BASEBALL
Springfield Millers: 0-2, ranked #27 – The Main Event
Leading off: The Millers attempt to get their first win on the board this week as they host the Springfield Tournament Wednesday-Saturday. Springfield has four games in four days, and will need the pitching trio of Dylan Leas, Gabriel Laird, and Noah Roeman to all play well for the Millers to win.
Cottage Grove Lions: 0-3, ranked #31
Leading off: Cottage Grove has a rematch with Scio this week. Last time out the Lions fell 9-5, and should be looking for revenge this time out. Christian Spear led the offense last time with 2 hits and 3 runs, while Isaiah Cushman struckout 7.
Creswell Bulldogs: 0-6, ranked #37
Leading off: Creswell looks for its first win of the season at home next Tuesday against Harrisburg. As of now Harrisburg is also winless, so this game could be a big morale boost for either squad early in the season. Junior lefty Evan Jenkins continues to look good on the mound, and should be well rested after last pitching Thursday, March 23.
Pleasant Hill Billies: 3-1, ranked #24
Leading off: Pleasant Hill’s big games this week are at the Cascade Christian Spring Break Tournament. On Wednesday the Billies face Warrenton, and their next opponents will be determined based on that result. So far early in the season Brasen Holliday has excelled offensively for head coach Johnny Bowden, while sophomore Alejandro Ziolkowski has struckout 10 in two starts on the mound.
Thurston Colts: 1-2, ranked #24
Leading off: Thurston is in Arizona this entire week for the Coach Bob Invitational, a huge tournament with teams from all over the country. It’s a great opportunity for head coach Dennis Minium’s squad as they look to ramp up over the course of the spring. Tough early-season schedules often help a team later in the season, especially for underclassmen like Connor Molony and Grady Saunders, who will be important pieces on the team this season.
SOFTBALL
Cottage Grove Lions: 4-3 overall, ranked #18
Leading off: The Lions head to No. 1 Cascade on Monday in an attempt to upset the defending Class 4A champions. Cottage Grove has scored 62 runs in its four wins, but have been held scoreless in its three losses. The Lions will need great batting all around and a good pitching performance from Emily Pacheco to pull off the upset.
Creswell Bulldogs: 5-1 overall, ranked #13
Leading off: The Bulldogs host No. 18 Harrisburg next Tuesday in a top-20 matchup. Hope Ukolov continues a great start to this season after being named 1st-team All-Conference pitcher last year. Lauren Bailey had a stellar week offensively in a 3-0 week two and should look to build on those performances.
Pleasant Hill Billies: 4-0 overall, ranked #6
Leading off: The Billies have a huge weekend, with a game at Class 4A No. 4 Stayton on Friday before facing two semifinalists from last year in No. 1 Scio and No. 2 South Umpqua on Saturday at the Scio tournament. Seniors Kiley Campos and Shyanne Fenley have hit well so far and will need to show up big this weekend if Pleasant Hill wants to get some early-season upsets.
Springfield Millers: 0-2 overall , ranked #20
Leading off: Springfield’s only game this week is on Tuesday in its league opener against Churchill. Head coach Jessica Branson will likely be looking at Jacey Smith and Holly Arendt to build off great offensive performances last week.
Thurston Colts: 1-3 overall, ranked #19
Leading off: The Colts begin league play next week, heading to Ashland on Tuesday. Freshman Syren Ferguson had a great week last week with 3 hits and an appearance on the mound against Wilsonville. Although Thurston has a veteran squad with six seniors, led by 2nd-team All-State outfielder Sadie Decker, the underclassmen will likely need to step up as well.
Results
BASEBALL
Tuesday, March 21
Siuslaw 13, Creswell 12
Pleasant Hill 15, Harrisburg 2
Wednesday, March 22
Scio 9, Cottage Grove 5
Crescent Valley 7, Thurston 6
Friday, March 24
Siuslaw 16, Creswell 0
Siuslaw 14, Creswell 8
Monday, March 27
Cottage Grove 14, Illinois Valley 5
Queen Creek (AZ) 10, Thurston 1
SOFTBALL
Tuesday, March 21
Cottage Grove 30, Springfield 9
Creswell 14, Siuslaw 4
Pleasant Hill 13, Harrisburg 5
Wednesday, March 22
Creswell 12, Siuslaw 10
Creswell 16, Siuslaw 4
Thursday, March 23
Cottage Grove 12, Douglas 2
Friday, March 24
Astoria 15, Cottage Grove 0
Wilsonville 11, Thurston 6
Saturday, March 25
Seaside 15, Cottage Grove 0
Monday, March 27
Thurston 9, Del Norte (CA) 6
South Medford 10, Thurston 0
Yamhill-Carlton 12, Pleasant Hill 2
Schedules
BASEBALL
Thursday, March 30
Pleasant Hill at Cascade Christian Spring Break Tournament, 12 p.m.
Thurston vs. Desert Mountain (AZ) at Coach Bob Invitational – Phoenix, AZ, 12 p.m.
Springfield vs. South Eugene at SHS Tournament, 3 p.m.
Friday, March 31
Springfield vs. McDaniel at SHS Tournament, 10 a.m.
Pleasant Hill at Cascade Christian Spring Break Tournament, 12 p.m.
Thurston vs. St. Viator (IL) at Coach Bob Invitational – Phoenix, AZ, 12 p.m.
Saturday, April 1
Springfield vs. Milwaukie at SHS Tournament, 12:30 p.m.
Monday, April 3
Scio at Cottage Grove, 4:30 p.m.
Harrisburg at Pleasant Hill, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 4
Harrisburg at Creswell, 4:30 p.m.
Sisters at Pleasant Hill, 4:30 p.m.
Churchill at Springfield, 5 p.m.
Thurston at Ashland, 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 6
Cottage Grove at Sweet Home, 4:30 p.m.
SOFTBALL
Friday, March 31
Pleasant Hill at Stayton, 11 a.m.
Saturday, April 1
Pleasant Hill at Scio – Scio Tournament, 11 a.m.
Pleasant Hill vs. South Umpqua – Scio Tournament, 1 p.m.
Monday, April 3
Cottage Grove at Cascade, 4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, April 4
Harrisburg at Creswell, 4:30 p.m.
Sisters at Pleasant Hill, 4:30 p.m.
Churchill at Springfield, 5 p.m.
Thurston at Ashland, 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 6
Sweet Home at Cottage Grove, 4:30 p.m.
Springfield at Mountain View, 4:30 p.m.
TRACK AND FIELD
Saturday, April 1
Creswell at Marist Invite, 10 a.m.
Wednesday, April 5
Springfield at North Eugene, 3:30 p.m.
Churchill at Thurston, TBD
TENNIS
Monday, April 3
Springfield at North Bend, 1 p.m.
Springfield at Marshfield, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, April 5
North Eugene at Springfield, 4 p.m.
Churchill at Thurston, 4 p.m.
Thursday, April 6
Estacada at Creswell, 4 p.m.
Thurston at North Eugene, 4 p.m.
GOLF
Monday, April 3
Creswell at Diamond Woods Golf Course – Monroe, 9 a.m.