Millers Griller Week Coming Up

Churchill at home, Thurston on the road and a home game against the Highlanders. That's the Miller challenge this week. Sweep and Springfield would be on the verge of the MWL title. Win two and they are going to state. But, if they get swept, they could be on the edge of elimination if the Lancers get hot.

Springfield's bats have earned the Miller's a first place tie so far. They've pounded out 7.4 runs per game in league. That's quite a way ahead of Thurston's next best of 6.0. Four different players have jacked it for the Millers. Oliver Johnson and Blaine Dudley have two each, and Brandon Hubbard and Ryan Helfrich have one apiece.

Alex Camarena, Kameron Bates, Johnson and Cody Whitney have been hammering doubles and triples. With these bats it has to follow that Springfield would have the most players in the top 10 of RBI producers. And they do.

The other side of the Miller coin says that Springfield isn't winning their games with stellar D. They are giving up 5.6 runs per game in league. Fourth best out of six teams. But most of the runs against Springfield were scored in the first four games. Other than giving up nine runs to Willamette in a 15-9 victory in the second round, Springfield has held opponents to four or less in the last six games.

Frosh Malik Evans is 3-0 with wins over Thurston, Churchill and Willamette. Bates is 2-1 with wins over Thurston and Churchill. Jordan VanEngers is 2-1, the loss coming against North Eugene by a score of 3-1. It will be interesting to see who gets the Churchill start Monday, and who is saved for the game against Thurston on Wednesday.

Thurston
The Colts share of first place has been earned through a nice balance of offense and defense. The Colts are second in league in scoring at 6.0 runs per game. They are also second in defense at 4.2 runs per game. That's far behind North Eugene's 1.9 runs given up per game, and just ahead of Churchill at 5.0 and Springfield at 5.6 runs per game.

The Colts are getting hits, and hits with power, all up and down the line up. Jarren Goddard and Tyler Johnson have each homered and tripled, Goddard having two dingers. Goddard has also been hammering doubles, as have Peanut, Tylor Dumilieu, and Johnson. Zach Kopczanski and Jordan Loos have been hitting in the clutch and are among the team leaders in RBI's.

Colt pitcher Dawson Phinney leads the league in league wins with a 4-1 record. He could see another three starts in league. But it will be interesting to see if coach Dube holds him out of the Monday start at North Eugene to save him for Springfield. I'm guessing he goes with Phinney against the Highlanders. Phinney beat North, Willamette and Churchill in the first round. It makes sense to let him do it again.

North Eugene
The Highlanders are the defensive kings of the MWL. By a mile. They are giving up just 1.9 runs per game in league. Thurston is next at 4.2. So why aren't the Highlanders tied for first? Because they are next to last in scoring with 4.8 runs per game. My Pirates are last at 3.4 runs per game.

North's losses are by scores of 3-5, 2-4, 3-4 and 0-1. Sophomore Andrew Moore is 2-2 and has a key save. He's averaging over 10 strike outs a game versus a little over 1 walk. Kyle DeHaven is 3-1, with two wins over Marshfield and a split in 1-0 games against Churchill. Chris Clayton and Garrett Harpole have been doing very good work in relief roles.

North hosts Thurson Monday and travels to Springfield Friday. These are must wins if the Highlanders hope to regain the league title.

Churchill
The Lancers have been involved in three 1-0 ball games. Unfortunately for Churchill, they lost two of those in the second round to North Eugene and Thurston. If the Lancer's would have won those games, they would be in third place ahead of North and own the tie breaker. If....

Churchill may have to sweep this week to stay alive. They play Springfield, Willamette and Marshfield. In previous years, everyone would have thought "A sweep is very probable". Not even close this year. Any of the Lancer's opponents next week can defeat them.

Churchill's defense hasn't been too bad. At 5.0 runs given up per game, they are a little behind Thurston. It's the offensive side that is hurting. They've scored 3 or less in 7 games. I find it tough to believe that a line up with speedy left handed lead off man Ben Straka, Alex Priaulx (three dingers), Sam Kiesse, Brad Birch (2 dingers) and Spencer Jorgensen in the 1 through 5 spots, Churchill isn't putting up more runs.

Willamette
The Wolverines are third in runs scored in league and fifth in runs given up. Willamette finished the first round 0-5, with two one run losses, two two run losses and a fifth loss by three runs. Four of those losses were low scoring affairs. The Wolverines picked up their bats the second round and finished 3-2. This time in mostly high scoring affairs.

Willamette will most likely have to sweep the final round to have a chance of making the playoffs, although a miraculous cave in by North Eugene and Churchill could get them to the playoffs with a 4-1 final round.

Willamette's two homers have been by a frosh and soph - Scott Kuvaas and Trent Waggoner. Frosh Kuvaas also has tripled. Taylor Woodke has been hitting with men on and is among the league leaders in RBI's. Jake Hughes cleared the bases with a double to win the game against North last week. Junior TonySvensson has also been clutch with men on base.

Pitching duties have been spread pretty evenly among Trent Waggoner, Jack Hughes, Koleton Williams and Tony Svensson.

Marshfield.
The Pirates almost messed up the tie at the top of the league in a 1-0 loss to Springfield. They had a man on third with no outs in the 7th and couldn't get him in.

Seniors Cody Dew and has homered for the Pirates. There have been some outstanding performances late in the year by some frosh and sophs. The Pirates could end up in a three way tie for third if North loses out to end up 6-9, Willamette wins three to end up 6-9, Churchill wins one against North (5-10) and Marshfield sweeps five to end up 6-9.....

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