Outlaws capture baseball league title

The Outlaws captured the Sky-Em League title last week, and will play both La Pine and Blanchet Catholic next week to prepare for the upcoming playoffs. Sisters wrapped up league play with a 12-3 record, 21-3 overall.

Sisters was rocked by a 10-5 loss to Sweet Home at home in Sisters on Tuesday, May 9. Three days later the Outlaws lost 13-9 in their first game of their double-header against the Tigers at Junction City (JC), but they bounced back and won the second game 17-3.

In the first game of the double-header against JC the Outlaws had 11 hits and committed two errors, and the Tigers had 13 hits and two errors.

Ryan Funk's two-RBI home run was the highlight of the game for Sisters. Three Outlaws had multiple hits in the contest. Christopher Luz went two-for-four with three RBI, Austin Morss went two-for-three, and Alec Gannon was two-for-five.

The Tigers had big fifth and sixth innings, with three and five runs respectively.

"We didn't play well defensively in the fifth or sixth," said Coach Steve Hodges. "We had one error that resulted in four runs in the sixth."

The Outlaws really turned it around in the next game and beat the Tigers by 14 runs. Sisters had 14 hits, and one error in the contest.

Sisters' 10 runs in the fourth inning really took the wind out of the Tigers' sails. Big hits the first time through the line-up came from Luz, Gannon, and Morgan, who all had RBI singles, and Funk who had an RBI double. The next time around, Funk hit an RBI double, and Morgan tallied a two-RBI single.

Luz was the winning pitcher. He threw strikes, made the Tigers put the ball in play, and let his defense back him up.

Four players had multiple hits for the Outlaws. Gannon was a perfect four-for-four at the plate with six RBI. Morgan and Funk both went two-for-four with three and two RBI respectively. Luz went three-for-four.

"This was a good rebound game for us to get back on track," said Hodges. "We hit the ball well, and that's good to see as we enter the playoffs. We're trying to establish some momentum and tempo as we head that way."

Earlier in the week, on Tuesday, the Outlaws honored their senior players: Jake Larson, Ryan Cook, Ryan Funk, JW Bertagna, Will Werts, Alec Gannon, and Hayden Parsons prior to the game.

Of his seniors Hodges said, "These are a close-knit group of guys that have played together since youth baseball. They really enjoy one another, and have a great camaraderie."

The Outlaws scored their five runs off seven hits and four errors. Sweet Home was on fire at the plate and scored 10 runs off 18 hits.

In the third, Ryan Funk scored an RBI on a sac fly for the Outlaws. In the sixth, Luz ripped a triple to right center, and Gannon had an RBI single down the left-field line.

The Huskies are currently ranked No. 11 in the state. They stepped up big-time and showed the Outlaws they came ready to play.

"They came swinging, put everything in play, and found every hole on the field," said Hodges. "It was just one of those games that didn't go our way. They put two-strike pitches in play, hit ground balls up the middle, and hardly had any fly balls. We've got to give them credit. They had a great day at the plate."

Sisters was to play La Pine on Tuesday, May 16. They will match up against Blanchet on Friday, May 19.