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Sports Local Sports Hermiston creeps past Union County
Hermiston creeps past Union County
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 The Observer/BARRETT HENDERSON Already at 1-1 in the North Oregon state tournament, Union County could not afford another loss and play a top team from the National Divison. Unfortunately for Union County, it was a must-win game for Hermiston as well. Hermiston entered the game at 1-1 and the winner would be the second seed in the American Division and play the third seed from the National Division in today’s quarterfinals.In a back-and-forth first five and a half innings the teams battled. But powered by a four-run sixth inning, Hermiston pulled away from Union County, 9-6, and won the second seed. “Our defense failed us a bit tonight,” Union County manager Shaun Cederholm said. “I told our guys if they don’t make those errors, we only give up a few runs. That was the difference. “They did fight back real hard. We just didn’t have enough there in the end. They’re a really good hitting team, but I don’t think they’re any better than what we can be.” The consolation prize may be better for Union County. After close games in the National Division Thursday, the top three teams all finished with two wins and one loss. After the tiebreaking format was finalized, Union County will meet The Dalles in the quarterfinals — not the Snake River Valley Nationals. The Nationals beat Union County twice just two weeks ago in La Grande. After two scoreless innings, Hermiston got two runs in the bottom of the third. Union County responded with three in the top of the fourth. And things began to heat up. With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Hermiston’s Alex Campbell drove a single to centerfield that scored two runs. Heath Baldock drove in Campbell with a deep line-drive into left field that would be a stand-up double. With Hermiston leading 5-3, neither team could muster a run in the fifth inning. Two Hermiston throwing errors in the top of the sixth scored a pair of Union County baserunners, Jadon Bales and Ty Coon. It didn’t take Hermiston long to break the tie score in the bottom half of the inning. Three consecutive walks to open the sixth loaded the bases and two Union County errors later, Hermiston led again 8-5. They would add an RBI single before the inning finished. Kyle Johnson drove in a Union County run in the top of the seventh with a single, but that’s all Union County would score. “I thought we did alright, just not our best,” Union County’s Josh Gambill said. “We hit the ball pretty good, they were just right at people. “They are a good team. If we didn’t have so many errors, we may have won this one.” Union County plays The Dalles today at 10 a.m. at Optimist Field.
Hermiston 002 304 x – 9 5 2
W L Pendleton 2 1 The Dalles 2 1 Snake River Nationals 2 1 Southeast 0 3
W L Tualatin Hills 3 0 Hermiston 2 1 Union County 1 2 Snake River Americans 0 3
Pendleton 12, Southeast 1 Tualatin Hills 6, Hermiston 1 The Dalles 12, SRV Nationals 11 Union County 13, SRV Americans 3 Wednesday The Dalles def. Southeast, 14-2 Hermiston def. SRV Americans, 31-6 Tualatin Hills def. Union County, 11-6 SRV Nationals def. Pendleton, 10-9 Thursday Tualatin Hills def. SRV Americans, 18-8 Pendleton def. The Dalles, 11-10 SRV Nationals def. Southeast, 14-4 Hermiston def. Union County, 9-6 Today Game one: National No. 2- The Dalles vs. American No. 3- Union County, 10 a.m. Game two: American No. 2- Hermiston vs. National No. 3- SRV Nationals, 1 p.m. Game three: American No. 1- Tualatin Hills vs. National No. 4- Southeast, 4 p.m. Game four: National No. 1- Pendleton vs. American No. 4- SRV Americans, 7 p.m. Saturday Game five: Game one winner vs. Game three winner, 10 a.m. Game six: Game two winner vs. Game four winner, 1 p.m. Game seven: Game five loser vs. Game six loser, 4 p.m. Game eight: Game five winner vs. Game six winner, 7 p.m. |
