Columbia Gorge Baseball - Hitting League Results Week 1

Columbia Gorge Baseball - Hitting League Results Week 1

Columbia Gorge Baseball was successful in their first Hitting League contest.  Emilio, Ben and Jose took three games to none versus their opponents. All three games were very close with a hit or two by the other team likely to have changed the outcome. First game went into extra innings, with it still being tied after two add'l innings. They then went into Super Sudden Death overtime. Emilio was in a hit-off with the other team; he had three straight hits to win the first game. Next game was won by a 3-1 score with the highlight being a 2-run home run by Jose. Final game was 1-0 with Ben driving in the lone run. Close games!! Atmosphere was fun competition with lots of noise and energy from the three games going on at the same time.

Ben at bat.  Opposing team is behind him in the bright green t-shirts.  Format is front soft toss to the batter.  The pitcher sits behind a small protective screen and tosses the pitch to the hitter.  Batter has to hit a line-drive approximately 4 feet high, to the back of the batting cage, to get a single; plexiglass signs are hung on the batting cage netting indicating double, triple and home run.  If the line drive hits the sign, the batter gets the corresponding hit/number of bases.  The batting cage is approximately 30 feet wide and 45-50 feet long. In addition to the hit signs, there are double play and web gem areas designated as outs.  There are three batting cages with games going on at the same time so there is lots of noise, excitement and energy during the games.

Emilio in the foreground with another game going on in the background. There were 3 games going on at the same time. Lots of energy, noise and fun. The Hitting League is the largest one in Oregon this fall/winter - 32 teams in the 13 and under age group; 20 teams in the 14 and over age group.  Hitting League is run by Northwest Diamond Sports in Wilsonville, OR. The NWDS staff doing the front toss were a huge part of making it fun for the players.

Celebrating after a hard fought win!!

The players have an approximate 90 minute drive each way to attend the Hitting League; they want to continue to work on their baseball skills through the offseason to be ready for Spring Training.  During the week, they practice at the Hood River Valley High School hitting cage.