High School Sports Zone April 9

Liberatore steps down at Thurston;
Colts track team overcomes the elements

Athlete of the Week

Top Stories, Recaps & More

By Steve Mims FOR THE CHRONICLE

Thurston’s Liberatore resigns with championship legacy

THURSTON – After leading Thurston to three straight Midwestern League boys basketball titles for the first time in more than a half-century, Blaine Liberatore is leaving on top. Liberatore, who…

By Eli Thomas

Colts stand out in the elements

THURSTON – The conditions for the Colts’ meet against Churchill on Wednesday, April 1, were as far from ideal as it gets for track athletes. Wet surfaces made everything difficult,…

By Knight Jarecki

Drifters Debrief: Dryden leads Emeralds to victory

SPRINGFIELD – Springfield Drifters alum Hunter Dryden delivered in his Eugene Emeralds debut, striking out six over four scoreless innings against the Hillsboro Hops on Saturday. The Deer Valley, Wash.,…

By Eli Thomas

Baseball recaps

THURSTON defeated West Albany 6-0 at Linn-Benton Community College on Tuesday. It scored five runs in the 6th inning. Each of the Colts’ top-seven hitters had at least one…

By Eli Thomas

Baseball previews

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,…

By Eli Thomas

Softball recaps

THURSTON lost to West Albany 16-1 in five innings on Tuesday. The Colts held a 1-0 lead until the third inning, but allowed two runs in that inning, six…

By Eli Thomas

Softball previews

THURSTON (0-9, #28) has three league matchups this week. On Saturday, it travels to No. 11 Churchill (4-3) for a doubleheader to finish their three game series. On Tuesday,…

In Case You Missed It

Creswell delivers complete performances, wins Invitational

Creswell’s Colden Clark (#10) lays down a bunt during the Bulldogs’ victory over South Umpqua. ADON ECCLES / THE CHRONICLE

CRESWELL – Hitting had been a strength for the Creswell Bulldogs during their four-game winning streak, but Thursday, pitching and defense carried the load in a 6-0 victory over South Umpqua to finish the Creswell Invitational tournament 3-0.

In the top of the seventh inning with one out, South Umpqua pinch hitter Jackson Causey hit a low fly ball between shortstop Colton Hartman and left fielder Carson Clark. Both were somewhat tentative in their pursuit, not sure who should call it, and it found grass for a single.

“It’s a ball we should have had. It was a good one to have come up because we learned from it,” said Bulldogs head coach Kevin Feist. “We’ll work on it in practice, and hopefully the next time that happens, it’s an out.”

Some of the Bulldogs may not have known it, but that was the Lancers’ first hit of the game. In large part, the defense behind the two Bulldog pitchers was excellent. The highlight play was a running grab by sophomore Braden Hartman in right-center field. Feist explained the potential impact if the ball had been a hit.