BULLDOG ATHLETIC CLUB

Just four days after winning the championship game at the state tournament, the Bulldogs arrived in Ephrata, Washington to play the opening game of the Senior Babe Ruth NW Regional Championship Tournament.  Bulldog Manager Nevin Garthwaite looks at the short turn around it in a positive light.  "Some of the teams had to drive for 12 hours to get here.  With the exception of the host team, we are the closest."

The Bulldogs batted in the top of the first and left two on with no score.  After retiring the first two Crater Lake hitters, starting pitcher Jordon Beers gave up a solo Home Run to Crater Lake.

That would be the last run for Crater Lake on the day.  In the top of the 2nd inning the Bulldogs got their offense going scoring seven runs on four hits and a walk.  The first hit of the inning belonged to Bryant Van Engelenburg who tied the game 1 -1 with a solo homer to left field.  With Toal and Meisenheimer on base, McConnaughey drove the ball to the wall for a double, giving the Bulldogs the lead. 

In the third inning, with two out, Ricker and Hiles hit back to back singles and scored on an Andy Racus 3 run homer to put the game out of reach.

Kevin Toal was a perfect 4 - 4 on the day with 4 singles, 2 runs scored and an RBI.  Van Englenburg was 3 - 4 with a homer and 4 RBI.  McConnaughey was 2 - 4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI.

The Bulldog pitchers combined for a 1 hit shut out as Beers struck out 5 in 2 innings, Van Engelenburg struck out 2, and Ricker, who closed the game, struck out 1.

One thing that was not noticed by many Bulldog fans was that as short stop Kevin Ricker took the mound in the last inning, Pat Meisenheimer moved to short stop.  With the move, Meisenheimer has played every position on the field this season.  Primarily a pitcher, first baseman and catcher, Meisenheimer played in the outfield a lot for the Bulldogs and filled in at second and third when other players were injured.  He will be back behind the plate Friday at noon when the Bulldogs face the Federal Way Buzz in the second game of the round robin portion of the tournament.