MHS baseball week

After a 24-7 blowout loss on Wednesday, April 17, the Madras White Buffalos traveled to Prineville Thursday for a rematch with the Crook County Cowboys.

Although Crook County won, Madras head coach Jerry Shaw was pleased with the effort that he saw from his team in the 9-5 loss to the Cowboys.

“After last night, our big focus was coming out with good body language, good energy, and just worry about what we are doing and not worry about everything else,” he said. “They (the Buffs) played a lot better today. They played the full game and I’m just happy that they competed today.”

Crook County broke on top early with a run in the bottom half of the first, but the White Buffalos came back with three runs in the second inning to take the lead.

Crook County starting pitcher Cody Kurtz struggled with control in the second inning, walking Danny Jackson, Pablo Solis and Dasen Rodriguez to load the bases. Then Jared Penaloza singled up the middle scoring a pair of runs. Noah Vibbert and Tyler Clarkson then walked, bringing in another run.

Crook County brought in Zach Allen in relief with the bases still loaded and Nakomis Rivera ripped a hard line drive down the third base line that was snagged by third baseman Tyson Martinez, who stepped on third base for a double play to end the inning.

It was a key play and turning point in the game.

Crook County tied the game with a pair of runs in the third inning, and took the lead with a run in the fourth. However, the White Buffalos continued to battle back, scoring a run in the top of the fifth on a single by Rivera, a balk and a double by Jackson, tying the score.

The Cowboys regained the lead with a run in the bottom half of the inning, but once again Madras battled back, tying the game in the sixth inning on a walk, a single by Vibbert and a ground ball sacrifice from Clarkson. Penaloza then scored on a wild pitch from Allen.

Jackson pitched the entire game for the White Buffalos, and Shaw was pleased with how well he threw, until late in the game.

“They had seen him at least three times, so, he was starting to get fatigued and guys get timed up, but he threw the ball really well today,” he said.

However, Crook County scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning to regain control of the game. That’s the way the game ended when Madras was unable to score in the top half of the seventh. Still, it was far better than the 24-7 loss a day earlier to the Cowboys, and Shaw said that if the White Buffalos continue to compete like they did on Thursday they will give themselves a chance to win some games.

“If we come out with this type of effort and this focus we give ourselves a much better shot,” he said.

Buffs top Molalla

Jared Penaloza threw six innings, got six strikeouts and spread out five hits as Madras beat Molalla at home 7-3 Monday, April 15.

The sophomore also scored two runs for the Buffalos. Reed Simmelink hit a towering shot to center for an RBI double in the second. Tyler Clarkson also doubled and had two RBIs.

The win put the Buffs at 1-3 in Tri-Valley Conference action and avenged a 7-6 loss on the road to Molalla on April 11.

After Penaloza pitched six, Clarkson came in and shut the door in the seventh.

Madras led 2-0 after two and added a run in the third to go up 3-0. Molalla was scoreless until the fifth, when they plated a run. But the Buffalos put the hammer down in the bottom of the fifth, plating three more runs to make it 6-1. The Indians scored single runs in both the sixth and seventh, with the Buffalos tacking on an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

Other Buffs to collect hits were Noah Vibbert and Caleb Shank, both singles.

Both teams were shaky in the field, each committing five errors.

Madras headed into this week’s action 1-5 in Tri-Valley Conference play and 8-8 overall, with four of their six games against the league top two teams, Crook County and The Dalles, behind them. The White Buffalos hosted Estacada, 0-6, 6-10, on Monday at 4:30 p.m., then travel to Estacada for a rematch with the Rangers on Wednesday. The White Buffalos then host Gladstone, 2-4, 6-11, on Friday. Three wins this week could put the Buffs into the thick of the race for the league’s third playoff spot.

Tri-Valley Conference Baseball Standings

April 22

(League record, overall record, OSAA power ranking)

Crook County 6-0, 12-3, 7

The Dalles 6-0, 12-5, 5

Molalla 3-3, 8-7, 20

Gladstone 2-4, 6-11, 18

Madras 1-5, 8-8, 17

Estacada 0-6, 6-10, 25