Baseball team rolls through playoffs

Matt Harp drives one for the Outlaws.

The Sisters boys' baseball team is making the most of its opportunity in the state playoffs.

After dropping the last regular season game to Central to finish in second place in the Capital Conference, the Outlaws did not have the luxury of a bye in the schedule.

Sisters hosted Baker City on Monday, May 20, and survived a scare to win 5-3.

The win meant that Sisters had survived to play another day. On Wednesday, May 22, they advanced to Klamath Falls to take on Henley.

The Outlaws prevailed by an 8-4 score. Pat Burke picked up the win in relief.

Sisters broke the game open with a four-run seventh inning. Nathan Powell's single was followed by Mike Greene's single.

After executing a double steal, Lucas Denzer brought home the go-ahead run with a suicide squeeze bunt. Burke was intentionally walked, Seth Teague singled in a run, Matt Harp walked, and Joel Meyer singled in two runs to wrap up the scoring.

Mike Greene was the starting pitcher, giving up two runs in four innings. Ryan Harper pitched the fifth, and Pat Burke closed by whiffing the final two batters.

Next on the agenda was a state quarterfinal game at Rainier. Once again, the Outlaws came out on top, winning by a 10-7 count.

Sisters jumped out in front in the top half of the first inning by scoring two runs on only one hit. They made the most of two walks and two hit batsmen.

Rainier responded immediately with two runs of their own to tie it at 2-2 after one inning, but a sparkling defensive gem kept Rainier from a big inning

Second baseman Mike Greene ranged to his left and snagged a sharply hit ground ball, threw to shortstop Lucas Denzer at second base, who flipped it to first baseman Pat MacFarland for a 4-6-3 double play.

"It was the play of the game," said Coach Ray Garrettson. "Our ability to avoid the big inning was the key. They could have really put some runs up."

The Outlaws then started putting runs on the board.

The defense stepped in again when Nathan Powell robbed Rainier of a home run with a catch above the outfield fence.

Rainier didn't lie down and go quietly, as a double and a home run in the fifth inning brought them close at 8-5.

Pat Burke made his third relief appearance of the week, and retired the final two batters in the fifth. Sisters manufactured a run in the sixth, but a two-run double by the home team in the bottom half brought the score to 9-7.

The Outlaws added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, and Burke struck out the side to end the game and record a save.

The Outlaws were to face Seaside in a home game on Tuesday, May 28.

Results from that game were not available at press time.