THURSTON — The two-time defending 5A state champions, the Thurston Colts baseball team, fell to the No. 3 Canby Cougars 2-0 in the semifinals at Flaten Field on Tuesday, losing its lofty goal of a three-peat for the 2025 season.
“This group of kids battled all year,” head coach Dennis Minium said about the end of Thurston’s 2025 season. “We put them in a position and played a tough schedule this year. It’s not the way we wanted to end it for the seniors; it’s very unfortunate, but I wouldn’t go to battle with any other group. They worked real hard. The seniors took the younger kids under their wing and showed them what Thurston baseball is about. And I applaud them for that, and they’re going to be missed tremendously.”
It was a tight game for the Cougars and the Colts, with only one hit recorded by the fourth inning and a 0-0 score. In addition, the Cougars had a particularly relentless pitcher, Jack Brauckmiller, who picked off multiple Colts baserunners.
“I think we had one leadoff guy on to start an inning maybe twice,” Minium said. “Big innings happen when leadoff guys get on and when we get picked off, and it completely changes the inning. But also, we just didn’t get a break today — the ball didn’t bounce our way.”
However, the tension turned into heartbreak in the top of the fourth inning when Canby got on the board. After two singles from Hayden Davis and Jack Brauckmiller, Brady Ackerman made a flyout and advanced Davis to third base. Davis then scored on a passed ball after a miscommunication between pitcher Grady Saunders and catcher Braden Corgain.
“It was a mix-up between Grady and Braden,” Minium said. “It was unfortunate. Braden thought a different pitch was coming, and he just didn’t get him — it just went by him.”
After Canby scored at the top of the fourth, the Colts attempted to come alive in batting. At the bottom of the fourth inning, there was a moment of a glimmer of hope. First in lineup, Kyle Miller singled. However, he was quickly picked off first upon Brock Johnson batting. A similar moment occurred in the bottom of the sixth inning as well. Miller singled again and advanced to second after Johnson grounded out. He was picked off a second time.
“We still shouldn’t be getting picked off,” Minium said. “But the play at second base, when Kyle slipped, doesn’t normally happen. Unfortunately, it’s the way baseball is, and sometimes you don’t get a break. But I’m super proud of him.”
The Colts tallied only four hits overall. Saunders singled, Miller with two hits, and Noah Blair doubled.
Minium was disappointed to see the graduating seniors Miller, Blair, Corgain, Brock Lundy, David Macdonald, Connor Molony, Carson Wolf, and Collin Hernandez leave their final season like this. However, he wishes them all the best.
“We had lofty goals, right?” he said. “We didn’t get to our end goal, but at the end of the day, the season was a success. We made it to the semis. They played a hard, tough schedule, and they were battle-tested. We just fell short today.
“The last couple of years have been great,” said Lundy. “It sucks to end the way we did, but we still have two championship banners, and I would’nt have rather lost with anyone else. We accept it. Obviously, we wanted a better outcome, but at the end of the day, you tip your cap and get a lot more.”
Thurston Softball
Meanwhile, on the other end of the field, Thurston softball had yet another walk-off win to advance to the 5A softball final in a dramatic fashion on Tuesday. The Colts took an 18-15 victory against the Midwestern League title holder, No. 3 Crater. It was an intense game to the end. After the Colts had two outs at the bottom of the seventh, they were able to tie the game 15-15 with two more baserunners left. Kassy Anderson then took all the glory, arriving at the plate and then scoring a soaring home run for the win of 18-15.
Up next, the Colts go up againist their mightiest competitor yet: No. 1 Ridgeview Ravens. The Ravens have gone almost perfect this season at 26-1. Though this is Ridgeview’s first secured finals berth since winning the 2019 title, led by the championship-winning coach Sandy Fischer.
