WARRIORS FALL SHORT IN LATE COMEBACK
The Warrenton Warriors valiant comeback ended with a Tommy Ghost Dog strikeout with runners at second and third in the seventh inning as the number-one ranked Burns Hilanders escaped with a 9-8 quarterfinal baseball victory over the Warriors.
Down 9-5 entering their final at bat, the Warriors plated three runs and had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position before Ghost Dog fanned the final two batters of the game, sending the Hilanders into a semifinal matchup with defending state 2A champion Glide.
The Hilanders two lefthanded aces, winning pitcher Marc Novak and Ghost Dog, combined to strike out 13 batters in the game.
"It was one of the only times this year that we just didn't put the ball in play enough," said Warrenton head coach Lennie Wolfe, who returned to the playoffs after sitting out the postseason last year, the only time in his long tenure at the school in which a baseball team has not participated in the state playoffs. "On Tuesday, our outs were meaningful. We advanced runners or brought somebody home. We had ten hits in the game, but not enough meaningful stuff happened when it wasn't a hit."
Novak, holding a commanding 9-1 lead entering the fifth inning, ran into trouble with back-to-back bases on balls to Billy Sturgell and Beau Torres. Ghost Dog came on in relief and was greeted by Warrenton leadoff man Dan Wolfe, who singled to load the bases. After back-to-back strikeouts of Warrenton's top two RBI threats, Eric Gantenbein and Nathan Massey, Buddy Davis came through with a clutch 2-run single, advancing to second base on the throw home. Brandon Slaughter followed with a 2-RBI single to make it 9-5, putting Warrenton right back in the ballgame.
Unfortunately, the Warriors were forced to play comeback all game long thanks to a big first inning by the Hilanders. Defensive woes, which cost the Warriors in two games against Lewis & Clark League champion Clatskanie, hurt the Warriors in another big game on Friday.
A leadoff error had Burns threatening in the first inning. A potential double-play grounder resulted in just one out because of an errant throw. Another error opened the floodgates. Burns followed with back-to-back base hits against Warrenton starting pitcher Eric Gantenbein and nine men came to the plate in a 4-run first inning that should have been over after three batters.
Gantenbein held the Hilanders scoreless until the fourth inning, when a pair of hit batters set the stage for a 5-run onslaught. Gantenbein recorded two outs after hitting the leadoff batter, but after another hit batter put runners on first and second and after a passed ball, Logan Garner plated both with an RBI single. Tyler Swartzlender followed with an RBI triple ending Gantenbein's day on the mound. The Hilanders continued with back-to-back base hits off reliever Dan Wolfe, scoring five in the inning to boost their lead to 9-1. It could have been worse. Centerfielder Beau Torres made a spectacular running, diving catch to end the inning, saving at least two more runs.
Warrenton's lone run until the fifth inning came on a leadoff home run by Massey, his sixth of the season.
In the seventh, Gantenbein led off with a double, followed by a walk to Massey and a Davis single to load the bases. Ghost Dog induced a ground ball to third base and Gantenbein was forced out at the plate for the first out. Kevin Moore followed with a double to left-center field to score Massey and Davis. Michael Moore looped a Texas League single just out of the reach of the Burns shortstop and third baseman to score Slaughter and advanced to second base on the throw home. With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Ghost Dog fanned Sturgell and Torres to stymie the rally and send Burns to the final four.
"It's frustrating to take a 1400 mile round trip to come that close," said Warrenton head coach Lennie Wolfe. "It's thought-provoking. You do a lot of second guessing and think of things you could have done differently."
"I'm really pleased that we ended up as competitive as we were given all of the things we had to overcome. Not having the roster we expected to have, not having a roster with a ton of experience. The kids did a really nice job.
Ghost Dog gave up seven hits and two walks and struck out six in a three inning relief stint.
The Warriors, who lose seniors Gantenbein, Wolfe and Massey, begin their summer Oregon Junior Baseball schedule a week from Tuesday. Wolfe and Gantenbein ended 4-year varsity starting careers, with each likely to earn an All-State nod. Both will play for the North Coast Renegades this summer and both are bound for the Northwest Conference to compete in baseball next spring, with Gantenbein attending George Fox and Wolfe Pacific.
WARRENTON 1-0-0-0-4-0-3 8-10-4
BURNS 4-0-0-5-0-0-x 9-11-3
W-Novak (4+ip, 2h, 3r, 3er, 7k, 4bb)
L-Gantenbein (3.2ip, 8h, 8r, 4er, 2k, 0bb, 2hp)
2B-Gantenbein, K. Moore. Wensenk. 3B-Swartzlender. HR-Massey (6).
Down 9-5 entering their final at bat, the Warriors plated three runs and had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position before Ghost Dog fanned the final two batters of the game, sending the Hilanders into a semifinal matchup with defending state 2A champion Glide.
The Hilanders two lefthanded aces, winning pitcher Marc Novak and Ghost Dog, combined to strike out 13 batters in the game.
"It was one of the only times this year that we just didn't put the ball in play enough," said Warrenton head coach Lennie Wolfe, who returned to the playoffs after sitting out the postseason last year, the only time in his long tenure at the school in which a baseball team has not participated in the state playoffs. "On Tuesday, our outs were meaningful. We advanced runners or brought somebody home. We had ten hits in the game, but not enough meaningful stuff happened when it wasn't a hit."
Novak, holding a commanding 9-1 lead entering the fifth inning, ran into trouble with back-to-back bases on balls to Billy Sturgell and Beau Torres. Ghost Dog came on in relief and was greeted by Warrenton leadoff man Dan Wolfe, who singled to load the bases. After back-to-back strikeouts of Warrenton's top two RBI threats, Eric Gantenbein and Nathan Massey, Buddy Davis came through with a clutch 2-run single, advancing to second base on the throw home. Brandon Slaughter followed with a 2-RBI single to make it 9-5, putting Warrenton right back in the ballgame.
Unfortunately, the Warriors were forced to play comeback all game long thanks to a big first inning by the Hilanders. Defensive woes, which cost the Warriors in two games against Lewis & Clark League champion Clatskanie, hurt the Warriors in another big game on Friday.
A leadoff error had Burns threatening in the first inning. A potential double-play grounder resulted in just one out because of an errant throw. Another error opened the floodgates. Burns followed with back-to-back base hits against Warrenton starting pitcher Eric Gantenbein and nine men came to the plate in a 4-run first inning that should have been over after three batters.
Gantenbein held the Hilanders scoreless until the fourth inning, when a pair of hit batters set the stage for a 5-run onslaught. Gantenbein recorded two outs after hitting the leadoff batter, but after another hit batter put runners on first and second and after a passed ball, Logan Garner plated both with an RBI single. Tyler Swartzlender followed with an RBI triple ending Gantenbein's day on the mound. The Hilanders continued with back-to-back base hits off reliever Dan Wolfe, scoring five in the inning to boost their lead to 9-1. It could have been worse. Centerfielder Beau Torres made a spectacular running, diving catch to end the inning, saving at least two more runs.
Warrenton's lone run until the fifth inning came on a leadoff home run by Massey, his sixth of the season.
In the seventh, Gantenbein led off with a double, followed by a walk to Massey and a Davis single to load the bases. Ghost Dog induced a ground ball to third base and Gantenbein was forced out at the plate for the first out. Kevin Moore followed with a double to left-center field to score Massey and Davis. Michael Moore looped a Texas League single just out of the reach of the Burns shortstop and third baseman to score Slaughter and advanced to second base on the throw home. With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Ghost Dog fanned Sturgell and Torres to stymie the rally and send Burns to the final four.
"It's frustrating to take a 1400 mile round trip to come that close," said Warrenton head coach Lennie Wolfe. "It's thought-provoking. You do a lot of second guessing and think of things you could have done differently."
"I'm really pleased that we ended up as competitive as we were given all of the things we had to overcome. Not having the roster we expected to have, not having a roster with a ton of experience. The kids did a really nice job.
Gantenbein, Davis and Kevin Moore all had two hits and Moore, Davis and Slaughter each had two runs batted in.
"The three seniors played the way you want all-staters to play," said Wolfe, "and the younger guys started to step in an assert themselves this year. Mike Davis has raised his average 60 points at the end of the season, playing playoff teams. Kevin Moore has started to demonstrate that he has some offensive capability. Brandon Slaughter, Michael Moore...those four guys especially startrd to improve. That's not to say the ones I didn't mention didn't also. All of the guys made some marked strides."
Ghost Dog gave up seven hits and two walks and struck out six in a three inning relief stint.
The Warriors, who lose seniors Gantenbein, Wolfe and Massey, begin their summer Oregon Junior Baseball schedule a week from Tuesday. Wolfe and Gantenbein ended 4-year varsity starting careers, with each likely to earn an All-State nod. Both will play for the North Coast Renegades this summer and both are bound for the Northwest Conference to compete in baseball next spring, with Gantenbein attending George Fox and Wolfe Pacific.
WARRENTON 1-0-0-0-4-0-3 8-10-4
BURNS 4-0-0-5-0-0-x 9-11-3
W-Novak (4+ip, 2h, 3r, 3er, 7k, 4bb)
L-Gantenbein (3.2ip, 8h, 8r, 4er, 2k, 0bb, 2hp)
2B-Gantenbein, K. Moore. Wensenk. 3B-Swartzlender. HR-Massey (6).
posted by Matt Richert at 3:21 PM
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