Four Way Tie Thoughts

Last week, opening day made sure this wasn't going to be a free ride for Churchill and North Eugene as Springfield and the young Thurston squad made statements about their programs by taking games from the traditional Eugene powerhouses.

Friday's games started to bring league standings back to the good old days, and last nights games saw the home run bats break out as North Eugene and Churchill 10 runned their opponents.

North Eugene - Springfield game review.

I see more Highlander baseball than any other teams. That's because I live so close to Swede, Swede is a great place to shoot photos and coach Nicholsen lets me into regular season games for free. All last year and earlier this year, I saw North flail at bunt attempts. I can't remember seeing them lay one down on the first attempt during that period. Pop ups galore, guys in that frozen bunt pose after the balls in the catcher's mitt (With that look of 'Sorry, coach'), and bunts going right back to the pitcher for DP's. I should have switched from still photography to video to capture coach Nicholsen writhing in pain in the coaches box.

Sure enough, last night in the third inning; man on first, no outs... North popped up a bunt to the pitcher. But Corey must have some Wiley Coyote in him and laying down a successful bunt must be the equivalent of catching the Road Runner. Wiley Coyote never gives up. North got the first runner on in the third with no outs. Then, lo and behold, Wiley Coyote laid down four straight bunts. I'm always curious what coaches have said to their players that gets them on track. Maybe coach Nicholsen said, "No successful bunts, no swings!" Because after the successful bunts, it was bombs away. Dingers, doubles, hard liners for singles.

So my most looked forward to game of the young season went from a 2-0 game after two full innings to 13-1 in five. And over at Thurston, I'm missing a 5-2 Thurston-Willamette game.

I can't help but notice that Willamette is playing as good as ball as anybody and is 0-3. All were games I would have liked to see because I like well pitched games. 3-5, 2-3, 2-5 losses have to be hard to take. But they also are playing the type of ball that when the bats heat up, they could pull a big run on the league like Churchill did last year and be on their way to the playoffs. It's still early.

Out in east Springfield, Thurston senior Dawson Phinney has thrown 13 innings and picked up two wins. That's stepping up. Phinney has beaten North and Willamette. I expect him to start Friday against Churchill.

Churchill's D is looking looking steady. They've given up 5, 3 and 3 runs. If the 19 run explosion in Coos Bay got their bats going, Wednesdays game with North should be firework city.

Marshfield finished 1-2 against the Eugene schools. Now they move on to the Springfield schools. They will host Thurston Wednesday. I am interested to see who takes the mound for this one.

Springfield had one of those games last night. 0-0 after two innings, then the wheels fell off. The season is a long one, though, so one or two of those games during league is no big deal.
I would not want to be the team going to Willamette on Wednesday. The Millers are that team. Looks like they are going to run into a good D and the Willamette bats are bound to come alive soon.

The only thing we know for sure about Wednesday's games, weather permitting, is that North Eugene or Churchill will be in first - either all alone or tied with other teams, but not each other. The league could have anywhere from a three way tie for first to a three way tie for second after Wednesday. It'll be at least another week before we start to see much separation among teams. That's exciting.