Teams competing in the Orzel Haymaker Memorial Tournament also took part in a wild critter wrangle Saturday afternoon at Winlock high school.
Teams competing in the Orzel Haymaker Memorial Tournament also took part in a wild critter wrangle Saturday afternoon at Winlock high school.
Teams competing in the Orzel Haymaker Memorial Tournament also took part in a wild critter wrangle Saturday afternoon at Winlock high school.
Teams competing in the Orzel Haymaker Memorial Tournament also took part in a wild critter wrangle Saturday afternoon at Winlock high school.
Teams competing in the Orzel Haymaker Memorial Tournament also took part in a wild critter wrangle Saturday afternoon at Winlock high school.
Teams competing in the Orzel Haymaker Memorial Tournament also took part in a wild critter wrangle Saturday afternoon at Winlock high school.
WINLOCK — The Rural Baseball Inc. Dirtbags played some tough games at the Dave Orzel Memorial tournament over the weekend, but it was all worth it in the end.
The Dirtbags defeated Skyview 11-1 in six innings on Sunday to secure the first Orzy Tournament title in program history.
“It felt like this year was the culmination of four years of work in the program. We’ve never been able to win it before,” RBI coach Jordan Nailon said. “I had my dad come out from Omaha, he sang the national anthem. We had some lucky breaks, but that’s what you need. It really feels good to not have to hand that tournament trophy to a team wearing other colors and send it up the Kalama River with the Orzel family instead.”
Erik Cervantes was one of four pitchers to throw a complete game for the Dirtbags. Cervantes was on the mound in the championship game, allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts.
At the plate, Bubbles Cantrell was 4 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs. Dylan Stakelin was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Matt Kurzeika, Mason Titus and Daniel Fagerness each had a hit.
RBI scored five runs in the first and fifth innings to pad the lead and closed the game with a run in the sixth.
“We really came together this weekend. We definitely have an identity now, the kids know they like each other,” Nailon said. “Two weeks ago, I don’t think there’s any way we battle through. They want to win for each other.”
Nailon was impressed with RBI’s pitching, with Cervantes, Fagerness, Stakelin and Cantrell all pitching complete games.
“To have four guys go complete games, it’s a pretty rare thing to see,” Nailon said. “Our pitchers only gave up four runs in the tournament. That is highly conducive to success and our defense played well.”
In the semifinals on Sunday morning, RBI was on the wrong end of a no-hitter against MAC Baseball for the first 5 ⅓ innings. Chris Kirner broke up the no-hitter with an infield single. After a Seth Butler walk and reaching second base, Daniel Fagerness hit an RBI-single to tie the game.
Cantrell stepped up and hit another RBI-single for the Dirtbags first lead of the game. Ryan Pedersen followed up Cantrell with a 2-RBI double for insurance runs.
Fagerness allowed one earned run on six hits with seven strikeouts in the complete game win for the Dirtbags.
In the final game of pool play, RBI defeated Willapa Harbor 10-2 on Saturday afternoon. Stakelin allowed two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and no walks in the complete game effort.
Kirner was 2 for 2 with two RBIs, a walk and a hit by pitch and Butler was 2 for 3 with a run. Pedersen added a 2-RBI double and Matt Kurzeika had two hits and two runs.
Not only did RBI earn the tournament title this year, RBI won the critter crawl for the fourth straight year.
Dave Orzel was represented at the tournament by Wayne, his father, and Barb, his mother, as well as his son Ty and his sister, Michelle. Nailon was happy to give the tournament trophy to Dave’s family following the tournament win.
“We finally got the ol’ monkey off our back. I was sick of giving the damn trophy away,” Nailon said. “I went for broke this year, I made the biggest bale I’ve ever made.”
