The Dalles Riverhawks will face off against the Molalla Indians at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday.
On Wednesday, The Dalles didn't have quite enough to beat Estacada and fell 4-3. That's two games in a row now that the Riverhawks have lost by just one run.
Thatcher Dray was cooking despite his team's loss, going 1-for-3 with two runs and one double.
Gladstone typically has all the answers at home, but on Wednesday Molalla proved too difficult a challenge. They had just enough and edged out the Gladiators 4-2.
Kyler Dickerson spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered just two earned runs on five hits and racked up six Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't tossed less than six strikeouts in five consecutive appearances.
At the plate, the team relied heavily on Mason Strohmeyer, who went 2-for-3 with two runs and two doubles. Those two doubles gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Gavin Dunn, who went 2-for-3 with one stolen base, one run, and one RBI.
Molalla is on a roll lately: they've won 11 of their last 13 matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 12-6 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.8 runs on average over those games. As for The Dalles, this is the second loss in a row for them and nudges their season record down to 12-8.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Thursday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. The Dalles has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Molalla struggles in that department as they've been averaging 7.5 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
The Dalles couldn't quite finish off Molalla when the teams last played back in May of 2025 and fell 5-3. Will the Riverhawks have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the action for a full breakdown of the game and more baseball content.
