EUGENE – Ole Athletics, the new A-level American Legion baseball team under the same management as the Eugene Challengers, beat Salem’s AAA team – the Post 20 Dirtbags – 8-6 Friday night.
It was a slow start for the first-year team. The Dirtbags led 2-0 after the top of the 1st inning, before Ole tied it in the bottom of the inning. Salem took a 3-2 lead in the second inning, before Ole rallied.
Challengers head coach Kenny Niles said Ole’s victory and their performance this season shows progress.
“I’m super proud of those guys and watching the growth,” Niles said. “I think the coaches have done a really good job with them. I think they got a shot at winning the state title. I think we also have a shot at winning a state title. So it’s exciting for the organization to have those guys playing so well. I think they’ve only lost one or two games to somebody in their division and for them to take on a AAA team and beat them, that’s impressive.”
Niles noted how Ole’s performance also collaborates with The Challengers schedule, team and management.
“It was nice how we got to change our schedule around for our younger team to pick up a game,” Niles said. “We’re grateful that these guys (Post 20 Dirtbags) were nice enough to play them. Ole is trying to get ready for a state tournament and they keep having some cancellations. So that’s why we played against them.
“A lot of it is so that they can see better pitching. They’ve lost six games and four of them to us, but you know, they’re tough. I think this win is exactly what they need after losing to us by one run the day before. From an organizational standpoint, this is a win,” he said.