Baseball
Recaps
■ COTTAGE GROVE ended its season last week, going 2-1 in out-of-league games. They lost Tuesday 4-2 to Tillamook. Despite trailing 3-0 for the majority of the game, the Lions rallied to score two runs in the top of the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, Tyson Seaman singled, scoring Cade May from second after he had grounded into a fielder’s choice. In the seventh, Nolan Spear scored for the Lions from second when Anthony Eubanks singled on a fly ball to center field. Eubanks went 2-for-3 overall with an RBI. Pitcher Micah Spear surrendered 7 hits and 4 runs and struck out 3. The Lions then won Game One against Klamath Union 11-8 before losing 9-8 in Game Two.
■ CRESWELL closed the Mountain Valley Conference by going 2-1 last week and secured a third-place spot in league play. It began with a 3-2 loss to Sisters on the road on Tuesday. Despite going hitless, the Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the fourth when Deacon Edwards reached first on an error by the Outlaws’ second baseman. Then, he was able to advance to second after Colton Hartman walked. Edwards scored when Jaxon Pelham bunted and reached first on an error, and on the next play, Hartman scored on an error by the Outlaws catcher. Edwards surrendered 6 hits and 3 runs and struck out 4. The Bulldogs won Game One 8-1 and Game Two 3-2 against Elmira on Friday.
■ PLEASANT HILL was 1-2 last week in MVC play; they finished fourth in league. They began the week with a 6-1 loss to La Pine on Tuesday. Kaden Fisher and Landon Kelley both went 2-for-3. Pitcher Will Sheava surrendered 6 hits and 6 runs and struck out 6. The Billies won Game One 6-5 and lost Game Two 7-6 vs. Sisters on Friday.
■ SPRINGFIELD went 0-3 last week against North Eugene. It began with a 13-1 loss on Tuesday, where the Highlanders scored 6 runs in the top of the fourth inning.
■ THURSTON lost 4-3 to No. 9 Class 6A Sunset in one of the most competitive games of the year for the Colts. The Colts were the first to get on the board and grab a lead in the top of the third inning. Sunset won after scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning. Connor Molony went 2-for-3 with a run for the Colts. Braden Corgain and Cam Nosack earned the other two runs. Collin Hernandez and Grady Saunders combined for 9 strikeouts on the mound.
Previews
#16 CRESWELL (15-11)
■ Leading off: The Bulldogs will see a postseason berth in the form of a play-in or a first-round spot. If they settle on No.16, they’ll host the No.17 team for Round 1 on May 26. Rankings for Class 3A freeze Thursday.
#31 SPRINGFIELD (2-20)
■ Leading off: The Millers will close out the Midwestern League and their season this Thursday on the road against Crater. The Millers have secured the last spot in league this year. Look for Clay Rhoades and Dylan Leas in this last game.
#3 THURSTON (21-3)
■ Leading off: The Colts end the Midwestern League play and the regular season this week against Ashland. The Colts eye a No. 3 seed for the 5A playoffs with a first-round home game.
Softball
Recaps
■ COTTAGE GROVE went 2-2 last week, winning 13-3 in Game One and 11-1 in Game Two of its doubleheader against Klamath Union on Friday. Makya Alsup went 4-for-5 with 5 RBIs in Game One. Emily Pacheco recorded 18 strikeouts overall against the Pelicans.
■ CRESWELL ended the Mountain Valley Conference and its season by going 0-3 last week. The Bulldogs began with a 7-5 loss to Sisters on Tuesday. Both teams recorded 10 hits. Senior Kaylee Waller went 3-for-4 with 3 runs. Reagan Gwaltney went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Pitcher Elise Thackara struck out 9 on the mound. The Bulldogs then lost Game One 12-1 and Game Two 8-4 against the Elmira Falcons on Friday.
■ PLEASANT HILL closed the Mountain Valley Conference and its season by going 3-1 last week. It began with a 15-5 win against the La Pine Hawks. Erin McAllister went 3-for-4 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. Acadia Bloxham scored 3 runs for the Billies. Stella Carlton, Erin Bray, and McAllister all recorded a double. Alexis Pardee had a triple. On the mound, Kendall Carey surrendered 4 hits and 5 runs and struck out 3. The Billies then followed up with a 16-13 loss to out-of-league Glide on Wednesday. Reagan Dockery went 2-for-4 with 2 runs and 3 RBIs. The Billies had 9 hits overall. The Billies then won Game One 12-8 and Game Two 4-2. Bloxham and Carey had home runs in Game One.
■ SPRINGFIELD went 0-3 against the North Eugene Highlanders last week, starting with a 13-3 loss on Tuesday. Chloe Sankey, Danae Bullock, Emma Branson, and Emma Patrick-Busby combined for 4 hits for the Millers. The Millers then lost Game One 15-0 and Game Two 6-1 against North Eugene on Friday.
Previews
#19 COTTAGE GROVE (12-10)
■ Leading off: The Lions secured third in league for a guaranteed play-in game for the postseason. This is only the second time in 12 years that the Lions have placed third or better in league. Look for seniors Annie Basting, Emily Pacheco, Kylee Cordin, Leandra Windham, and Addison Hitt.
#26 PLEASANT HILL (8-15)
■ Leading off: The Billies end their season on the road against Santiam Christian today. Watch seniors Kendall Carey, Erin McAllister, and Samantha Pembleton in their last game playing for the Billies.
#29 SPRINGFIELD (4-20)
■ Leading off: The Millers will close out the Midwestern League and their season this Thursday on the road against Crater. Watch seniors Nadia Plumb and Chloe Sankey play in their last games for the Millers.
#3 THURSTON (17-5)
■ Leading off: The Colts finish the Midwestern League and the regular season this week against Ashland. The Colts eye a second-place spot in league behind the Crater Comets (13-2). If they earn the No. 3 spot, they have the No. 3 seed for the 5A playoffs with a first-round home game. Rankings for 5A freeze on Saturday, May 24.
Track and Field
Recaps
■ COTTAGE GROVE hosted the Wally Ciochetti Invitational for the 22nd year in a row. The boys took fifth while the girls took 12th. Carter Bengtson was the top placer with a second-place finish in the 1500m. David Culbert (3000m), Rogelio Soto-Cruz (shot put) and Clayton Dewitt (discus) had strong performances for third-place finishes. Ella Cardwell was the top finisher for the girls with an 11-second personal best and third-place finish in the 1500m. CRESWELL boys placed 14th while the girls placed 7th at Wally Ciochetti Invitational. Kylie Leonard won the 300-meter hurdles at 47.07 and took second in the 400 meters (1.00.14 PR).
■ PLEASANT HILL boys and girls took second at the Frank Good Twilight Classic at Sutherlin last Tuesday. On the boys’ side, Andrew Taylor (100m) 3rd, 11.62, (200m) 3rd, 23.80 and (300m) 2nd, 42.02 (PR); Gage Roper (1500m) 3rd, 4.28; James Hoopman, Marcus Martinez, Tristan Stuart, and Taylor (4×100), 3rd, 45.23; Cody Jones (javelin) 2nd, (PR); Aidan Navarro (high jump) 3rd; Kyler Seratte (triple jump) 3rd. On the girls side, Ellie Thebo (100m), 2nd, 13.83; Jolie Heacock (100m), 3rd, 14.07 and (triple jump) 1st (PR); Soleis Jones (200m) 1st, 27.74 and (400m) 1st, 1.00; Isabel Hammond-Mendez (200m) 3rd, 29.59; Ellie Epperson (800m) 1st, 2.34; Nellie Smith (3000m) 2nd, 11.41.95 (PR); Heacock, Jones, Hammond-Mendez, and Thebo (4×100) 1st, 51.39. On Friday, Pleasant Hill boys took third and the girls took fourth at the Sisters Twilight Relays.
■ THURSTON girls took first and the boys took third at the Willamette, Thurston and Elmira at Sheldon Meet last Tuesday. On the boys side, Logan Fine (400m) 3rd, 53.52 (PR) and (pole vault) 3rd; Lucas Wadley (110m hurdles) 2nd, 16.77 (PR), (300m hurdles) 1st, 44.13 (PR) and (javelin) 1st; Caleb Jones, Quinn Piquette, Justin Fisher, and Roser (4×100) 1st, 44.73; Evan Sweeney, Luke Bauer, Finn Woodward, Alex Ritter (4×400) 3rd, 3.55; Kylan Gray (shot put) 3rd; Talon Nilsen (high jump) 3rd. On the girls side, Jenni Newell (400m) 1st, 1.02.20 (PR); Emmie Gerdrum (400m) 2nd, 1.02.78 (PR); Genevieve Woodward (800m) 1st, 2.29.39 (PR); Nathalie Parker (800m) 2nd, 2.32; Liliana Ramirez (800m) 3rd, 2.39.17 (PR); Macy Taylor (100m hurdles), 3rd, 17.33; Newell, Gerdrum, Taylor, and Brooklyn Anderson (4×100), 1st, 50.24; Nyah Marchant, Parker, Ramirez, and Woodward, 2nd (4.30); Scotlyn Curtis (shot put) 1st and (discus) 2nd; Kylee Skinner (shot put) 2nd, (discus) 3rd and (high jump) 3rd, and (triple jump) 2nd; Addison Nelson (shot put) 3rd, (javelin) 1st and (long jump) 1st; Kelsie Raven (high jump) 1st, (PR) and (long jump) 3rd; Madeleine Bell (pole vault) 1st; Taylor Suiter (long jump) 2nd and (triple jump) 1st (PR).
