River Dogs to host River Dog Memorial Tournament this weekend
IAN BIVONA | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 4 months AGO
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey. | July 12, 2024 3:20 AM
MOSES LAKE — Local baseball fans can make the trip to Big Bend Community College to watch the River Dog Memorial 19U Tournament this weekend, featuring the AAA 18U Columbia Basin River Dogs and four other teams from across the state and into Canada.
“It’s great being able to stick around a weekend, and it’s nice also to get an opportunity to play at Big Bend,” head coach Quintz Whitaker said. “We don’t often get to do that, so with Johnson-O’Brien (Stadium) being busy this weekend, we wanted to come over and actually get to play out there on the college field. It’s a good experience, and I think they’re pretty excited to get things going.”
Joining the River Dogs will be FGA Plakata from Yakima, Chewelah, Penticton, British Columbia and Pullman.
This will be Columbia Basin’s final tournament of the summer, Whitaker said; the top two teams from the Area 4 Division qualify for the AAA State Tournament held later this month, and the River Dogs missed the cut.
“It’s a fun one, being able to do one here in town and a memorial for the River Dogs and what they’ve been in this community,” Whitaker said. “We want to represent the River Dogs and the brand that they’ve been able to share here in the Basin, and (finish the season) on a positive note.”
Columbia Basin is coming off a 4-1 weekend at the Spokane Wood Bat Classic, finishing in second place of the Mt. Spokane Pod and defeating the CDA Lumbermen 10-3 in their final game of the tournament.
“The guys played well there in Spokane, so looking forward to a chance to jump back out on the field,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker noted that two former Columbia Basin residents — Josh Snider and Pat Doumit — will return to the area for the tournament this weekend. Snider coaches Penticton, while Doumit coaches Pullman.
“Kind of a fun way to bring some local guys who are part of the coaching tree from around here and see the teams that they have,” Whitaker said.
Games begin Friday morning at 9:30 a.m., with the River Dogs playing FGA Plakata. See below for a full schedule of games slated for this weekend at BBCC.
Ian Bivona may be reached at ibivona@columbiabasinherald.com.
Game Schedule
Friday
River Dogs vs FGA Plakata - 9:30 a.m.
Chewelah vs FGA Plakata - 11:45 a.m.
Penticton vs Chewelah - 2 p.m.
Pullman vs Penticton - 4:15 p.m.
Pullman vs River Dogs - 6:30 p.m.
Saturday
Penticton vs River Dogs - 9:30 a.m.
FGA Plakata vs Penticton - 11:45 a.m.
River Dogs vs Chewelah - 2 p.m.
Chewelah vs Pullman - 4:15 p.m.
Pullman vs FGA Plakata - 6:30 p.m.
Sunday
Consolation - No. 4 seed vs No. 5 seed - 9:30 a.m.
Semifinal - No. 2 seed vs No. 3 seed - 11:45 a.m.
Championship - No. 1 seed vs semifinal winner - 2 p.m.
The AAA 18U Columbia Basin River Dogs are coming off a 4-1 weekend at the Spokane Wood Bat Classic.