Hot bats, strong pitching have Outlaws on a roll

The Outlaws recorded wins in all three of their games last week: a 17-9 road win at Woodburn on Monday, May 3; a 5-0 shut out at Sweet Home on Wednesday; and a 8-4 win at home against Sweet Home on Thursday.

In Tuesday’s action at Woodburn, the Outlaws found themselves in a deep 0-8 hole at the bottom of the opening frame. They made the necessary adjustments and went on to score 17 unanswered runs.

Garret Vohs started the Outlaws’ scoring spree in the third inning. With the bases loaded, Vohs ripped a ball to the right field fence and scored three. Sisters scored two more runs in the inning and closed the gap to 5-8.

The Outlaws scored three more runs in the fourth. In the top of the fifth Adam Harper hit a deep double to left field which scored Austin Dean and Connor Linn. The team racked up a total of seven runs in the fifth to go up 15-8.

The Outlaws tacked on one run in the sixth and seventh inning, while Woodburn scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh.

Harper said, “We had a rough first inning, but quickly turned things around. We slowly tacked on some runs and hit the ball well, and then took the lead.”

Several players contributed in the Outlaws’ scoring frenzy. Harper had three hits and scored three RBIs, Vohs had two hits with five RBIs, Hunter Spor had two hits and four RBIs. Patrick Silva had two hits and one RBI, Dillon Tucker had one hit and one RBI, Connor Linn and Austin Dean each had two hits, and Brody Duey added one.

Tucker, Harper, Duey and Silva shared time on the mound. Tucker pitched three innings and tallied five strike outs. Harper and Duey combined for six strike outs.

The Outlaws notched a shut-out at Sweet Home in Wednesday’s match up. Sisters scored four runs in the second and their final run in the sixth to secure the win.

Vohs and Silva each had a double and Linn and Harper singled.

Vohs fanned eight batters. Garrett told The Nugget that his fastball and curveball worked well for him all night.

Vohs said, “It was a really good game and everyone played well. We all worked together, and I couldn’t have done what I did without the defense.”

Sisters’ final win came at home on Thursday against the Huskies.

The Outlaws were up 2-1 at the end of the first inning, and then held the Huskies scoreless for the next four innings. Sisters tacked on another run in the second and three in the fourth. At the close of the fifth frame the Outlaws held a 6-1 advantage.

Sweet Home added a run in the top of the sixth to make it a 6-2 ballgame.

The big highlight for the Outlaws came in the bottom of the sixth when Adam Harper hit a long ball to right-center off an outside fastball for two RBIs, pushing the Outlaws to an 8-2 lead.

Harper led the Outlaws with three hits, including a double and a home run, and recorded four RBIs. Vohs had two hits, including a double. Easton Moore had a double, and Linn and Duey added singles.

Harper said, “Today’s game was a big win for us. We had a lot of energy through the whole game. Everyone is hitting the ball well and I hope we can carry that into next week.”

Spor, who had only pitched one inning back at the start of the season, pitched 5.1 innings for the Outlaws and recorded eight strike outs. Hunter’s main pitch was his fastball, but he did throw a few curveballs and change-ups into the mix.

Spor commented on the Outlaws season so far.

“We got off to a rough start with a few key losses,” said Spor. “I think that was because of the shortened season with little practice, no season last spring, and a new coaching staff sort of coming in blind and not having the time to develop relationships with the team. But we’re eight games in now, and things are starting to click.”

Spor added, “It’s my senior season and I want to enjoy every bit of it with the kids I’ve been playing with since I was four. The younger kids have been great and our goal is to finish in the top two in league so we can make it to playoffs.”

Coach Kramer Croisant said, “We are firing on all cylinders right now. The game is simple when you pitch, play defense, and hit like we have over the last four games. We have a big week coming this week. I think our guys are ready for it.”