COTTAGE GROVE
■ Head coach: Sarah Keefauver’s first year with Cottage Grove with a 0-0 coaching record
■ 2024 season: 8-15 overall … 1-11 in league … 5th in Sky-Em League … No. 18 in Class 4A … Lost to Estacada in play-in
■ History: League titles: None past 10 years) … State titles: None in past 10 years
■ Returning players: 17 total returners between both JV & Varsity teams.
Top returners
■ Emily Pacheco, Sr., RHP … 2024 season: Pacheco threw 109 innings for the Lions striking out 202 batters and hitting .473 at the plate. She was named Second Team All-State Pitcher and was crowned First Team All-League “Pitcher Of The Year.”
■ Addison Hitt, Sr., U … 2024 season: Hitt was named Second Team All-League Catcher.
■ Makya Alsup, Jr., INF … 2024 season: Alsup was named Honorable Mention First Base.
Team strengths
■Team chemistry
■The team is young and eager
■Work ethic
Areas for improvement
■Batting averages
■Defensive errors
■Developing secondary pitching staff
2025 schedule
3/18 vs. Harrisburg / Monroe, 4 p.m.
3/20 at Newport, 5 p.m.
3/27-29 Hidden Valley Tournament, TBD
4/1 vs. Creswell, 4:30 p.m.
4/5 vs. Tillamook, noon
4/5 vs. Tillamook, 2 p.m.
4/8 at Sweet Home, 4:30 p.m.
4/15 at North Bend, 5 p.m.
4/18 vs. North Bend, 3 p.m.
4/18 vs. North Bend, 5 p.m.
4/22 at Marshfield, 5 p.m.
4/25 vs. Marshfield, 3 p.m.
4/25 vs. Marshfield, 5 p.m. 4/29 vs. Marist Catholic, 5 p.m. 5/2 at Marist Catholic, 3 p.m. 5/2 at Marist Catholic, 5 p.m.
5/6 vs. Junction City, 4:30 p.m.
5/9 at Junction City, 3 p.m.
5/9 at Junction City, 5 p.m.
5/16 vs. Klamath U. / Crosspoint Chr., 3 p.m.
5/16 vs. Klamath U. / Crosspoint Chr., 5 p.m.
5/20 vs. Rogue River, 3 p.m.
5/20 vs. Rogue River, 5 p.m.
CRESWELL BULLDOGS
■ Head coach: Scott Worsham’s fifth year at Creswell with a 45-43 record.
■ 2024 season: 16-10 overall … 12-6 in league … 3rd in MVC … No.12 in Class 3A … Lost to Burns / Crane in first round of playoffs
■ History: League Titles: 0 … State titles: 0
■ Returning players: 5
Top returners
■ #10, Elise Thackara, Jr., Pitcher/1B …2024 Season: Hitting: BA: .355, 11 H, 10 RBI. Pitching: 54.1 IP, 6W – 3 L, 41 K, 4.50 ERA. Thackara will be counted on to pitch a lot of games for the Bulldogs, as she has done in the past two seasons. She has a big bat and the Bulldogs look forward to her hitting in the middle of the lineup hitting doubles and bringing runners in.
■ #1 Regan Gwaltney. Jr., SS, CF …2024 season: BA: .397, 27 H, 1 HR, 26 RBI (All-league 2nd Team Utility)
Gwaltney led the Bulldogs in batting average last year. She continually came up with big hits when the team needed it. The same will be counted on again this season. She’s a five-tool softball player, she can run, hit for average, hit for power, field & throw at all above average.
■ #2 Savannah Rook, Jr., Catcher … 2024 Season: BA: 0.346, 18 H, 15 RBI. Coach Worsham said Rook is “one of the hardest workers the Bulldogs have.” She’s a great framer, and blocker, and has a great arm as a catcher. Rook will be counted on to get on base and score a lot of runs for the Bulldogs this season.
■ #13 Kaylee Waller, Sr., Pitcher/SS … 2024 Season: Top Newcomer. “Waller is probably one of the best softball players in our league,” Worsham said. “She comes to us with many great softball skills. She can pitch and pretty much play any position on the field. She will be counted on to pitch a lot of big games for us on top of clutch hitting and solid defense.”
Team strengths
■ Pitching
■ Catching
■ Worsham: We have the top 4 hitters in the league
Areas for improvement
■ Lack of experience
■ Defense
■ Knowledge of the game
2025 schedule
3/18 vs. Marist Catholic, 4:30 p.m.
3/20 vs. Siuslaw, 4 p.m.
4/1 at Cottage Grove, 4:30 p.m.
4/2 vs. Coquille, 2 p.m.
4/2 vs. Coquille, 4:30 p.m.
4/8 vs. Sutherlin, 4:30 p.m.
4/9 vs. Santiam Christian, 4:30 p.m.
4/11 at Glide, 1 p.m.
4/11 at Glide, 3 p.m.
4/15 vs. Harrisburg / Monroe, 4:30 p.m.
4/18 at Pleasant Hill, 2 p.m.
4/18 at Pleasant Hill, 4:30 p.m
4/22 at La Pine, 4:30 p.m
4/25 vs. Sisters, 2 p.m.
4/25 vs. Sisters, 4:30 p.m
4/29 at Elmira / Mapleton, 4:30 p.m.
5/2 at Harrisburg / Monroe, 2 p.m.
5/2 at Harrisburg / Monroe, 4:30 p.m
5/6 vs. Pleasant Hill, 4:30 p.m
5/9 vs. La Pine, 2 p.m.
5/9 vs. La Pine, 4:30 p.m.
5/13 at Sisters, 4:30 p.m. 5/16 vs. Elmira / Mapleton, 2 p.m.
5/16 vs. Elmira / Mapleton, 4:30 p.m.
Top games
■ Elmira, Harrisburg, Marist
PLEASANT HILL BILLIES
■ Head coach: Nicki Derrick’s first year at Pleasant Hill
■ New coach report: Nicki Derrick comes from Western Oregon Univeristy where she played softball from 2021-2024. Her most recent stats are from her junior year in 2023 where she went 0-1 with a 7.16 ERA, and had 14 strikeouts and 10 walks in 14.2 innings. The pitcher, originally from Curtin, Oregon, played at North Douglas High School. She led North Douglas to multiple championships throughout her high school career including striking out 314 batters as a senior with a 16-strikeout performance win in the OSAA 1A State Championship game.
2024 season: 18-8 overall record
15-3 in league … 1st in Mountain Valley Conference … No. 10 in Class 3A … Lost to Enterprise / Joseph / Wallowa in first round of playoffs
Top returner
■ Kendall Carey, Sr., infielder
2025 schedule
3/18 at Siuslaw, 4:30 p.m.
3/21 vs. Sutherlin, 4:30 p.m.
3/31 vs. North Douglas, 4:30 p.m.
4/2 at Valley Catholic, 4 p.m.
4/4 vs. Brookings-Harbor, 4:30 p.m.
4/5 at Newport, 5 p.m.
4/7 vs. Dayton, 4:30 p.m.
4/9 at Cascade, 4:30 p.m.
4/10 vs. Stayton, 4:30 p.m.
4/15 at Elmira / Mapleton, 4:30 p.m.
4/18 vs. Creswell, 2 p.m.
4/18 vs. Creswell, 4:30 p.m.
4/22 at Harrisburg / Monroe, 4:30 p.m.
4/23 at Glide, 4:30 p.m.
4/25 at La Pine, 3 p.m.
4/25 at La Pine, 5 p.m.
4/29 vs. Sisters, 4:30 p.m.
5/2 vs. Elmira / Mapleton, 2 p.m.
5/2 vs. Elmira / Mapleton, 4:30 p.m.
5/3 at North Douglas, 2 p.m.
5/6 at Creswell, 4:30 p.m.
5/9 vs. Harrisburg / Monroe, 2 p.m.
5/9 vs. Harrisburg / Monroe, 4:30 p.m.
5/13 vs. La Pine, 4:30 p.m.
5/16 at Sisters, 3 p.m.
5/16 at Sisters, 5 p.m.
Top games
■Valley Catholic, Brookings-Harbor, Harrisburg
SPRINGFIELD MILLERS
■ Head coach: Jessica Branson’s fifth year at Springfield with an 8-77 record
■ 2024 season: 7-19 overall … 4-14 in league … 6th in Midwestern League … No. 26 in Class 5A … Missed playoffs
Top returner
■ Emma Patrick-Busby, Jr., left field
2025 schedule
3/18 vs. North Salem, 5 p.m.
3/22-24 N. Eugene Tournament
3/29 at Mountain View, 1 p.m.
3/29 at Mountain View, 3 p.m.
4/1 vs. Corvallis, 5 p.m.
4/7 vs. McKay, 5 p.m.
4/15 at Eagle Point, 5 p.m.
4/19 vs. Eagle Point, 3 p.m.
4/19 vs. Eagle Point, 5 p.m.
4/22 vs. Ashland, 5 p.m.
4/26 at Ashland, 1 p.m.
4/26 at Ashland, 3 p.m.
4/29 vs.Churchill, 5 p.m.
5/2 at Churchill, 3 p.m.
5/2 at Churchill, 5 p.m.
5/6 at Thurston, 5 p.m.
5/10 vs. Thurston, 1 p.m.
5/10 vs. Thurston, 3 p.m.
5/13 vs. North Eugene, 5 p.m.
5/17 at North Eugene, 1 p.m.
5/17 at North Eugene, 3 p.m. 5/20 vs. Crater, 5 p.m.
5/22 at Crater, 3 p.m.
5/22 at Crater, 5 p.m.
Top games
■Thurston, Mt. View, Crater
THURSTON COLTS
■ Head coach: Jeff Litle’s fourth year at Thurston with a 49-30 school record and 62-113 overall.
2024 Season: 17-10 overall … 15-3 in league … 2nd in Midwestern League … No. 11 in Class 5A … Lost to Caledra in first round of playoffs
Top returners
■ Kasey Ogan, Sr., Pitcher
2025 schedule
3/17 vs. Caldera, 5 p.m.
3/20 at Mountain View, 4:30 p.m.
3/24-25 N. Medford Tournament
4/1 at West Albany, 5 p.m.
4/4 vs. Canby, 5 p.m.
4/8 at Churchill, 5 p.m.
4/10 at Sheldon (UO), 5 p.m.
4/12 vs. Churchill, 1 p.m.
4/12 vs. Churchill, 3 p.m.
4/15 at North Eugene, 5 p.m.
4/18 vs. North Eugene, 3 p.m.
4/18 vs. North Eugene, 5 p.m.
4/22 vs. Eagle Point, 5 p.m.
4/26 at Eagle Point, 1 p.m.
4/26 at Eagle Point, 3 p.m.
4/29 vs. Crater, 5 p.m.
5/3 at Crater, 1 p.m.
5/3 at Crater, 3 p.m.
5/6 vs. Springfield, 5 p.m.
5/10 at Springfield, 1 p.m.
5/10 at Springfield, 3 p.m.
5/20 at Ashland, 5 p.m.
5/24 vs. Ashland, 1 p.m.
5/24 vs. Ashland, 3 p.m.
Top games
■West Albany, Crater, Sheldon
