitches well, and Andy Ellis called a great game behind the plate. Andy Kraft (North Marion’s pitcher, 8 strikeouts and five walks) was tough for them as well. It was just a good baseball game by both clubs.
“Richard (Erevia) came through with a couple of big hits for us to drive in runs. This was a good win for us.”
Erevia hit 2-3 with a double and two RBIs. Nagamatsu went 2-4 and scored two runs. Matt Matuszak and Emmert each had a single. Ellis hit a sacrifice for an RBI.
Leading North Marion at the plate were Kyle Castor, going 3-4, and Ty Brack, going 2-4 with a double.
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Sweet Home 12
Jefferson 3
The Huskies hosted and defeated Jefferson 12-3 on May 7.
“Richard Erevia threw very well, striking out six and walking none,” Coach Tow said. “He only gave up one hit as well. Matt (Matuszak) had another big day at the plate, and Scott May hit a long home run. It was a good day to play a lot of people in different spots and throw a lot of our pitchers. Everybody did a good job.”
May, Nagamatsu and Josh Bondesen pitched in relief.
At bats, Matuszak went 3-4 with a solo home run and two RBIs. May went 2-4 with a two-run home run and four RBIs. Emmert went 2-3 with two RBIs.
For Jefferson, Alex Cope hit a solo home run. Chase Brown hit a two-run home run.
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