CFV Riverdogs shut out Mariners

The Clark Fork Valley Riverdogs had their first shutout of their two-year existence in a 12-0 victory against the Mission Valley Mariners at Amundson Sports Complex at Plains Sunday.

It was also a first for Riverdog Trenis McDonald to pitch a shutout in his two years with the team. In facing 21 batters, he had six strike outs, chalking up 43 strikes out of 60 pitches. The 17-year-old McDonald walked only one batter, hit one, allowed only five hits in the game, and caught a pop fly to end the game.

"Trenis pitched fantastic today," said Jon Zigler, the team's head coach for the second year. "He was in complete command today. I was very happy with our starting pitching all weekend," added Zigler, who's been a youth baseball coach for 12 years, from T-ball to Legion. 

Garth Parker was the starter pitcher in the first game. Parker bats right handed, but pitches left, the only left-handed pitcher for the Riverdogs. He struck out seven batters and walked only one and hurled 46 strikes of his 70 pitches. 

"It's almost a side arm throw. He throws it like a whip. When he releases it, they don't see it until it's too late," said Zigler of Parker's pitching. Pitcher Eli Ratliff finished Saturday's first game and struck out four batters. But Zigler added that much credit for the wins goes to his catchers. He said all of his players can pitch and they have a variety of pitches. The pitches of Orion "Bean" Plakke and Kody Carter have been clocked at 83 mph, said Zigler. "The biggest strengths of our team would be our catching tandem of Bean Plakke and Jack Taylor," the coach said.

The Legion team, sponsored by American Legion Post 129 in Paradise, had their first season last year and didn't have a win until a mid season home game against Libby. It had been more than 20 years since Sanders County had a Legion team. Plains resident Sam Carter, a Riverdog assistant coach, had been a Legion player when he was a teen. Superior resident Shawn Plakke is also a Riverdog assistant coach for the second year. Their sons, Kody and Orion, are Riverdogs, as is Nate Zigler, Jon's son. 

The Riverdogs have a dozens players this year, including five from Thompson Falls, three from Plains, two from Hot Springs, one from St. Regis and one from Superior. This is the final season for eight Riverdogs, who will be beyond the age limit for Legion level play next season. Nate Zigler is the "old man" of the team, turning 19 at the end of May. Bryson McCormick is the youngest, having just turned 15.

The team is climbing the victory ladder much faster this year. The season began April 10 and they already have four wins and only two losses. The Riverdogs will play 54 games this year, including 11 home games and 15 doubleheaders, which go only seven innings. Single games are nine innings. They played at home only one day last season. The Riverdogs split their first two home games on Saturday against the Missoula Impact, winning the first game 6-3, but losing the second 15-10. The Plains team had been in the lead through the fourth inning of the second game, when Missoula started scoring. "We just fell apart," said Zigler. In Saturday's first game, both of Ratliff's hits resulted in RBI's. Zigler and Plakke each had an RBI. In game two, Plakke and Jack Taylor each had two RBI's; Ratliff had one. 

Saturday's games began with a VFW color guar presentation and the throwing out of the first ball by Plains resident Randy Garrison, the voice of the Plains High School Trotters and Horsemen, as well as the Riverdogs. "He's done so much for the community and so much for this facility that the team decided he should be honored," said Zigler. Garrison was one of the inaugural board members of the Wildhorse Sports Association, the nonprofit organization responsible for creating the Amundson Sports Complex. 

Sunday's games were certainly an upset for the Mariners, which had been undefeated with three victories before facing the Riverdogs. Zigler gave much credit to his pitchers, but also noted that the wins couldn't have been done without the excellent defense behind the mound and with his catchers, which he believes are the best in the western district. 

Mission Valley struck first in game one, getting a run in the top of the first inning, but in the bottom of the first, Parker hammered out a two-run home run over the left field fence to give the Riverdogs a 2-1 lead. They scored two more to give them a 4-1 lead and by the bottom of the fifth it was 9-1. The Riverdogs scored again in the sixth and then with the bases loaded, McCormick bunted to send in Parker for an 11-1 final. Jack Taylor and Parker finished with two RBIs. Alessi Rolando, Ratliff and McCormick each had an RBI. Ratliff scored three times with two hits. Parker scored twice and Fisher scored once with one hit.

Game two began with McDonald holding them scoreless in the first. With the bases loaded in the bottom of the first, a wild pitch resulted in two Riverdogs crossing the plate. They had a dozen runs by the top of the fourth, partially the result of walks and batters hit. Mission Valley struck eight batters in the two Sunday games. The Riverdogs hit only one. In the top of the fifth, it looked as though the Mariners were on the comeback road by loading the bases with no outs. However, the Riverdogs made a double play and ended the game with McDonald's catch in foul territory. 

Fisher collected four RBIs in game two, followed by Plakke with three, and Zigler, Taylor and Jody Page with one apiece. All nine players had hits. Coach Zigler said the players were very selective in their swings, which he said paid off. "They were focused and really played well in all facets of the game," said Zigler, who's in the final season of coaching Legion ball. The coach said the players didn't falter at all on Sunday, crediting much of their success to their speed. "We have seven players that have above average speed on the base paths and that allows us to manufacture runs and get guys into scoring position," he said. He said there is still room for improvement. He wants them to get even better and move through the season and "gel as a unit."

"This is a super confident bunch of players. They believe they can win every time they step on the field. This is a special group of young men," he said. 

The Riverdogs' next game is scheduled for April 30 against the Bitterroot Red Sox at Hamilton for a doubleheader. They will participate in the Libby Wood Bat Tournament at Libby May 6-8.  Its next home game is a single game on May 13 against the Libby Loggers. They face the Bitterroot Red Sox at Plains for a doubleheader on June 12.