In the final week of preseason baseball, the Creswell Bulldogs fell 10-5 to host Santiam on April 1, in their only game of the week. A road game at Cottage Grove scheduled April 2 was rained out, as was an April 6 home game against Umatilla.
Despite missing several experienced players for the Santiam game, the Bulldogs started strong, taking a 5-1 lead. ”But then we let our foot off the gas,” said Creswell head coach Tyler Main, noting that the absence of leadership on the team ”showed later in the game.”
Freshman pitcher Gio Mediati started for the Bulldogs, giving up just one earned run while striking out seven in five innings. ”He pitched very well for us,” Main said.
Dallton Dewey pitched the final inning, giving up three earned runs and walking three.
Dewey led Creswell’s offensive effort at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Camrin Marple went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, and Jayden Pratt and Nick Kubishta each went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
”Santiam is a good squad with good upperclassmen,” Main said, adding that the game ”was a good learning experience for our younger guys who haven’t played much this year.”
After finishing preseason 5-5, the Bulldogs are looking to improve their record as Mountain Valley Conference play gets underway this week, with Creswell traveling to La Pine and playing host to Pleasant Hill.
”We start off with defending 3A state champs, La Pine, and we have a really good league,” Main said. ”Three out of our five-team league are in the top five of 3A, so every night we’re facing the best of what 3A has to offer. It makes for great league play, and I’m really looking forward to what our guys can do this year.”