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Boys tear through baseball preseason schedule
By Greg Strannigan

While everybody else was vacationing, the Sisters boys varsity baseball team stayed plenty busy during spring break.

The Outlaws took full advantage of the full schedule by going 10-1. Their dominating performance included eight games that ended prematurely because the 10 run rule went into effect.

On Tuesday, March 19, the boys hosted Lakeview and won 8-4. Evan Livsey pitched five innings for the win. He gave up all four runs and allowed four hits, striking out three. Seth Teague closed out the game and faced the minimum six batters for the save.

Offensively, Pat Burke was 3-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in. Matt Harp contributed by going 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

The Outlaws traveled to Burns to take on the Highlanders in a double header on Thursday, March 21. Sisters took the opener in convincing fashion by a 20-5 score.

Ryan Harper started on the mound, and gave up five runs in three innings on three hits while striking out five. Nathan Powell mopped up by pitching the final two innings. Pat Burke was 4-for-4 with doubles and four RBI. Seth Teague went 3-for-5 with a triple and two RBI.

Sisters completed the sweep with a resounding 15-0 drubbing in the second game. Mike Greene started and got the win by pitching the first three innings. Matt Harp closed out the game and together, they combined to pitch a one-hitter.

The Outlaws marched on, sweeping Summit in a double header on Saturday, March 23. Even though the Bend school is 4A, this is their first year, and they have no seniors. Sisters cleaned up the twin bill by scores of 24-1 and 11-1.

Two days later, the Outlaws hosted Clatskanie for yet another double header. The result was the same, with Sisters sweeping the visitors 18-6 and 11-1.

Robert Hedine, Lucas Denzer, and Ryan Harper pitched, but it was the offense that carried the hosts. Pat Burke had another big game, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, six RBI and three runs scored. His grandslam in the bottom of the sixth ended the game, due to the 10 run rule.

The second game was mercifully called after five innings. Mike Greene pitched four innings, and Lucas Denzer finished up. Together, they combined for a two hitter. Pat MacFarland went 2-for-2 with a double, and Lucas Denzer hit 2-for-4. "It was good, clean baseball ­ we had only one walk and one error," remarked the coach.

The final venue took place over three days at John Day for the Grant Union Tournament. The Outlaws played four games in three days, winning three.

On Thursday, March 28 they came from behind and defeated La Pine 10-7. The boys from Central Oregon were uncharacteristically behind after three innings by a 7-3 score. But the Outlaws tied up in the fourth, scratched out a run in the fifth to go ahead, and added two more for insurance in the sixth inning to account for the final score.

Evan Livsey threw three strong innings, but he had little defensive support.

"Ryan Harper pitched his best game of the year -- he threw three and one-third innings and allowed no runs to get the win," said Coach Ray Garrettson. "He showed great poise."

The next day saw the Outlaws dismantle Payette, Idaho, 21-5. Seth Teague went the distance on the mound for the victory.

The offensive display included two home runs by Matt Harp (who was 3-for-4 with four runs batted in), a three-run shot by Pat Burke, and a two-run homer by Teague. In all, seven different players had extra-base hits. "

The Outlaws had their 10 game winning streak snapped at the hands of Grant Union, losing 12-8.

"They have a consistently good program, and are one of the top 10 teams in the state," said Garrettson.

Sisters jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead, and added to it on Pat Burke's monster three-run shot over the center field wall. Mike Greene got into trouble, giving up two runs before being replaced by Lucas Denzer. Grant Union scored six more times to take an 8-7 lead after four innings, but the Outlaws came back to tie it. The game was decided in the sixth inning by three Sisters' errors, and one mental mistake.

"The seven outs we gave them allowed them to score four runs. You can't give a good team like Grant Union that many chances -- they will make you pay," said Garrettson.

Garrettson expressed a note of disappointment when he pointed out, "Our preseason schedule was not the caliber of teams that I would have liked. I would have preferred to play more competitive teams. It's nice to win a lot of games, but we haven't gained anything yet. If we want to make it to the postseason, the real games start now.

"But," he added, "it was as successful a preseason as any Sisters team has ever had."

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