Week 2 - MWL having tough week

After coming out of the batter's box in week one with an 11-5-1 record, the MWL is currently 7-8-1 in week two with eight games to play.

The Good.
Thurston continues to impress. The Colts went 3-1 in the Crater tourney, defeating Lebanon, 6A Franklin and 6A Barlow. Crater was the lone team to stop the Colts. What's particulary impressive this early in the season is that Thurston is holding the opponents down in run production. Keep in mind that the Colts are just like everyone else, throwing a lot of different arms to see who will be pitching come league. Lot's of games get very high scoring this time of year, but the Colts D is ahead of schedule.

North Eugene started this week's play today (Thursday). Andrew Moore picked up the win in a 10 K 3-0, complete game. Last week, the Highlanders played North Medford tough and beat last year's state runnerup, Corvallis. So their stock will remain high. They finish this week with three more games in Idaho. Then a killer schedule next week, including a much improved from Day 1 South Eugene, Marist, Sheldon and a rematch at home with North Medford.

The not so Good.
Springfield started the week by picking up their fourth straight win over 6A Gresham. But then they dropped two straght games, to 6A Lakeridge and 5A Wilsonville, both by an 8-7 score. Still the Millers are 4-2 on the season and their defense is only giving up 4.5 runs per game, which is low during this time of year, when teams are throwing everybody and baatters are teeing off.

Churchill lost 5-2 to what should be a highly ranked Crescent Valley team on Wednesday. I was hoping to see this game, but I transferred some poison oak from my work gloves to my eye and it was swollen shut. The Lancers have yet to pick up their first win... but do not let that get you smiling. They've only played three games, are 0-2-1, with their other loss against Corvallis, certain to be very highly ranked. The Lancers continue play this week today (Thursday) and tomorrow - let's play two. You still have to be thinking Lancers as probably league champs. Next week they play Sheldon and Marist. Can't schedule anything better locally before league play.

Willamette is 1-2 this week with an upcoming double header Saturday against Junction City. Willamette's bats starting heating up in a 16-14 win over South Eugene last Friday and seem to be staying hot. This week's games included a loss to another very strong Mid-Willamette team, West Albany, and 6A Hood River Valley. The Wolverines sandwiched in a 9-3 win over 6A Benson. Note that Willamette has already played three 6A teams and won two of them. The Wolverines will need to tune their pitching and D in the next week and a half before league starts.

Marshfield opened this week's play with a 2-1 loss to North Marion. Aurdahl pitched that one. The Pirates bounced back in their second game of the North Marion tournament to beat central. The Pirates closed out the tourney with a loss to Banks. Marshfield has five more pre league wins to pick up their fourth win of the season, which would be more than all of last year.