Oregon was on the brink of elimination against league rival Western Washington during the regional tournament last weekend. But the Ducks scored 14 runs in the final game to ensure a spot in the National Club Baseball Association World Series for the third consecutive year.
After defeating Montana State 14-4 in its opening game Friday morning at Sheldon High, Oregon played three games against
Western Washington in the double-elimination tournament.
Tension ran high during all three games, as coach Bradley Ficek expected.
“I don’t know if there’s words that describe it,” Ficek said.
“Intensity doesn’t do it any justice.”
Sunday’s two games were marred by ejections, including three Vikings’ players.
In the first game Sunday, Oregon second baseman Marcus Denney stood in the batter’s box as the Viking catcher attempted to throw to third base.
“I stood my ground and he kept pushing me out of the way,”
Denney said. “He got pissed about it and got in my face. I just stood there and got back in his face and the umpire didn’t want anything bad to happen so he ejected us both.”
Both Denney and Viking catcher Patrick Gilbert were forced to sit out of the second game Sunday as well.
The other two ejections occurred when Western leadoff hitter Matt Rhode argued balls and strikes with the umpire. The umpire issued a warning to Rhode as he entered the dugout and ejected him when Rhode apparently continued to argue the call. Western player Andrew Irvine was ejected in later innings for arguing balls and strikes when Oregon was batting. After he was ejected, Irvine followed the umpire around home plate, blasting him with obscenities.
“There’s so much emotion,” Ficek said. “The players on both sides want it so much more than the umpires can even fathom. Once it gets out of control, it’s hard to get it back in to control.”
On Saturday night, Peter Phillips started the first game against Western pitching a complete seven-inning game allowing four runs – two earned – and six hits while striking out eight.
Phillips, who played collegiate baseball at Pepperdine University, said that the pressure to perform well against Western was comparable to his experience as a D-I player.
“It was all adrenaline,” Phillips said. “That was the biggest game of the year. I was pumped.”
All-American third baseman Travis Chock showcased his versatility by going 2 for 4 with an RBI, making six assists at third base and stealing home in the second inning.
Chock claimed that stealing home was comparable to earlier in the season when center fielder Jordan Denney did it. The catcher was slow in getting the ball back to the pitcher and once he released the ball, Chock took off. After scoring Chock threw down his helmet in celebration, saying it was the most excitement he has felt all season.
“It was either we win or we go home,” Chock said. “And I didn’t feel like going home today.”
Oregon won by a final score of 6-4, putting the team in position to play the winner of a loser’s bracket game between Western and Weber State.
Western beat Weber State 17-12 and needed to beat Oregon twice to ensure a World Series berth.
The Ducks started off Sunday’s game with a bang as right fielder Matt Oss hit a three-run home run in the first inning to give Oregon a 3-1 lead. But those ended up being the only runs the Ducks scored as they lost 5-3.
Starting pitcher Bryan Hansen gave up all five runs in the loss, but he made up for it by batting 4 for 5 with a home run, triple and six RBIs in the final game. “After that pitching, I’m glad I got those hits,” Hansen said.
Hansen, who was a double short of the cycle, had the opportunity to run for a double when he hit a line drive down the left field line. He chose to play it safe and stick to first after driving in his sixth run of the game.
“I should have legged that second single out,” Hansen said. “I didn’t know I was short of it. Ah man, I should have went.”
Hansen was the offensive force, driving in nearly half the runs in the decisive game as Oregon won 14-7.
The Vikings, playing their third game of the day Sunday, were obviously worn down as their pitching looked increasingly tired, according to first base coach Shawn Garrett.
“Depth was everything,” Garrett said. “It’s impossible to play three games and win all three in one day. Who else can do that? I don’t think we could’ve.”
The World Series will take place May 24-30 in Niles, Ohio. Oregon will be one of eight teams in the tournament. Last year the Ducks went 1-2 in the tournament, losing to defending champion Colorado State.
Ficek believes the team is capable of advancing further this year because of its pitching compared to last year.
“Our pitching staff is deeper as far as starters and bullpen is concerned,” Ficek said. “But with teams that are in (the World Series), we have the deepest staff by far.”