Outlaws baseball continues to dominate

The Outlaws recorded three more consecutive league wins to stay on top in the Sky-Em league with a perfect 7-0 record.

On Monday, April 18, the Outlaws traveled to Elmira to make up a game that was cancelled the previous week due to rain. Sisters won the contest 6-1.

Sisters' Shane Groth threw a complete game for Sisters, with 14 strikeouts and two walks. The game proved to be a pitching battle between Groth and Elmira's Travis Boggs. Boggs pitched six-and-a-half innings and struck out 10 batters.

Coach Steve Hodges said, "The pitching was great for both teams. Shane had good control and command and did a great job of attacking Elmira's hitters."

Elmira scored their lone run in the fifth inning, which resulted from a bad hop to first base.

In the top of the sixth, Sisters tied it up 1-1. Justin Erlandson hit a bunt single and then got to second base via a pass ball. Marcus Arends followed with a bunt to the right side and was hit by the throw to first. The ball ricocheted to right field and the Outlaws scored Erlandson from second base.

Nicky Blumm's pinch-hit double was the start to a five-run scoring spree for the Outlaws in the top of the seventh inning. Hodges hit a double in the seventh, and Erlandson scored Sisters' final run when he stole home on an intentional delayed pick-off play.

The Outlaws struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh and wrapped up the win.

"We pitched our best and so did Elmira," said Hodges. "Our bats finally woke up in the seventh inning."

A day later, Jordan Hodges went the distance in a 6-0, 12-strikeout no-hitter against the Tigers at Junction City.

"Our pitching was excellent," said Coach Steve Hodges. "Jordan had great control and got ahead of a lot of hitters with his fastball. He threw his curveball for strikes and only had 86 pitches in the game."

On Friday, the Outlaws recorded an 11-10 win at home against the Sweet Home Huskies. Sisters came from behind to get the win.

With the Huskies up 6-3, Aaron Selig hit a solo home run over the left center fence to highlight the second inning and narrow Sweet Home's lead to 6-4.

At one point the Huskies held a 10-4 advantage, but the Outlaws clawed back and tied it up 10-10 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

In the fifth, Erlandson got on base with a walk, and Hodges followed with a double that bounced off the left center field wall. Arends singled to right center for two RBI and then stole second. Erik Carlson doubled to drive in Arends and tied it up 10-10.

The Outlaws got the go-ahead run in the sixth. Weems got on base via a walk, and Selig's sacrifice bunt moved Weems to second. Nicky Blumm came into the game to pinch run for Weems. Erlandson hit an infield single. The Huskies' shortstop overthrew first and Blumm scored.

Sisters retired the side, one, two, three, and the game was over.

Sisters had multiple hits from Marcus Arends, who went 2/3, and Jordan Hodges, who was 3/3 with a double.

Hodges was strong on the mound for the Outlaws. Jordan came into the game in the fifth inning with one out and recorded six strikeouts in three innings. Hodges retired nine of 10 batters to get the win.

Coach Hodges said, "It was a very emotional game, and I'm proud of our kids for being able to come back from that large a deficit and get the win. They had a refuse-to-lose mentality."

The Outlaws wrapped up their week with a 5-4 loss to Grant Union in a non-league game that went into extra innings.

Jordan Hodges' solo home run and Erik Carlson's double highlighted the Outlaws' offensive effort.

Grant Union scored in the eighth on a line drive that brought in their winning run.

"It was a good game and well-played by both teams," said Hodges. "We had opportunities to score with runners on base but it just didn't pan out."

Sisters was to travel to La Pine on Tuesday, April 26, and then match up against Cottage Grove at home on Friday, April 29.