The Nugget Newspaper - News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon

The Outlaws baseball team started their week with an 11-4 victory at Junction City (JC) on Monday, April 14, and two days later they blanked La Pine 7-0. Sisters wrapped up their week with a 6-0 shut-out over the Lions at Cottage Grove.

JC jumped out early in Monday's contest and after two and a half innings held a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the third the Outlaws answered. With runners on second and third, the Tigers intentionally walked Joey Morgan to load the bases for Sisters. Cody Kreminski stepped up to the plate and hit a ball off the third-baseman's shin and Jonathan Luz and Justin Harrer crossed the plate to tie the game. Ryan Funk followed with a sacrifice fly, which scored Weems and put the Outlaws on top 3-2.

The Tigers scored two runs in the fifth and regained the lead, 4-3. Sister tallied four more runs in the sixth. The Outlaws got singles from Austin Ogilivie, Luz, and Harrer. Jarden Weems hit a double off the left-center-field wall and Morgan had a sacrifice fly, all of which led to Sisters' 6-4 advantage.

Morgan faced four Tigers batters in the bottom of the sixth, and struck out two. JC was held scoreless in the inning and Sisters took the plate. The Outlaws put together a seventh-inning rally which started with a bunt single by Olivier. Alec Gannon had an RBI base hit and then the Outlaws hit three doubles in a row; Weems a two-RBI double, Morgan an RBI double and Kreminski an RBI double, and Sisters walked away with the win.

"Olivier's hit really got it started for us and it was a clutch at bat," said Coach Steve Hodges. "Then Weems hit a shot to the left-center wall for a double to tie it. The kids were determined they weren't going to give this one away."

Sisters scored 11 runs on 16 hits and had five errors in the game. The Tigers scored four runs on four hits and three errors. Joey Morgan's pitching efforts in the sixth inning earned him the win.

On Wednesday, Justin Harrer pitched a one-hitter through six innings in the Outlaws' win over the Hawks.

Hodges told The Nugget that Harrer's performance on the mound was outstanding.

"Justin's location was great," stated Hodges. "He threw a lot of first-pitch strikes to get ahead in the count."

Sisters scored three runs in the third to take the lead. Kreminski's two-RBI double down the left field line highlighted the inning.

The Outlaws added four runs in the sixth, highlighted by Harrer's two-RBI double to right center field.

Sisters scored seven runs on six hits, and La Pine had zero runs and one hit. Both teams committed three errors in the contest.

The Outlaws wrapped up the week with a shut-out at Cottage Grove on Friday. Joey Morgan pitched a one-hitter and recorded 11 strikeouts in the game.

Sisters got five of their six runs in the third. Harrer started things off when he reached first base on an error. Morgan followed with a two-run homer over the right field wall. Alex Olivier and Ben Larson both had RBI singles in the inning. Funk scored on a run from third on a ball that went into the dugout on the throw.

Weems hit a deep sacrifice fly to right center field in the fourth inning to score Luz for Sisters' final run.

Freshman Ryan Funk had another great performance at catcher, and also went 2/4 at the plate. Larson was 2/3 with an RBI and Olivier was 2/4 with an RBI. Morgan went three for four with two doubles and a homerun.

Hodges said, "I thought today was a very good day and a step up in our offense. We hit the ball hard and deep. It was a definite improvement from the last two games. I'm also very encouraged with our pitching this week. We had back-to-back one-hitters and only gave up one earned run in 21 innings."

Sisters will play at Sweet home on Friday, April 25.