By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
STAYTON, Ore.– The first two games of the Post 58 Crushers Area-3 League series with the Mid-Coast Dungies were interesting, to say the least.
Trailing in both games, down 8-2 in Newport after two innings and down 4-1 in Game 2 at Regis going into the bottom half of the fifth inning, the Crushers found a way in each game to win. They took Game 1 9-8 and Game 2 5-4.
It shows grit, determination, and the heart of the team as they entered the series finale against the Dungies looking for the sweep.
“It just shows the character of this team. We’re just willing to play through the seventh inning. These guys are dogs, and it makes games fun,” said Sawyer Enderle.
Enderle came in for relief for Brody Panuke in the fifth inning and pitched three innings of no-hit baseball to give the Crushers a chance to come back.
Eventually, they cut the deficit until they tied it at four in the bottom half of the seventh inning when Colson Swartz took home on a passed ball to tie it on four.
Wyatt Postlewait was hit by a pitch following Swartz’ score, and slowly moved the Silverton-grad over to third with the small ball approach with bunting.
Just anything to get the winning run across as Postlewait and James Collier were on third and second, respectively.
“(Head Coach Kyle Baker) said,” Get everything down and make a play. ” Honestly, he said,’Do a Job’,” said Collier.
And they finished the job. Postlewait scored from home on a passed ball for the 5-4 victory.
From there, the Crushers completed the three-game series sweep of the Dungies as they scored 11 runs in the opening three runs to take Game 3 of the series 11-0 in five innings. Stayton’s Colton Connally pitched a complete game no-hitter with five strikeouts.
