PLEASANT HILL (2-1, #9)
■ Leading off: The Class 3A Billies will look to get back to a more normal kind of game after winning 44-25 their last time out. On Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1, the Billies travel to face No. 23 Corbett (2-2) and welcome No. 29 Siuslaw (1-2), respectively. On Friday, the Billies welcome No. 5 North Valley (4-2) for a doubleheader. Neither the Knights nor Billies were in the coaches preseason poll Top 10, but both reside there now. On Tuesday, April 7, the Billies travel up Highway 58 to face No. 32 in Class 2A/1A Oakridge (3-5). The Billies’ 21.7 runs per game are the most in Class 3A.
THURSTON (0-7, #26)
■ Leading off: The Class 5A Colts welcomed No. 11 West Albany (3-2) on Tuesday, March 31. On Friday, they travel to face No. 18 Canby (2-4). On Tuesday, league play begins with No. 15 Churchill (2-3). Last season, the Colts swept the Lancers and held them to two total runs in three games. The Colts have improved defensively, allowing fewer than 10 runs per game in their past four after allowing 20.3 in their first three games. The Colts scored 18 runs against Sheldon, but have managed only nine runs in their other six games.
SPRINGFIELD (0-6, #31)
■ Leading off: Class 5A Springfield has two games this week. First, they travel to No. 25 Corvallis (1-3) on Tuesday, March 31. On Thursday, the Millers travel to No. 29 McKay (1-4). The Millers will need to find a way to limit their opponents, having allowed 16-plus runs in every game thus far. Tynlee Mayden brings a streak of reaching base in nine consecutive at-bats into the game.
CRESWELL (2-1, #17)
■Leading off: The Class 3A Bulldogs travel to face No. 27 Glide (2-5) on Wednesday, April 1. On Friday, they welcome No. 25 Cottage Grove/Yoncalla (0-6) for a doubleheader. On Tuesday, they welcome No. 13 Sutherlin (3-2). On Wednesday, April 8, the Bulldogs play host to No. 29 Siuslaw (1-2) to finish off non-league play. Savannah Rook and Jordyn Marklin look to continue their hot hitting.
COTTAGE GROVE/YONCALLA (0-6, #25)
■Leading off: The Class 4A Lions hosted No. 11 Sweet Home (2-1) on Tuesday. On Friday, they have an away doubleheader with No. 17 in 3A Creswell (2-1). On Tuesday, April 7, the Lions travel to face No. 15 in 3A Harrisburg (3-2). Despite the difficult start, the Lions bats seemed to wake up in their last game, with eight of nine starters getting at least one hit.
