BELLEVUE, Wash. — The River Dogs finished their final tune up before the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series over the weekend with an impressive championship performance at the Toyota Bash tournament in Bellevue, Wash.

The River Dogs finished the tournament with a 6-1 record — the only hiccup coming in a 13-2 loss to North Corner Tribe in the round robin portion of the tournament.

Columbia Basin knocked off the Mudville Nine 2-0 in the finals to bring the championship title home to the Columbia Basin. Othello’s Marc Garza went the distance for the River Dogs in the championship and head coach Randy Boruff was encouraged with his team’s performance at the Toyota Bash tournament.

“We won (the tournament),” he said. “We got great pitching. It was really good for us as we get ready to go to the world series.”

The River Dogs got off to a fast start with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle Bombers in their tournament opener.

Columbia Basin starting pitcher Arturo Reyes, Warden, recorded nine strike outs as he no-hit the Bombers and the River Dogs improved to 1-0.

Tyson Hubbard, Ephrata, went 2-for-3 and Dylan Signorelli, Moses Lake, went 1-for-3 to help power the River Dogs. Hubbard and Signorelli were responsible for Columbia Basin’s two runs in the contest.

The River Dogs picked up in the second game right where they left off in the first game when Stockton Taylor, Brewster, Wash., threw six innings of no-hit baseball to start game two against the Wilkinson Baseball Academy.

Taylor gave up just two hits in the game and Boruff said his young pitchers were impressive.

“(Wilkinson) didn’t get their first hit until the sixth inning,” he said. “Our two young guys didn’t give up a hit for the first 12 innings.”

Although the River Dogs started the tournament 2-0, they stumbled in their third contest against North Corner Tribe.

Columbia Basin trailed for the majority of their contest with North Corner Tribe, trailing 5-2 heading into the sixth inning. North Corner Tribe peppered the River Dogs in the sixth, scoring eight runs to break open the contest, dropping Columbia Basin to 2-1 in tournament play, Boruff said.

“We had a bunch of errors in the game and we did not play well,” he said.

The River Dogs rebounded from their loss in game three when Signorelli and Garza pushed Columbia Basin past the Seattle Braves 7-3. Signorelli was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run and Garza went 2-for-4 and the River Dogs qualified for the trophy round of the tournament.

In the quarterfinals of the Toyota Bash Tournament, the River Dogs held on to win a nine-inning marathon against the Vancouver Coyotes 5-4 to advance to the semifinals.

With the scored tied 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Derrick Webb, Ephrata, drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly and the River Dogs advanced to the semifinals.

Columbia Basin continued to maintain their momentum in the semifinals of the tournament as starting pitcher Tyler Lesko, Moses Lake, gave up just three hits to the Eastside Baseball Club and the River Dogs advanced to the championship with a 1-0 victory.

The River Dogs moved on when Garza doubled to lead off the bottom of the sixth and scored on an RBI single from Taylor for a 1-0 lead. Lesko continued to dominate the Eastside Baseball Club, striking out eight in the process, and the River Dogs moved into the finals.

After his team claimed the tournament title, Boruff said his team is playing fundamental baseball heading into the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series this beginning Saturday at Larson Playfield.

“We just had tremendous pitching and we got some good defense,” he said. “It really something we needed going into the world series.”

The River Dogs will open the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series tournament Saturday at 8 p.m. against the Southeast Regional Champion from Baxter, Tenn.

Moses Lake native, former River Dog and 1998 World Series Champion B.J. Garbe will throw out the first pitch prior to the contest.