Portland, Or.  04/12/2009 – The Portland River Hawks

The Portland River Hawks held their first and second practice games of the year on April 5th and 11th. We had cloudy day with the temperature in the mid 50's, a far cry from last weekends sun and 70+ degrees. In our first game we had 12 players start.  Having only 4 returning players form the 2008 team the River Hawks got off to a good start.  PJ Hisers 2 run shot into the trees in deep left field in the second inning tied the score. The Indians keep up the scoring and by the 6th inning had a 8-4 lead. The game ended 10-6.  Not a bad showing for the River Hawks fist practice game with only part of the team.

Portland River Hawks wood bat team in their second practice game shows what's in store for other local baseball teams.  With a steady stream of hits, good pitching by John Young, and defense the River Hawks keep the game close at 3-2 until the 5th inning when the Indians (using metal bats) scored 4 runs on 4 hits and a walk going ahead 7-3. The 7th inning the Hawks started with John Young getting to second on a dropped third strike, a single by Mike Navarro made the score 7-4.  Gary Coates having taken over pitching in the 4th inning closed the door in the bottom of the 7th by not allowing any runs.  Starting 8th, a walk to Mike Pohlod and a towering shot to deep center by Mike Wood brought the River Hawks back and only down by one.  PJ Hiser up again after a run scoring triple to right in the 4th looked at a first pitch strike, then as the next pitch was braking down and away he hit it over the trees in right. We all watched as it hit a passing car...luckily no one was hurt and no damage was reported. Game tied 7-7.  The bottom of the 8th and with no pitchers left the River Hawks called on John Yett to pitch in his first game in 15 years.  John answered the call facing only 4 batters and the game was over ending in a 7-7 tie with no time left.  Great Portland baseball is back and the River Hawks are working hard at getting their game ready for the start of the season in the Northwest Independent Baseball League on May 16th.