CASTLE ROCK — The RBI Dirtbags came up short against the Battle Ground Lookouts in a 4-2 loss in the Dave Orzel Memorial Tournament championship game at Castle Rock High School on Sunday.
The Dirtbags held a 2-0 lead through five innings, even as the Lookouts threatened by loading up the bases a few times. The visitors finally caught a break as they rallied in four runs in the top of the sixth to come away with the victory.
“In the first couple innings we did a great job of pitching and playing defense,” RBI pitching coach Nayt Taylor said. “There was some traffic and then we made some good plays and then offensively we barrelled up a few baseballs. Probably should have had some more. I think we left some meat on the bone by just hitting a double, trying to turn it into a triple with no outs and then getting back-picked at first base. Those things in a 2-0 game in the sixth add up.”
The Dirtbags managed only four hits in the game, with one each coming from Dom Settlemeir (Toutle Lake), Riley Young (R.A. Long), Gavin Frewing (Toledo) and Connor Darnell (Kalama).
The Dirtbags got their runs in earlier on a hard single from Darnell in the first and during a pickle between first and second that allowed Young to take the opportunity to make his way home.
Ayden Boursaw (Clatskanie) took the loss for RBI after surrendering three hits and four earned runs, with the four runs all coming in the sixth inning, in 2 1/3 innings of relief action. Tre Groninger started for the first three innings and gave up three hits and no runs.
Taylor mentioned Hunter Gutenberger (Rainier, Ore.) as a standout on defense.
“I want to give our catcher, Hunter Gutenberger, a shoutout,” Taylor said. “He’s a monster back there. He blocked the ball with the bases loaded there and stepped on home plate. Jodie always says if nobody knows who you are back there, then you’re doing your job so I want to make sure people know who he is.”
The four runs given up to the Lookouts were the only four runs that the Dirtbags gave up throughout the tournament. Before the championship game, they outscored their opponents 42-0.
The Dirtbags are set to get back to business with a doubleheader against the Chico Roosters at Louis Bloch Park on Thursday at 6 p.m.
Dirtbags win four en route to title game
Though their tournament run ended with a loss, the Dirtbags left the weekend with plenty to celebrate from their first three games.
En route to the title game, the Dirtbags outscored their opponents 43-0, including three wins by 10 or more runs.
Tre Groninger (Rochester) picked up the win in the first game, striking out three and allowing just two hits in three innings of work.
Gavin Frewing (Toledo) dominated in Game 2, pitching a complete-game shutout while also delivering the game-winner at the plate in the bottom of the sixth. He finished with six strikeouts, and he allowed just three hits in seven innings. Groninger also added a double.
Groninger saved his best for last, however, pitching a five-inning perfect game against the Centerfield Roosters. He needed just 51 pitches to do so, and he also tallied another hit at the plate.
RBI RiverPigs go 2-2 in Orzel Tournament
The RiverPigs lost their first two games of the Orzel Tournament, but won two straight, including a crossover game on Sunday, to finish the weekend at .500.
Oliver Foster (Onalaska) and Isaac Parmantier (Toledo) posted the team’s only hits of Game 1, a 14-3 loss to the Lookouts, and Parmantier also added a hit in a 5-2 loss to the Centerfield Roosters on Saturday morning.
“Parmantier held down shortstop for us all weekend,” RiverPigs coach J.C. Workman said.
The RiverPigs earned their first win of the weekend by beating the Centerfield Bard Birds 4-3 on Saturday night. Raymond’s Nolam Miller came through with a walk-off double.
Josh Hanson (Toutle) pitched six and a third no-hit innings and struck out eight as the starter, and Kalama’s Nolan Scott got the final two outs in the seventh.
The RiverPigs capped their weekend with a 10-4 win over the Vancouver Regulators on Sunday morning. They’ll return to action on Tuesday at Skyview High School in Vancouver against 360 Baseball Club.
