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AMERICAN LEGION Hutchinson hurls Mustangs to victory Phoenix standout fans eight in complete-game effort Comment By David Watson Wyoming Tribune Eagle MailTribune.com By David Watson Wyoming Tribune Eagle Posted Aug. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM By David Watson Wyoming Tribune Eagle Posted Aug. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM --> MEDFORD 8, GILLETTE 3 RECAP: Austin Zavala’s two-run triple sparks an early Medford surge and Aaron Hutchinson allows two earned runs in the championship bracket victory ... » Read more X MEDFORD 8, GILLETTE 3 RECAP: Austin Zavala’s two-run triple sparks an early Medford surge and Aaron Hutchinson allows two earned runs in the championship bracket victory at the regional tournament. UP NEXT: Today, 6:30 PDT, Medford vs. Cheyenne (Wyo.) Post 6. ONLINE: http://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/Kfbcspts » Social News CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The veteran maturity of the Medford Mustangs was on full display, especially on the pitcher’s mound. The two-time defending AAA state champions from Oregon got a much needed complete-game effort from Aaron Hutchinson in an 8-3 win against the Gillette Roughriders Thursday at the American Legion Northwest Regional at Powers Field. “We had to burn up our top two pitchers in the first game (Wednesday), but we have four really good starters,” Medford coach Nate Mayben said. “(Hutchinson) did a great job of getting strikes throwing on both sides of the plate and kept (Gillette) off balance. To get a complete game was huge for us.” Medford (40-12) will now face the host team, Cheyenne Post 6, at 6:30 p.m. PDT today in the winner’s bracket. Cheyenne routed Kennewick, Wash., 23-5 late Thursday night. Gillette (61-22), the Wyoming state runner-up, will play Boise, Idaho, at 11:30 a.m. PDT today in an elimination game. Hutchinson gave up just three runs (two earned), nine hits and two walks with a season-high eight strikeouts scattered throughout. Said Hutchinson, “I was living low and getting groundballs for my defense or went to my off-speed stuff when I was up 0-2 or 1-2 to get them to chase.” The Roughriders’ best inning against Hutchinson and his support crew was in the top of the second with two runs on three hits to tie the game at 2-2. Left fielder Andrew Molder led off with a single, third baseman Kyler Stark followed with an RBI double to left-center and right fielder Josh Hughes recorded an RBI single. But Gillette was held scoreless until plating a run in the ninth inning. It also left nine runners (six in scoring position) on base. “I thought we were right with (Medford) swinging the bat,” Gillette coach Nate Perleberg said. "We had guys on base in almost every inning. “We really killed ourselves defensively — not rotating on a bunt and a couple double play balls we don’t turn. We didn’t make the plays we normally make and good teams will take advantage of that.” The Mustangs’ 12 total hits were early and often, starting in the bottom of the first inning with singles from right fielder Jared Evans and center fielder Micah Brown. Catcher Austin Zavala took advantage of the jet stream to knock them both in with a high triple to right-center. “I was just thinking to drive the ball because we don’t have wind like this in Medford,” Zavala said. “We were all talking before the game to hit the ball in the air and let it carry.” After taking a 4-2 lead, Medford blew the game open with four more runs in the fifth on five hits. A key play was when second baseman Tate Cowden laid down a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, but was safe and advanced to third on an errant throw and two runs scored. “I saw it was overthrown heading down the line,” Cowden said. “I just busted my horse to third base and we got two runs out of it. It all happened by executing the sacrifice bunt.” That inning chased Gillette starter and Wyoming pitcher of the year, Cody Eaton, from the mound after 3⅔ innings. Eaton took the loss with eight hits, eight runs (four earned) with three walks. Hunter Sylte entered the game in relief for 4⅓ innings. He held the Mustangs in check with no runs, four hits, a walk and a strikeout. “(Sylte) put up the zeroes we needed to try to get back into the game and give our offense a chance,” Perleberg said. “He came in and competed. But we hit a lot of balls right at (Medford)." Especially stingy with his glove and arm was Medford third baseman Colton Westfall, who recorded six outs, mostly robbing Gillette hitters of extra-base hits down the line. “I always have my best confidence in (Westfall) to make those plays and he has a great arm,” Hutchinson said. “That is why I pitch low to get the ball pulled to him.” Eric Carlson was 3-for-5 with two RBIs to pace the Mustangs, while Brown finished 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, Zavala was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Cole Carder 2-for-4 with one run. Gillette;020;000;001;—;3;9;2 Medford;202;400;00x;—;8;12;2 Eaton, Sylte (4) and Hladky; Hutchinson and Zavala. W — Hutchinson (8-0). L — Eaton. 2B — G: Stark. 3B — M: Zavala. By David Watson Wyoming Tribune Eagle MailTribune.com By David Watson Wyoming Tribune Eagle Posted Aug. 7, 2015 at 2:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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