Outlaws best Central in crucial game

Outlaws bats are producing in a big way.

The Sisters varsity baseball dismantled Cascade last week, then came from behind to beat Central in a crucial Capital Conference match-up.

Last Tuesday, April 16, the Outlaws traveled to Cascade and prevailed by a score that was more suitable for football, 21-8.

"For people who enjoy good, clean baseball it was not the game to see," said Coach Ray Garrettson.

Played in wet, sloppy conditions, the boys from Central Oregon played a little sloppy themselves.

"It was encouraging for us to get off the bus after a long ride and score some runs right off but we didn't play our best," said the coach.

Sisters capitalized on six Cascade errors and were the beneficiaries of seven walks.

The Outlaws helped their own cause with 14 hits, and put the game out of reach by sending 12 batters to the plate in the seventh inning to score seven runs.

The Outlaws then hosted Central on Thursday, April 18. Both teams were undefeated in league play.

Before game time, Central was ranked number four in the state, with Sisters at number seven.

Those rankings will change, as the hosts came from behind to beat the Panthers by a 5-3 score.

Mike Greene started for Sisters and encountered difficulty in the first inning.

After walking the bases full, the defense gave up an unearned run with an errant throw to the plate. Greene settled down, and pitched a complete game to get the "W."

"He threw an excellent game," said the coach.

"Once he realized that he could get hitters out, he started throwing strikes and challenging batters.

"He made some great pitches to get out of tough situations."

Greene finished with five walks, four strikeouts, and scattered seven hits.

After spotting the visitors a 1-0 lead, the Outlaws came roaring back with a five-run second inning. Mike Greene helped his own cause with a single that drove in two runs for a 2-1 lead.

Lucas Denzer singled home another run, and Seth Teague hit a two out, two run double to round out the scoring for Sisters.

Jordan Pratt drew Central close with a two run homer in the fifth inning to account for the final score. Garrettson likes what he sees in his troops.

"It's nice to see our kids play at that level," he said. "The game was a playoff atmosphere against a quality opponent.

"Central is an excellent team. If we can play that way day in and day out, we've got a chance to beat anybody."