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Abby's falls in season opener, 4-3 |
The AAA American Legion team scores two runs in the
sixth, but falls 4-3 to Southridge |
By B. Scott Anderson, Newberg
Graphic sports editor
E-mail Scott at banderson@eaglenewspapers.com
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BEAVERTON — The
Abby’s American Legion baseball team’s rally fell a run short in its
season-opener Monday in a 4-3 loss at Southridge.
“We had our opportunities and we hit the ball hard and that’s what
we’re looking for in summer ball,” said Abby’s coach Frank Baumholtz,
who also coaches the Newberg High School varsity team. “We’re
looking to do things right and focus on the little things. Today we
hit a couple of balls right on the nose right at them and they made
the plays.”
After Southridge scored two runs in the third inning, Abby’s found
itself in a 3-0 deficit. Southridge nearly added to its lead in the
inning. But Abby’s pitcher Kyle Dahl induced a ground ball with the
bases loaded to end the inning.
The Tigers got a run back in the fourth when Jordan Burger doubled
down the left field line. After Burger stole third base, Jacob
Greber delivered an RBI single to right field for Abby’s first run.
In the fifth, Southridge scored its fourth run of the game before
Abby’s rallied in the top of the sixth inning. Marc
Hillman led off with a single up the middle before Burger hit his
second double of the game, this one to center field. Greber
delivered again in the inning with a bloop RBI single to right
field. Dahl, who went 2-for-3 on the day with an RBI, followed
Greber with an RBI single of his own to left field to pull the
Tigers within 4-3.
The Tigers seemed poised to take the lead after Chris Anderson was
hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. But Chance Howard hit
into a double play to end the Tigers’ scoring opportunity
Baumholtz said that type of situation was what will help the Tigers
in the long run.
“We were looking to put the ball in play and (Howard) hit the ball
on the nose,” he said. “It was a one-hopper that was taylor made for
a double play and you can’t ask for anything more than that. You put
yourself in a position to put pressure on them and we did and they
made the play. That was a good baseball scenario right there.”
Abby’s plays in the Metro League, a conference that has 14 teams
but is split in half between the north and the south leagues. Abby’s
will play its six opponents in its half of the league twice and will
play the other half of the league’s teams once.
Baumholtz said his main focus for the summer season is to get
players prepared for the high school season next spring.
“We’ve got a few of our younger players playing with us and it
gives them an opportunity to play,” he said. “A lot of them are
potential varsity guys for next year.”
Not making the playoffs in the summer league season wouldn’t deter
the Tigers, Baumholtz said. Qualifying for the postseason would be a
bonus, however.
“My biggest goal for this group is to work on the things we’ve had
trouble with,” he said. “We’re going to identify those things and
make some specific adjustments to correct those problems. We also
want to play together and to create those relationships that will
help us in the spring time.”
Abby’s returns to action today (Wednesday) with a 6 p.m. contest at
McMinnville before it hosts Century at 6 p.m. Thursday. On Sunday,
the Tigers will play a non-Metro League game at North Salem in a 2
p.m. contest.
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From
June 9, 2004, Newberg Graphic
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