Baseball looks to end season on positive note

The past week was bittersweet for the Saints baseball team: Mt. Hood (17-23, 14-14 South Region) played admirably in all four games, but a close loss to Southwesterm Oregon Community College (SWOCC) spoiled the Saints’ chances of NWAACC playoff qualification.

On Sunday, Mt. Hood split a double-header against SWOCC. Game One was frustrating for the Saints, who saw a late lead slip away in extra innings – and with it, their postseason hopes.

SWOCC took the game, 5-4. In the loss, Mt. Hood sophomore John Welborn contributed two hits and two RBIs in four at-bats.

“We had a chance to win the game in the ninth and the tenth innings. To just get a base hit, and we didn’t come up with one,” said Saints head coach Bryan Donohue. “It was a really frustrating loss because we had three-run lead late in the game, and we had opportunities to add on additional runs.”

The Saints shook off the blow, shutting out SWOCC, 3-0, in Game Two behind the arm of sophomore pitcher Zane Bambusch.

Mt. Hood found a spark on the offensive, end from freshman Tommy Lane, who had two hits, including a home run, and three RBIs in three at-bats.

On Monday, the Saints came back strong in a double-header against Clackamas Community College. Mt. Hood took care of business, winning both games.

In Game One, the Saints won in dominating fashion, 11-1. Mt. Hood piled on runs late, scoring nine total runs in the fifth and sixth innings. Freshman Louis Wolf had a strong offensive performance with three hits in four at-bats. Sophomore third basemen Logan Grindy added three RBIs.

Game Two mirrored the first, as the Saints cruised to a 10-1 victory over Clackamas. The Saints played near-perfect baseball, committing zero errors and racking up 12 hits. Wolf contributed three hits and three RBIs in four at-bats, while Lane batted in four RBIs and with two hits in three at-bats.

Donohue was happy about Monday’s sweep.

“Best day we’ve had this season. A lot of it had to do with just executing things offensively and doing some things defensively. Everything that we have worked on showed up,” he said. “It was a good day for our freshmen to be a part of. Just to see what we can do.

“We didn’t play out of our minds yesterday, we just played well.”

Today, Mt. Hood looks to finish the year strong in a double-header at home against Chemeketa Community College (20-21 overall, 12-16 South Region).

The games will be held at Oslund Field at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Donohue said he hopes the Saints will finish off league play with a winning division record.