WARRIORS BOUNCE BACK WITH UPSET WIN
The Warrenton Warriors turned around their fortunes this morning with a surprise 7-3 win over Newport to advance in the consolation bracket of the Oregon Junior Baseball State Tournament in Eugene.
Dan Wolfe went the distance on the hill and led off scoring rallies in the first and fourth innings. Newport opted to start a young pitcher instead of seasoned junior Eddie Crowe. Good thing Crowe was available because he would be called into action in the first inning as the first four Warriors reached base.
"I think they took a little shot at something in this game, not throwing their better pitcher (Crowe)," said Warriors head coach Lennie Wolfe. "We're the little guys you know...it didn't work out very well for them."
Possibly overlooking the 3A Warriors, the Cubs went with a JV pitcher and Warrenton took immediate advantage. Wolfe walked to lead off the game, Eric Gantenbein followed with a base hit, then Tyler Collier drove Wolfe home with another hit. After Nathan Massey walked to load the bases with nobody out, the lefty Crowe was summoned to the hill. Buddy Davis greeted Crowe with an RBI single. Beau Torres forced in the third Warrior run with a bases loaded hit by pitch.
After Newport tallied a run in the third inning, Warrenton responded with four more runs in the top of the fifth inning, the key blow a 2-run Eric Gantenbein home run that signalled the end of Crowe's stint on the mound. Gantenbein went 3-for-5 at the plate.
"The top of the order did a really good job for us offensively," said Wolfe. "Eric had a great day at the plate. He hit the ball sharply every time. Tyler was consistent as he has been all year."
Collier finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Wolfe was 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. The Warriors had eight hits and one error one day after collecting twice as many errors (4) as hits in a 10-0 loss to North Marion. After that poor opening day performance, the Warriors looked like a different team on Friday.
"Yesterday we played so badly on defense," said Wolfe. "Actually in most aspects of the game we weren't very good. Today was much different. Kevin Moore had two dropped balls on routine throws yesterday. Today he made two great plays on low throws. I think some of the younger guys were nervous in their first playoff appearance. Today they were more loose. I think they just realized a ballgame's a ballgame."
Dan Wolfe allowed just five hits, two coming in the final inning when Newport tallied its final run. The senior righthander struck out seven and walked four, throwing 112 pitches.
"His curveball was very sharp today," said the elder Wolfe, "and his velocity was up. It's been a long time since he had that loose arm. He figured out some things in the bullpen and got it going."
Warrenton returns to Pleasant Hill High School for a consolation semifinal game at noon Saturday against the winner of Sunset against Southridge, two teams likely comprised of primarily junior varsity players. Should the Warriors win again, they will play Sunday for fifth and eighth place at Marist High School on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
Dan Wolfe went the distance on the hill and led off scoring rallies in the first and fourth innings. Newport opted to start a young pitcher instead of seasoned junior Eddie Crowe. Good thing Crowe was available because he would be called into action in the first inning as the first four Warriors reached base.
"I think they took a little shot at something in this game, not throwing their better pitcher (Crowe)," said Warriors head coach Lennie Wolfe. "We're the little guys you know...it didn't work out very well for them."
Possibly overlooking the 3A Warriors, the Cubs went with a JV pitcher and Warrenton took immediate advantage. Wolfe walked to lead off the game, Eric Gantenbein followed with a base hit, then Tyler Collier drove Wolfe home with another hit. After Nathan Massey walked to load the bases with nobody out, the lefty Crowe was summoned to the hill. Buddy Davis greeted Crowe with an RBI single. Beau Torres forced in the third Warrior run with a bases loaded hit by pitch.
After Newport tallied a run in the third inning, Warrenton responded with four more runs in the top of the fifth inning, the key blow a 2-run Eric Gantenbein home run that signalled the end of Crowe's stint on the mound. Gantenbein went 3-for-5 at the plate.
"The top of the order did a really good job for us offensively," said Wolfe. "Eric had a great day at the plate. He hit the ball sharply every time. Tyler was consistent as he has been all year."
Collier finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Wolfe was 1-for-3 with a pair of walks and two runs scored. The Warriors had eight hits and one error one day after collecting twice as many errors (4) as hits in a 10-0 loss to North Marion. After that poor opening day performance, the Warriors looked like a different team on Friday.
"Yesterday we played so badly on defense," said Wolfe. "Actually in most aspects of the game we weren't very good. Today was much different. Kevin Moore had two dropped balls on routine throws yesterday. Today he made two great plays on low throws. I think some of the younger guys were nervous in their first playoff appearance. Today they were more loose. I think they just realized a ballgame's a ballgame."
Dan Wolfe allowed just five hits, two coming in the final inning when Newport tallied its final run. The senior righthander struck out seven and walked four, throwing 112 pitches.
"His curveball was very sharp today," said the elder Wolfe, "and his velocity was up. It's been a long time since he had that loose arm. He figured out some things in the bullpen and got it going."
Warrenton returns to Pleasant Hill High School for a consolation semifinal game at noon Saturday against the winner of Sunset against Southridge, two teams likely comprised of primarily junior varsity players. Should the Warriors win again, they will play Sunday for fifth and eighth place at Marist High School on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
posted by Matt Richert at 2:46 PM
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