EUGENE, Ore. – The Klamath Falls Falcons ran into a buzz saw at Swede Johnson Stadium, as a veteran Salem Withnell Dodgers squad limited the Basin squad to three singles in a 9-0 victory in the play-in round of the Oregon AAA American Legion State Tournament.
The Dodgers (27-15) advance to the 8-team, double elimination bracket, while the Falcons season comes to a close.
“We didn’t compete like we should have today,” said Falcons manager Pete Whisler. “We faced a much older team, a much more experienced team and there is a limit to the mistakes you have to make against a squad like that – and we didn’t do that.”
After stranding the bases loaded in the first, Salem loaded the bases in the second off Falcons (11-20) starter Owen Harper, with Brandon Stinnett giving the Area 3 team a lead with a run scoring single. A Taylor Brenneman fielders’ choice, a Will Hassoon sacrifice fly and an Eli Lowe RBI single extended the lead to 4-0.
It was all Lowe needed on the mound, holding Klamath Falls to three singles – a third inning single from Kollin Tacchini, a fifth inning single from Lane Frank and a seventh inning single from P.J. Safford – striking out seven, in six innings of work.
Salem added single runs in the third and fourth, plated a pair in the fifth and scored another in the sixth – part of an 11-hit attack. The Dodgers capitalized on six walks, a hit-by-pitch and two balks.
Stinnett, the 6A Central Valley Conference Player of the Year and Seattle University signee, went 3-for-4 with two RBI, with Avery Wilson adding three hits and an RBI.
Despite the loss, Whisler saw the team grow throughout the season.
“The growth we had this year, with so many young, young players, was tremendous. “They know they have to get stronger. When they watch the other teams play, they see the physical side of the game and the difference between themselves and the older players. Our guys realize they can’t just play 20 games of high school ball and roll into the grind of the summer. The upside of this team in the future is bright.”
The AAA State Tournament runs through Wednesday, with the winner representing Oregon at the Northwest Regional in Gillette, Wyo.
