By Randy Parks
Burns Times-Herald

Steven Attleberger pitched a one-hitter and the Hilanders banged out 14 hits in a 14-0 win and a sweep of the Nyssa Bulldogs on Friday, April 25.
Burns won the opener 10-0 behind a three-hit performance by Tommy Ghost Dog (10-3).

The first game was a scoreless affair until the bottom of the fifth when Burns loaded the bases on two walks and an infield hit. Caleb Feist then cleared the bases with triple down the left field line.

After a flyout, Ghost Dog  and Logan Garner hit back-to-back singles, and Dallon Swindlehurst drew a walk to fill the bases once again. Matt Ogata followed with a two-RBI single and the Hilanders led 6-0.

The Hilanders ended the game early on the 10-run rule the next inning. Trevor Smith, Feist and Garrett Swisher all had base hits to lead off the sixth and Ghost Dog drove in the first run with a walk. Garner made it 8-0 with an RBI single and Drew Heinz finished the deal with a base hit that scored two runners.

In the second game, it was Feist again who got the Burns offense started. He cracked a leadoff homer to give Burns a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Burns put together a five-run rally in the second inning, which included a three-run triple by Swisher.

The Hilanders then tallied four runs in each of the next two innings to put the game away.

Feist finished 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored.  Ghost Dog was also 3-for-3 with two RBIs. Jory Fritts drove in two runs on two hits and Swisher ended up with four RBIs to lead the team.

Along with giving up just one hit, Attleberger struck out 10 and walked three in five innings.

“Steve had his best pitching performance of his high school career,” Burns coach Kevin Feist said. “He did a great job of keeping the Nyssa hitters off balance all game.”

With the sweep, the Hilanders improved their Eastern Oregon League (EOL) record to 3-3 and stayed alive in the playoff race. “These were two must-win games for us,” Feist said. “I am really proud of how we played. We were solid in all aspects of the game.”

Burns travels to Umatilla on Friday, May 2, and then finishes up EOL action on Friday, May 9, when they host Riverside.

First game
1  2  3  4  5  6  7   R H E
Nys   0  0  0  0  0  0  x   0  3  0
Bur   0  0  0  0  6  4  x  10 12 0
Second game
1  2  3  4  5  6  7    R H E
Nys  0  0  0  0  0  x  x    0  1  0
Bur  1  5  4  4  x  x  x   14 14 1

•••

The Hilander baseball team raised their season record to 11-8 with a 6-5 win over Baker on Tuesday, April 22.

Feist drilled a lead-off home run in the top of the first inning to give Burns a lead they’d never relinquish.

The Hilanders’ Garner came up with an RBI-single in the game and Smith picked up two RBIs with bases-loaded walks.

Burns had only one other hit in the game, a double by Swindlehurst, but benefitted from a total of 14 walks issued by the Bulldogs.

Ghost Dog picked up the win, giving up three earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks over seven innings.

“We needed this win,”  coach Feist said. “We had lost our last three league games by one run and lost to Madras by three. It was our time to win a close game. Baker is a very good baseball team. They’re tied for first in the Greater Oregon League with La Grande and Ontario. It’s always nice to beat a quality team on the road.”

1  2  3  4  5  6  7   R H E
Bur   4  0  0  1  0  1  0   6  3  2
Bak   1  0  0  0  2  1  2   5  7  2

•••

Burns JV baseball team swept Nyssa 10-0 and 11-6 on Saturday, April 26, to raise their overall record to 6-5.

The Hilanders’ Zach Dobson threw a no-hitter in the first game, and Pat Stampke notched the win in the nightcap.

On Tuesday, April 22, the Burns JV team lost to Baker 9-3.

Burns JV swept Grant Union on Saturday, April 19, 8-1 and 11-8.