The Clark Fork Valley Riverdogs split a doubleheader last weekend against the Bitterroot Red Sox with one loss and one win.
The Riverdogs head coach Jon Zigler said the first game was a slugfest for the Sanders County Legion team in Hamilton Saturday. The same team had pummeled the Riverdogs every game last season, but the coach said his Dogs displayed confidence and there was continued banter between the dugouts. “It was a back and forth affair that came down to the very last play,” said Zigler, head coach for the second year.
On the pitcher’s mound, only Garth Parker collected any strikeouts from the Red Sox with four of them. Bean Plakke and Trenis McDonald also took to the mound in the first game. In the end, the Red Sox squeaked by for a 14-13 win. “Behind a four-five hitting performance by Beano Fisher and 15 combined team hits, the Dogs succumbed to the potent bats of the Sox,” said Zigler. Fisher also chalked up four runs batted in and two runs. Parker had three hits, one run and two RBIs, Eli Ratliff collected three RBIs, two hits and one run. Tanner Day, Kody Carter and Alessi Rolando each had an RBI.
The second game was a different story, although it, too, was a back and forth situation with the Riverdogs holding a slim 4-3 lead into the seventh inning, the number of regular innings for doubleheaders. In the seventh, Riverdog pitcher Nate Zigler, the coach’s son, held the Sox to only one run and a tie ballgame. “In extra innings the feisty Riverdogs took control with a five-run eighth inning against the Red Sox closer,” said Jon Zigler. The Dogs claimed a 9-6 triumph by getting 11 hits. Ratliff and Nate Zigler each had three hits and each had one RBI. Jack Taylor had two hits and three RBIs and Plakke had two hits and two RBIs. Fisher also had an RBI.
“The Riverdogs defense was also on display as the team had only one error combined in the twin bill,” the coach said. Zigler and Taylor were pitchers for game two with Zigler nabbing three strikeouts and Taylor getting one.
The Riverdogs head to Libby to play in the Loggers Wood Bat Classic Tournament Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Eight teams will be facing off there over the weekend. The Riverdogs’ next home game is a single game on May 13 against the Libby Loggers. They face the Bitterroot Red Sox at Plains for a doubleheader on June 12.
Reader Comments(0)