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Sections Home Page Local News AP News Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Since We Asked Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Readers Choice 2006 Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Our Valley Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend June 26, 2005 Smith’s triple torpedoes Yakima Mustangs beat Beetles behind three-run ninth By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Dustin Smith was kept as a utility player for the Medford Mustangs American Legion baseball team this summer. The Phoenix High product is a dependable infielder who can play second base, third base or shortstop. And if a team needs another arm on the pitching mound, Smith can fill the void there, too. Smith was a spot player at the beginning of the season, but nearly every time Mustangs manager Sandee Kensinger put him in the lineup, he came through not only with his glove but also with his bat. Now that he’s getting a chance to play regularly, the 5-foot-8, 150-pounder is playing up a storm. Smith delivered his biggest hit of the season Saturday, ripping a bases-clearing triple in the top of the ninth inning that snapped a 6-6 tie and fueled Medford to a 9-6 victory over Yakima, Wash., in the Best of the West Wood Bat Challenge at North Medford High. Advertisement "I knew the score was tied and I was just trying to drive the ball to the outfield and at least get a sacrifice fly that would put us ahead," said Smith, a senior-to-be at Phoenix High. "I was looking for a pitch to drive, and he (Yakima relief pitcher Jerry Herrera) gave me one." The well-hit ball landed in deep right field and rolled to the fence, enabling Abe Eubank, Logan Boyd and Ryan Odell to score the go-ahead runs. Eubank and Boyd had gotten aboard on errors to start the inning before Odell faked a sacrifice bunt and belted a single to load the bases. "Dustin’s a confident kid who never hangs his head when things aren’t going right," said Kensinger of Smith. "He popped up twice today but then he smokes that triple to win the game." Smith went 2-for-5 Saturday to maintain his .400 batting average, third-best on the team. He’s getting a chance to play full-time this week because Jared Adamson, Medford’s regular third-baseman, is in Minnesota for a family wedding. Although Smith’s big hit gave the Mustangs a three-run cushion, Yakima refused to go quietly in the bottom of the ninth. Leadoff hitter Richie Allen and Josh Murillo hit one-out singles off Tommy George, who was on in relief for the third straight day and was suffering from a sore pitching elbow. Rather than allow George to face Yakima slugger Casey Day, who had slammed a pair of home runs the previous day against Klamath Falls, Kensinger called on Kyle Williamson, the Mustangs’ regular shortstop who hadn’t been on the pitching mound in almost two months. Williamson walked Day on five pitches but then got Yakima cleanup hitter Michael Stobie to hit into a game-ending double play. "We had a meeting in the infield and coach (Kensinger) said, ‘Who wants the ball?’’’ Williamson said. "I told him I did. I’ve been in pressure situations a bunch of times in different sports. "It’s been a while since I’ve pitched, but I knew I could throw my two-seam fastball for strikes. I was hoping for a ground ball and a double play, and I got it." The Mustangs trailed 5-3 after seven innings, but scored three in the top of the eighth to take a 6-5 lead. Odell had an RBI double, Darren Bruhns laid down a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt that knocked in another run and Dan Chancler hit a sacrifice fly. The Beetles tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Stobie was hit by a pitch and ultimately scored on an error. Boyd and Odell each had three hits to lead Medford’s offense. Medford improved its record to 14-5 with the win, while Yakima dropped to 19-8. In earlier tournament games Saturday, Grants Pass defeated Vancouver, Wash., 5-1 and then lost to Corvallis, 7-2. Medford..............................020 001 033 — 9 15 1 Yakima................................. 001 200 210 — 6 9 4 Rohrbough, George (7), Williamson (9) and Bruhns; Clauson, Herrera (8) and Lybeck. W — George (3-2). 2B — M: Hegdahl, Eubank; Y: Day. 3B — M: Smith. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] . 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