KEIZER, Ore. -- Here is a glance at the 2009 Northwest League championship series Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (49-27) vs. Tri-City Dust Devils (47-29).
Season series: Volcanoes 7-3 (4-1 in Keizer, 3-2 in Pasco)
NWL championship history: S-K: 7 appearances since 1997, 4 titles (1998, 2001, 2006, 2007); Tri-City: 1 appearance (2007) since 2001.
Key players: Salem-Keizer: RHP Jorge Bucardo (6-3, 2.64 ERA, 64 Ks); 3B Drew Biery (.326 BA, 48 RBI, 43 R); LHP Chris Gloor (7-1, 2.61, 48 Ks); 1B Luke Anders (.284, 41 RBI); CF Evan Crawford (.316, 23 R, 5 SB); 2B Juan Martinez (.285, 37 RBI, 44 R); RHP/CL Jose Casilla (1-1, 1.67, 12 svs); LF Dan Cook (.294, 37 RBI, 39 R).
Tri-City: DH Bo Bowman (.328, 46 RBI, 7 HR, 31 R); CF Tim Wheeler (.256, 35 RBI, 44 R); RF Kent Matthes (.289, 23 2B, 35 RBI, 39 R); RHP/CL Charlie Ruiz (1-0, 1.14 ERA, 17 sv); RHP Dan Perkins (3-2, 2.80 ERA, 55 Ks); 3B Joseph Sanders (.251, 33 RBI, 27 R); 2B Jeremiah Sammy (.316, 20 RBI, 32 R); LF Kevin Clark (.260, 28 RBI, 32 R, 19 SB).
Of note: Dust Devils have won 13 of last 16. Volcanoes have won 8 of last 10. ... Tri-City tops the NWL in ERA (3.43) but ranks seventh in batting average (.256). S-K is tied for second in batting (267) and second in ERA (3.54).
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Dust Devils' offense missing vs. Volcanoes
Dust Devils' offense missing vs. Volcanoes
PASCO -- The Tri-City Dust Devils had an opportunity to give Salem-Keizer some trouble Wednesday night at Gesa Stadium.
Trailing by four entering the ninth inning, the Dust Devils loaded the bases with nobody out against Volcanoes reliever Cody Hall.
But Hall struck out Jayson Langfels and David Hernandez before Phil McCormick came in to induce a game-ending groundout by Brian Humphries to clinch the Volcanoes' 4-0 Northwest League win.
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
On paper, Dust Devils have NWL title wrapped up
PASCO -- If you look at the Northwest League website, you'll see that the Tri-City Dust Devils have vastly superior numbers to the Vancouver Canadians.
The Dust Devils swept the first half and second half East Division titles, and then went on to sweep Boise in the best-of-3 NWL divisional playoffs.
The Canadians didn't win either half in the West and backed into the playoffs after losing five of their last six regular season games.
Tri-Cities' Gagnon too sharp S-K this time
Tri-Cities' Gagnon too sharp S-K this time
PASCO -- The last time Tyler Gagnon faced the Salem-Keizer lineup, things didn't go so well.
The Tri-City Dust Devils' right-hander from Brentwood, Calif., allowed 10 earned runs in a 14-2 road loss on July 10, a defeat he's still trying to put behind him.
But he doesn't want to forget that feeling, either.
Dust Devils head to NWL championship series
Dust Devils head to NWL championship series
PASCO -- The Tri-City Dust Devils have been able to hold champagne celebrations in the clubhouse twice this season.
First, the Dust Devils did it in late July after clinching the first-half title in the Northwest League East Division. They did it again Tuesday after a 9-1 win over Boise to win the NWL Divisional Playoff series at Gesa Stadium.
They're counting on getting good and happy one final time, hopefully to commemorate Tri-City's first Northwest League championship since 1984. The Tri-City Triplets were the last team from Tri-Cities to win the NWL title. The Tri-City Posse, an independent team, won the Western Baseball League championship in 1999.
Dust Devils beat Boise in Game 1 of NWL playoffs
Dust Devils beat Boise in Game 1 of NWL playoffs
BOISE -- The Tri-City Dust Devils have been to the Northwest League playoffs before.
They've even won Game 1 before, both against Salem-Keizer in 2007 and 2009.
But never like this.
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