Ryan Pedersen throws an opponent out at first Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
RBI's short stop Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
Bubbles Cantrell throws a pitch Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
Chris Kirner puts his bat on the ball Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
Erik Cervantes makes a throw Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
Dylan Stakelin receives the throw in time, but the runner was called safe Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
Players take part in post-game shenanigans influenced by head coach Jordan Nailon Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
Chris Kirner throws one out from the infield Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
RBI's right fielder stops the ball in time to hold the runner at second Friday afternoon at Winlock High School.
WINLOCK — RBI’s Bubbles Cantrell threw a complete game to lead the Rural Baseball Inc. Dirtbags to a 3-0 win against Skyview to begin the Dave Orzel Memorial tournament here on Friday.
Cantrell allowed four hits while striking out 12 batters in the win, including striking out the final three batters of the game.
“Bubbles was just dependable old workhorse self, throwing a super heavy ball today. A few balls put in play but easy rollovers, a lot of hits that he fielded himself,” RBI coach Jordan Nailon said. “I asked in the sixth if he was going to finish the game and he said indeed he was going to finish it.”
Chris Kirner, Daniel Fagerness and Cantrell each had two hits for the Dirtbags and Ryan Pedersen and Erik Cervantes each added a hit.
The Dirtbags started off strong in the first inning. Kirner got on base with a hit and Cantrell brought him around to score with an RBI double. Fagerness brought home Cantrell on a sacrifice fly for 2-0 lead after one frame.
RBI tacked on the third run in the fourth inning to lock up the win.
“We played well, had a lot of guys out. It is nice when we have a bunch of dirtbags in the dugout, doing jobs, getting after it,” Nailon said. “We know he’s (Cantrell) going to peak Felix it up and keep us in a one, two run ballgame. Once I donkey whistled that guy around, I knew we were sitting pretty.”
Skyview coach Seth Johnson is a Kelso native and was an assistant coach during Nailon’s final year playing summer baseball. He knew Dave Orzel and it meant a lot to RBI for Johnson to bring his team to play in the Orzy Memorial tournament.
“It’s the third year in a row he brought his squad up to be apart of the memorial tournament,” Nailon said. “It means a lot to us, just like the alumni game. It shows just how much Dave Orzel meant to these guys.”
The Dirtbags play their final game of pool play against Willapa Harbor at 5:30 p.m. in Winlock. The Anglers have two games on Saturday, facing Grays Harbor at 9 a.m. in Winlock and MAC Baseball at 3 p.m. in Toledo.
Note: The RBI Anglers lost the opening game of the Orzy Memorial tournament on Thursday 11-0 to Lower Columbia Competitive Athletics in five innings. MAC Baseball defeated Grays Harbor Longshore 10-2 in Toledo in the other Orzy tournament game on Friday.
