Andrew Larrison makes a catch in left field for an out against La Pine. GINI DAVIS – THE CRESWELL CHRONICLE
For much of the first four innings of their April 3 league opener against visiting La Pine, the Bulldogs and the Hawks traded strikeouts and outfield fly outs. But La Pine scored two runs in the second and six more in the sixth in handing the Dawgs a 0-12 six-inning shutout loss.
”La Pine’s a really good team – and until the fifth inning it was just a 0-2 ballgame,” said Creswell Coach Chris Whitmore. ”They’re ranked #3 – and sure, it’s early in the season, but I really believe they are one of the top teams in the state. They won our conference last year and they return all their kids.”
Although the Dawgs committed just two errors, they were unable to execute on offense. Colton White went 1-for-2 and Dallton Dewey went 1-for-3 for Creswell’s only hits, while the Hawks connected for 12.
”We’ve been struggling to score runs this year,” Whitmore said.
White started on the mound for the Bulldogs, giving up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits, striking out six, walking five and hitting two batters with the pitch in four and one-third innings.
”Colton was pitching a decent game, but he got into some trouble in the top of the fifth,” Whitmore said. ”He went deep in the count quite a few times and his pitch count was high, so I had to give him the hook.”
Dewey came on in relief, giving up four runs (two earned) on three hits, striking out one and walking one in one and one-third innings.
”Dallton came in with the bases loaded and no outs, and here came our first error; then we got beat in the infield on the next play,” Whitmore said. ”It’s a tough spot to come out of.”
Jack Callahan closed out the final one-third inning, giving up one earned run, two hits and one walk.
”The guys did a good job being mentally the same team all the time, even down eight-nothing after the fifth inning,” Whitmore said. ”They didn’t give up.”
With three league games this week, the Bulldogs will work on powering up their offense: ”It’s a big week for us and we’ve got to get our bats going,” Whitmore said. ”The majority of our guys are coming to the plate guessing pitches. We’ve really got to start paying more attention in the dugout to what pitches are being thrown and coming up to bat with a plan.”
