Outlaws fall to North Valley

The Outlaws baseball team's 23-game winning streak came to an abrupt end when they lost 7-3 at home to North Valley (NV) in the state quarterfinals. Three days earlier Sisters had defeated Gladstone 4-2 at home in the first round of the state playoffs.

In Saturday's action, the Knights got three runs in the top of the first inning, and the Outlaws were quick to answer back with three of their own to tie the game at 3-3.

Justin Harrer reached first base on an error, followed by Jarden Weems who singled up the middle. Joey Morgan hit an RBI single to score Harrer, and Groth scored Weems on an error. With two outs, Eli Boettner ripped a single to left field to score Morgan and tie it up.

Sisters was held scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

The Knights scored one run in the third and added three more in the fourth. North Valley's Herklotz's three-run homer over the fence was the big game-changer and pushed the Knights to a 7-3 advantage, which held through the final inning.

Groth pitched all seven innings for the Outlaws. Shane recorded five strikeouts and allowed four walks.

Sisters scored three runs on four hits and two errors, and North Valley scored their seven runs on 10 hits and two errors.

The Outlaws never really got their bats going, and when they did manage to get a hit a North Valley player was right there.

Hodges said, "We faced a very good offensive team and we knew we had to score runs if we were going to beat them. We started off great and put the ball in play, but after that we went silent offensively. They (NV) hit the ball with runners on base and I've got to give them credit."

Sisters' young squad exceeded Hodges expectations.

"I couldn't be more pleased with their progress," said Hodges. "They made very good improvement for a young team that will return seven next year. I'm very proud of the team and how they came together and competed. In a single-elimination tournament there's just no room for error."