Tripping up North

Story by: Tim Lane

Date Published to Web: 6/27/2007
GLADSTONE — Something was just a little off in Molalla’s Friday game against Gladstone. In the 12-2 loss, the 6-2 Indians loaded up the bases twice and failed to convert anything onto the scoreboard.

“The kids all came out a little bit flat,” Molalla baseball coach Rick Dishner said. “Nobody really came with their ‘A’ game, and I don’t know why. I don’t think that anyone knew why, we couldn’t figure it out.
Molalla gave up six runs in the second inning alone and committed seven errors on the afternoon, something that is decidedly unlike the Indians.

“We are usually a good defensive club,” Dishner said. “That is really unlike us. We haven’t had that many errors all season long. We just misplayed a couple balls.”
Molalla faced a pitcher that had given them fits during the high school season.
“They had a pretty good lefty on the mound,” Dishner said. “He did a nice job.”
Riley Falk pitched the first five innings of the game while Alex Cain went to the mound for the final two.

“Neither of the pitchers threw particularly bad,” Dishner said. “We did have a tough time of getting anything going, and Riley had a tough time with some of his mechanics.”

Falk was getting ahead of himself in his pitching motion which left his pitches very high in the strike zone.

“He left a lot of balls from belt to belly-button high,” Dishner said. “And that is a sweet spot, no matter who you are.”

Gladstone is a team that finished last season on top of the Capital Conference.

The loss was only the second in the Indians’ summer season; the other loss was against Lakeridge in the first game back from high school ball.

“We are feeling pretty good about our record,” Dishner said. “I mean, these are competitive teams.”

The win put Molalla at 4-1 on the week as they swept both Lake Oswego and Canby double-headers on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively.

“We are doing pretty well for summer-league,” Dishner said. “Sometimes I am not completely sure about who I am going to have to play because kids have other things going on, but that is just summer.”

The Indians played LaSalle on Monday and North Marion on Tuesday but results were not available at press time. From Friday through Sunday Molalla will play in the Philomath tournament.