Outlaws post three wins on the diamond

Sisters started their week with a very close game that ended in a 7-6 victory at Junction City (JC) on Tuesday, May 12. Three days later the Tigers traveled to Sisters and the Outlaws once again prevailed with a 13-3 win that was over in six innings due to the mercy rule. On Saturday, the Outlaws hosted Burns and came from behind to win 7-6 in extra innings.

In Tuesday's action, the Outlaws scored seven runs on 14 hits and had one error in the contest. Junction City scored six runs on eight hits and had two errors in the game.

Sisters got four runs in the first inning. Jonathan Luz reached first on a walk, and Alex Olivier followed with a bunt single. Harrer stepped up to the plate and ripped a shot 345 feet over the left-field fence for a three-run homer. The Outlaws' final run of the inning was a solo home run by Ryan Funk that sailed over the left-field wall.

The Outlaws held the lead for the remainder of the contest. Sisters' game-winning run came in the top of the seventh. Ben Larson hit an RBI ground ball into right field to score Cody Kreminski.

JC rallied in the bottom of the seventh and scored two runs, but then Luz made an incredible defensive play at shortstop for the Outlaws. Jonathan dove and grabbed a ground ball and tagged second base with his glove for the out.

"It was an amazing play," said Coach Steve Hodges. "It was a potential game-saver. If that ball would have went through, they would have scored two runs with no outs. It really put the momentum back in our favor."

Luz had an outstanding game, going three-for-four at the plate, and Kreminski was two-for-four. Cody scored the winning run in the seventh. Kreminski was down in the count at one-two, and got a base hit.

At home on Friday, the Outlaws took care of business in record time and beat the Tigers by 10. Morgan won the game on the mound for Sisters and pushed his record to 10-0.

On Saturday, the Outlaws trailed Burns the entire game, but battled back in the bottom of the eighth to notch the win in an exciting finish.

Alex Olivier pitched the first four innings, and then Jonathan Luz came in and did a great job for the Outlaws for three-and-two-thirds innings. Odin Thorson finished for the Outlaws. Odin pitched to one batter, struck him out, and recorded the win.

Sisters was down 3-4 with two outs, in the bottom of the seventh, with no runners on base, and was able to tie it up and force the game into extra innings.

Jonathan Luz started the rally with a line drive up the middle for a base hit. Burns' left-handed pitcher tried to pick Luz off at first, but the throw was off, and Luz was able to advance to third.

Two pitches later, the pitcher threw a ball into the dirt that went to the backstop, and Luz scored to tie it up at 4-4. The seventh ended in a tie, and the game went to extra innings.

The Highlanders got two runs in the top of the eighth, and re-gained the lead, 6-4. With two outs, and a runner on base, Thorson came in to pitch for the Outlaws. Odin struck out Burns' No. 4 hitter to keep the score at 6-4.

Sisters headed to the dugout for their turn at the plate. Harrer got the Outlaws going with a double to left-center field. Ryan Funk hit the ball all the way to the right-center wall for a double and scored Harrer to narrow the gap to 6-5.

Hodges decided to put freshman Christopher Luz in to pinch-run for Funk. A pitch was thrown in the dirt, Luz raced for third base, and beat the tag. Morgan struck out on a three-two fastball and then Thorson took his at-bat. Odin had a 10-pitch at-bat, and fouled off one ball after another until he finally drew the walk, which put runners at first and third. Kreminski walked to load the bases, and then Larson worked the count and walked to tie the game 6-6.

Gannon hit the ball off the end of his bat and sent the ball spinning toward the pitcher. The pitcher grabbed the ball but overthrew the ball at home, Luz slid in to score, and the Outlaws got the win.

Hodges said, "Today had a playoff atmosphere for sure. We had to come from behind and that gave us confidence. On Friday, we were ranked third in the state rankings, but with the win over Burns (20-3 record) on the last day for cut-offs, we locked in a second-place state ranking, which is huge."

Sisters finished league with a 13-2 record, and are currently 21-3 overall. This marks the fifth consecutive year the Outlaws have won 20-plus games in a season.

The Outlaws will play at Santiam Christian (No. 1 ranked 3A team) on Wednesday, May 20, and play at home at 5:00 p.m. two days later against Summit (No. 3 ranked 5A team) to tune-up for playoffs. Sisters will play at home on Wednesday, May 27, but their opponent is still to be decided.