Softball

In the second game of the weekend pitting conference rivals for the state title, after the Willamina Valley Catholic showdown, the second ranked Roseburg Indians (24-4), champions of the Southwest Conference, face the fifth ranked Grants Pass Lady Cavers (26-4), the SWC runnerups.

Roseburg administered three of the four losses Grants Pass experienced, 2-0 in Grants Pass in 10 innings, and then 2-1 twice in a doubleheader in Roseburg, the first of which was another 10 inning game. Grants Pass’ only other loss was to McMinnvile. Those 6 runs Roseburg got against the Lady Cavers amount to almost a third the 19 total allowed by Grants Pass. That’s the lowest total runs allowed by any softball or baseball team in the state this season. And that’s against the #2 Strength of Schedule in 6A.

Whose’ played the #1 toughest schedule? Roseburg! It might be wise to check game tape of that McMinnville team, because they also have two of the wins over the Indians, who also lost in March to Putnam and Forest Grove. But since March 25, the Indians, who have the second lowest runs allowed, also less than one per game, have only allowed more than a single run in a game twice. First team to score may win; if either scores twice, the odds are very good they will have claimed the championship in the process.

(Updated with photos.)

Comets and Crimson Tide Meet in Rematch

The fifth ranked Crater Comets (20-8), second seed from the Southern Sky Conference, again face the top ranked Glencoe Crimson Tide (25-5), champions of the Northwest Oregon League, for the 5A state title, in the weekend’s second rematch of a championship game from last year. The Comets won the 2007 title by a score of 7-5.

The Comets’ drive to defend their title has seen Crater face the second toughest Strength of Schedule in 5A, behind only Southern Sky rival Ashland, who took 3 of 4 meetings with the Comets. Crater has already conquered one ranked NW Oregon team in the playoffs, with a 5-1 win over Hillsboro. In reaching the title game, the Comets have defeated three ranked opponents.

All but one of the Glencoe losses were to 6A teams, who have 14 shutouts on the season, and seven more games where they only allowed one run. The Tide has only allowed on run in their three post season games. The one loss to 5A NW Oregon rival Century, was well avenged, as, after taking the next two meetings between the Hillsboro area schools, the Tide rolled to a 1-0 win over Century in the semifinals to reach Corvallis.

(Updated with photos.)

Hornets Hope to Buzz Top Ranked Spartans

The seventh ranked Henley Hornets (21-6), champions of the Skyline Conference, face the top ranked Marist Spartans (28-1) for the 4A title.

The Hornets have won 14 straight, but were the last team to get a ticket to Corvallis when they had to wait until Wednesday, and travel to Medford, to whip last year’s runner up Scappoose 12-2. It was only the second time in that 14 game streak the Hornets allowed more than 1 run. Eight of Henley’s 9 shutouts came in that streak. Meanwhile, Henley has scored double digit runs in 8 of their last 16 games.

The Hornets will need all that offense and defense against the Spartans. Marist has won 23 straight, since a 5–1 loss March 25^th. to the Shawdow Ridge, Nevada Mustangs. The Spartans have the top run defense in 4A, allowing only 34 runs all season, and have posted 10 shutouts and 3 one run games in their last 14 outings. Marist has mustered 18 shutouts this season. At the same time, the Spartans field the top 4A offense, second only to 2A1A Champion Union in all classes in runs scored, and are 6 runs shy of averaging 10 runs per game.

Both teams have won on run playoff games, as well as posting multiple large margin wins.

(Updated with photos.)

West Valley Rivals Meet in Rematch of Last Year’s Title Game; Valley Wins Again!

The Willamina Bulldogs (23-5), twice the West Valley runnerup to the Valley Catholic Valiants (25-3), look to not also be twice runnerup in the state, and avenge a 6-0 loss in last year’s title game.

The Valiants have won two in a row, and four of the last five meetings with the Bulldogs, since a 2-1 Willamina win in last season’s first meeting. However, many of the game were in doubt to the last pitch, as the other game scores were 1-0 VC, 1-0 VC in 9 innings, 3-2 Willamina in 11 innings, until Valley claimed this year’s West Valley top spot with a 12-4 win in a tiebreaker.

The game will doubtless be the seventh and last chapter in the high school pitching rivalry between

Valley senior Sami Picken and Willamina sophomore Caralyn Chewning.

Valley Catholic has already rung up 17 shutouts this season, and have allowed the second fewest runs in softball, 22, behind only 6A Grans Pass, who is playing Saturday for the 6A title. Meanwhile Willamina has hung 11 0’s on the final scoreboards, and allowed only 1 run 8 other times. Both teams are in the top 5 in 2A in all 7 of the statistical ratings.

2A1A Championship Goes East

The Nestucca Bobcats (13-11), the District 1 second seed, meet the heavily favored Union Lady Cats (23-1), champions of District 6.

The Bobcats lost their last four games before the state playoffs started, but have rebounded with wins over Wallowa, a District 6 rival of the Lady Cats, Chiloquin, and Glendale. The Bobcats have the challenge of taking on the top run producing diamond team in the state, regardless of class, baseball or softball, as the Lady Cats average 12.375 runs per game.

The Lady Cats, a combination of the 2A Union Bobcats and the 1A Cove Leopards, have only a 1 run 8-7 loss to the Enterprise-Joseph coop in the first game of an April 25 doubleheader to mar an otherwise perfect so far season, conducted except for a quarterfinal trip to Salem Academy entirely on the east side. The Lady Cats have won three playoff games by a combined score of 35-3, and have seven shutouts this season, and six more games where they allowed only one run.

Sixth inning success sends Bulldogs back to Corvallis for rematch with Valley Catholic

Willamina – The Willamina Bulldogs (23-5) survived Dayton’s fast start, and won the pivotal sixth inning, to claim a 3-1 win, and a trip back to Corvallis, for a rematch of last year’s 3A Championship game against West Valley League rival Valley Catholic (25-3), 1-0 winners over the Elgin-Imbler Huskies.

Dayton jumped ahead fast, on two hits in the first inning. Coral Pratt singled to left, and Dani Putnam followed with an RBI double to right field. But the Pirates left Putnam on third, the first of three times over the course of the game, as Caralyn Chewning got away without further damage with back to back strikeouts of Kasey Ringalda and Alina Perez.

Hard Hitting Hornets Headed for Final Four

Aurora – Henley only got four hits on North Marion pitcher Sam Pack, the 208 Capital Conference pitcher of the year, but all were for extra bases, as the Hornets used three consecutive doubles to tie the game in the fourth inning, and a Dakota Doke solo homer in the seventh inning to claim the 2-1 win over the Huskies.

Coupled with a one hitter in the circle by sophomore Autumn Wedan, the Hornets (20-6) were able to buzz off to a semi final showdown with Scappoose (17-8), who defeated Central 6-5.

Six walks in first inning stakes Rams to 2-0 lead

Stayton – Regis advanced to the 3A state playoff quarterfinals on Tuesday with a 3-1 win over the visiting Warrenton Warriors.

Warrenton pitcher Chelsea Neahring allowed Regis only two hits in the game, but issued six of the seven walks she would give up on the day in the first inning. Wrapped around an Alex Minten sacrifice, the Rams were able to build a 2-0 lead. Regis Coach Doug Highberger noted “That was a big first inning for us. To have a good eye at the plate, that’s nice.”

Cougars send 18 batters to the plate in first inning

Turner – Cascade claimed a first round 4A state playoff win Friday with a 21-2 hammering of Sweet Home. The win sends the eighth ranked Cougars (20-8) to Eugene Tuesday, to face the top ranked Marist Spartans (25-1), champions of the SkyEm League.

Sweet Home, who won the season opener 5-2 in six innings over the Cougars, jumped on Cascade’s starter Elayna Van Hess for two runs right away, and left two more runners on.