MOSES LAKE — Columbia Basin River Dogs pinch hitter Brett Gray has never had a more important at bat in his life than he had Monday night against the Middle Atlantic Regional Champions from Long Island, N.Y.

With two outs in the top of the seventh inning of a 5-5 contest, Columbia Basin head coach Randy Boruff turned to his reserve infielder from Ephrata.

Gray hadn’t seen any action at the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series before Boruff sent him to the plate with two on and two out in the top of the seventh.

“I looked over into the dugout and at the last second I told Gray to get in there,” Boruff said of his decision. “He has been kind of an unsung hero for us.”

Gray worked the count full against the Long Island Bombers before roping a double into the gap to score left fielder and relief pitcher Marc Garza from third and second baseman Eric Tinnell from second to give the River Dogs a 7-5 lead.

“I was just thinking gap, gap, gap,” Gray said when he felt the ball make contact with his bat. “I was just hoping Eric (Tinnell) would score from second.” 

Long Island tried to battle back in the bottom of the seventh against Columbia Basin closer Brock Lybbert, but the Moses Lake graduate slammed the door on the Bombers and the hosting River Dogs improved to 3-0 at the Babe Ruth World Series.

Following his team’s victory over Long Island, Boruff said he was proud of the way his team performed.

“Tonight was one of my prouder moments,” he said. “We had the lead, they came back and we won it.”

Not only did Gray’s pinch-hit double with two outs in the top of the seventh ultimately lift the River Dogs past Long Island, Columbia Basin became the first three-win team heading into the final day of pool play.

With a perfect 3-0 record heading into tonight’s pool play finale against fellow unbeaten and Pacific Southwest Regional Champion San Gabriel Valley, Calif., the River Dogs have clinched a trip to the single-elimination tournament following pool play.

The River Dogs are at least guaranteed a trip to the quarterfinals of the Babe Ruth World Series on Thursday.

Following Monday night’s rally to stay perfect, Boruff said his team is coming together at the time it matters most.

“We have been playing on the road all summer and this team really has character,” he said. “We have been starting to gel and come together at the right time. We have clinched a trip to the single-elimination bracket.”

Columbia Basin got off to a fast start at the 2009 Babe Ruth World Series when starting pitcher Arturo Reyes, of Warden, got the start for the River Dogs against Southeast Regional Champion Baxter, Tenn.

Reyes had a strong performance for the River Dogs, lifting tournament host Columbia Basin to an 8-4 win on his way to the complete game.

Columbia Basin starting pitcher Drew Martin picked up in the second game where Reyes left off in the first.

Martin was beyond dominant in the River Dogs’ 2-0 victory in game two of the world series. Martin threw 124 pitches on his way to striking out 12 batters and recording the two-hit shutout.

While Martin kept Minnetonka, Minn., off of the scoreboard in game two, left fielder Marc Garza got the River Dogs onto it.

With the game tied 0-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Garza connected on a two-strike fastball with one out to give the River Dogs a 1-0 lead. Martin would add to the lead three batters later with a sacrifice fly.

Martin controlled the tempo of Sunday night’s game with Minnetonka from the beginning as two runs proved to be enough for the Columbia Basin River Dogs as they entered Monday night’s game with Long Island undefeated, setting the table for Gray’s double to keep Columbia Basin unbeaten.

The River Dogs wrap up their 2009 Babe Ruth World Series pool schedule tonight against the Pacific Southwest Champions. Boruff and the River Dogs will turn to starting pitcher Blaine Myers, of Moses Lake, and Boruff is confident in the way his team has been playing.

“I really like our chances against San Gabriel Valley,” he said.

Should the River Dogs knock off San Gabriel Valley tonight, Columbia Basin will clinch the American Division’s top seed exiting pool play. With the American Division’s top seed, the River Dogs would bypass the quarterfinals and have a direct path to the semifinals of the Babe Ruth World Series.

Teams advancing to Friday’s semifinal contests automatically clinch at least a share of third place with an opportunity to play Saturday afternoon for the Babe Ruth World Series championship.