UMATILLA — Umatilla scored seven runs in the third inning en route to an Eastern Oregon League victory over Riverside on Tuesday, May 20, for its first winning season since 2008.
“It was a good win,” Umatilla coach Tracy Robertson said. “It was a good way to end the season. Linkin (Zamudio) hit a couple of doubles and Carter (Griggs) pitched lights out again like he usually does.”
The Vikings (12-9 overall, 5-7 EOL) opened the game with three runs in the first inning. The first run came off a bases-loaded walk, and Zamudio drove in two with a double to left field.
After a scoreless second, the Vikings went back to work in the third, scoring seven runs.
Zamudio had an RBI double, and with two outs, RJ Estrada hit a two- run single and David Garcia belted a three-run triple to left field for a 10-0 lead.
“Usually, we like to mess around and win it in the end,” Robertson said. “Today, they wanted it. David had that bases-loaded triple. He came through in the clutch.”
Riverside (6-17, 2-10) scored its lone run in the top of the fourth as Colby Crowell scored on a groundout by Roman Joines.
Umatilla added one more run in the bottom of the inning to help invoke the mercy rule in the fifth.
Griggs through 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out five.
Being that it was Senior Day, Robertson let Estrada and Davis Raymond each pitch one out to end the game.
Raymond struck out Cougar Philippi, while Estrada got Crowell to ground out.
Zamudio went 3-for-3 with three RBI, while Garcia was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and Estrada was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
For the Pirates, Cooper Cemore, Philippi and Crowell all had one hit.
Photos by Kathy Aney
Umatilla's R.J. Estrada (3) slides into home plate as Cougar Philippi, of Riverside, attempts to tag, on May 20, 2025, in Umatilla. Estrada was ruled safe.
Umatilla's Xzavier Rodriguez (7) leads off second while playing Riverside, on May 20, 2025, in Umatilla.