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Billies softball returns plenty of firepower to defend MVC

PLEASANT HILL – The Pleasant Hill Billies softball team is off to a fast start this season after opening Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) play with a 10-0, six-inning mercy rule…

Billies softball returns plenty of firepower to defend MVC

PLEASANT HILL – The Pleasant Hill Billies softball team is off to a fast start this season after opening Mountain Valley Conference (MVC) play with a 10-0, six-inning mercy rule…

SETTING THE FOUNDATION: Creswell’s Feist feeling at home in rebuild mode

CRESWELL – In 2016 Kevin Feist was winning his third state championship at the helm of the Burns baseball program. In 2016, Creswell baseball went 10-14 and missed the playoffs…

SETTING THE FOUNDATION: Creswell’s Feist feeling at home in rebuild mode

CRESWELL – In 2016 Kevin Feist was winning his third state championship at the helm of the Burns baseball program. In 2016, Creswell baseball went 10-14 and missed the playoffs…

HSSZ: Week of March 28 Capsules

THE MAIN EVENT: BASEBALL#24 SPRINGFIELD MILLERS (1-4)AT SPRINGFIELD TOURNAMENTÑ‚Ð¦Ð° Leading off: The Millers host the annual Springfield Tournament this week, with their final game scheduled against Class 6A Roseburg Indians…

HSSZ: Week of March 28 Capsules

Rocky start for defending champs

By Pierre Weil / [email protected]

PIERRE WEIL / CHRONICLE PHOTO. Thurston star pitcher Connor Molony (16) points to his throwing arm while teammate Braden Corgain and coaches Cason Cunningham and Dennis Minium look on. Molony got the opening day start but left the game after only five pitches, though Minium said the decision was solely precautionary.

Colts’ opening-day ace Molony leaves after five pitches

EUGENE – It was an unexpectedly bumpy return to the University of Oregon’s PK Park for the Thurston Colts baseball team. Nine months after winning the Class 5A state championship in walk-off fashion at PK, the Colts opened the 2024 season against Sheldon at that same spot, falling 7-5 in an opening-night upset.

“We didn’t do a very good job throwing first-pitch strikes. We didn’t do a very good job situational hitting – we left the bases loaded in four different innings, and we just needed that one hit,” Thurston coach Dennis Minium said. “I think we’ll get better, obviously. I think we got some work to do, but I think we’ll be OK when it’s all said and done.”

Part of the reason for Thurston’s first-pitch struggles was the injury of Connor Molony, the 2023 Class 5A pitcher of the year. The junior right-hander got the start, but left after only five pitches while pointing at his throwing arm. Minium said the decision to pull Molony was a precautionary one, and he doesn’t expect any longer-term ramifications.

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