>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

HUSKY HURLER: Travis Ludwig earned the win in Game 1. He also had a double in Game 2. - Observer photos/PAUL HARDER

Last season the Huskies and Union tied for a share of the district title.

That foul memory drives the Elgin baseball team during the cold winter practices.

“We didn’t like ending in a tie last year,” Elgin senior Travis Ludwig said. “We’re all working a little harder to make sure that doesn’t happen this season.” 

The Huskies parlayed hours of sweat into a 7-1 record in Special District 7.

On Friday led by two dominant and different mound performances, Elgin took a giant leap toward ending this season tasting something sweeter.

“We didn’t talk about the scenario very much,” Ludwig said. “All of us knew these were big games.”

Ludwig and Dillan Moore shut down the Joseph bats over 12 innings for a 10-0, 9-3 sweep. Moving two steps from the final goal —a title all to themselves.

Despite a cold wind, Ludwig brought out the heat.

His fastball overpowered a young Eagles’ line-up.

“It makes the game a little easier when a fastball is all you need,” Ludwig said. “My arm stays a little fresher and it’s easier to work ahead.”

The right-hander struck out nine batters over five innings.

As Branch Rickey said, “baseball is a game of inches.”

That’s how close Ludwig came to a no-hitter.

Gavin Baynes chopped a groundball off the plate. The first bounce went more than 10 feet into the air. Next it hit Dalton Moore’s barehand, and he fired it to first base in one motion. But Baynes beat the throw by half a step.

Ludwig got all the offense he needed in the first inning. Elgin struck for four runs using speed.

G.D. Clark opened the game with a double off an 0-2 fastball. Dillan Moore drove in Tanner Hallgarth and Ludwig with a single.

The Huskies turned every single into a double — tallying five stolen bases in the opening inning.

Moore moved down to second on the third pitch of Jake Kennedy’s at-bat, and scored on a ground out.

“The boys did a great job of executing,” Huskies head coach Greg Luse said. “We hit the ball hard today. And got production up and down the order.”

Then came the off-speed pitch —Dillan Moore. While Ludwig blew hitters away, Moore used a big bender to baffle the Joseph batters.

“It’s tough to face (Travis) and then face (Dillan),” Huskies head coach Greg Luse said. “They’re two completely different types of pitchers. One speeds your bat up, and the other slows it down.”

The Huskies staked their pitcher to a 5-0 lead after one inning.

Clint Predmore, Wil Burgess and Ludwig each recorded a double in the inning.

MOORE RUNS: Dillan Moore slides into home plate.

Elgin helped fuel a three-run inning by the Eagles with three errors.

Moore allowed three runs, zero earned, and four hits, while recording eight strikeouts.

Now it’s up to Adrian to try to stop the Elgin train from reaching its destination.

The Antelopes are 1-8 in district play.

There’s a reason games are played on the field and not on paper. Elgin is trying to avoid a nightmare finish.

“Anything is possible,” Ludwig said. “We need to make sure we play them tough. Winning those two games sets us up for the district tournament.”

Elgin will travel to Adrian for a noon doubleheader Saturday.

Game 1

Joseph                        000 00    —    0 1 3

Elgin     440 02    — 10 8 0

W - Ludwig. L: Baynes. 2 B- Elgin, Clark.

Game 2

Joseph                 000 300 0 —    3 4 10

Elgin                      520 200 x      —    9 11 1

W - Di. Moore. L - Makin. 2B- Elgin, Ludwig, Predmore, Burgess.