■ THURSTON (5-3, #8) has three league matchups this week. On Saturday, they travel to No. 16 Churchill (3-4) for a doubleheader to finish their three game series. On Tuesday, they welcome No. 4 North Eugene (4-2) for the first of a three game series. Last season, the Colts swept the Highlanders, holding them to just three runs over three games. This year’s pitching staff is similarly rolling, only allowing two runs total in two games last week.
■ SPRINGFIELD (0-5, #29) begins league play on Tuesday with No. 15 Eagle Point (1-6). Last season, the Millers defeated the Eagles 7-6, before losing twice by identical 13-0 scores. The Eagles have had a slew of close games to begin this season, with only two of seven contests being decided by more than three runs. The Millers have scored only 1.8 runs per game through their first five.
■ COTTAGE GROVE (2-6, #29) has three non-league matchups this week. It travels to No. 8 Newport (3-4) for a doubleheader on Saturday at Frank V. Wade Memorial Park. The Lions and Cubs last matched up in 2022, when Newport won both matchups. On Tuesday, the Lions welcome No. 9 Hidden Valley (5-1). The last time the Lions met the Mustangs, they lost 12-2 in 2023. The Lions will hope to keep rolling, after winning their previous two games by 21 total runs.
■ PLEASANT HILL (2-4, #26) has two games this week. First, it travels to No. 6 in Class 4A Marist Catholic (6-3) for a non-league game on Friday. P-Hill lost to the Spartans 11-1 two seasons ago. League play for the Billies begins on Tuesday, when they welcome No. 14 Elmira (7-2). They also began league play against Elmira last season, defeating them 13-3. In their subsequent two matchups, the Billies completed the season sweep. In the current year, the Billies scored 10 runs on Friday, nearly equal to the total of their first five games combined.
■ CRESWELL (5-4, #9) has one game this week. It begins Mountain Valley Conference play with No. 35 Harrisburg (2-6). Last season’s league opener saw the Bulldogs defeat the Eagles 13-1. They won the next two matchups 14-0 and 12-0 for a dominant season sweep. The Bulldogs bats need to wake back up. They have scored two total runs in their last three games after averaging 9.8 per game in their first six contests.
