Creswell’s Abby Mercer golfs to an eighth-place finish during the 4A/3A/2A/1A SD-3 District Tournament at Emerald Valley. Photo provided/Stan Mercer
With only two games remaining in the baseball season, the Bulldogs – winless in league play at 0-10 and still ranked 19th in 3A state based on the strength of their Mountain Valley Conference opponents – were shut out 10-0 in six innings by third-ranked La Pine on May 6 and 20-0 in five innings by top-ranked Pleasant Hill on May 8.
At La Pine, the host Hawks ”took advantage of the few mistakes we made,” said Creswell Head Coach Tyler Main.
Freshman Gio Mediati opened on the mound for the Bulldogs, giving up six earned runs and striking out one in 2 2/3 innings.
Dean Howard pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, giving up no hits, striking out eight of nine batters he faced and walking one.
Austin Gabriel and Dallton Dewey both went 2-for-3.
Against Pleasant Hill, the visiting Billies dominated the game from their first at-bat.
Mediati again opened on the pitcher’s mound for Creswell, striking out four and walking two and 3 1/3 innings. Howard pitched 2/3 of an inning, striking out two.
Dawson Sharkey pitched the final inning, throwing two strikeouts.
Dewey went 2-for-2 from the plate. Sharkey, Mediati and Avery Wells each went 1-for-2.
”Like I have said all season, our league is very good,” Main said. ”Pleasant Hill, as the No. 1 team in state, took advantage of our mistakes.”
Mercer shines in golf; tennis team competitive
Both the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 Girls’ tournament and the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 Boys’ and Girls’ tennis tournaments were held last week, and Creswell athletes competed well in both.
As Creswell’s sole representative at district golf, held May 6-7 at Rogue Valley Country Club, Abby Mercer placed eighth of 55 golfers to narrowly miss advancing to the OSAA 4A/3A/2A/1A State Tournament.
”Abby had a very successful district tournament, despite not having her best game,” said Coach Stan Mercer. ”She was very resilient when a couple of holes didn’t go her way and had a very good short game to keep herself in contention.”
Mercer, a sophomore, shot a 104 on Day 1 and a 108 on Day 2, for a tournament score of 212.
Baylee Hammericksen of St. Mary’s claimed the individual title and St. Mary’s also won the team championship.
”Abby grew a lot this year as a golfer and I am excited to see what the next two years will bring for her,” Coach Mercer said. ”I believe this tournament was really good for her to see how close she is to competing at the top level in the state, and I am extremely proud of the way that she represents herself and our school.”
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While no Bulldogs qualified for state during the district tennis tournament in North Medford, Coach Tyler Hollingsworth termed the outing a success for his young players who are still learning and improving.
”This was our first year in the district and we saw that overall, outside of the top four or five guys and the top seeds of the top four girls’ teams, everybody can be competitive,” Hollingsworth said.
In the boys’ tournament, held May 6-7, Ethan Stephens won his first-round match 6-1, 6-0 over a Klamath Union player; won his second-round match 6-4, 6-4 vs. a Cascade Christian opponent; and lost his quarterfinals match 0-6, 1-6 to a Marist player.
Chance Leach lost his first-round match 6-4, 3-6 (7-10) to a Henley player; in the consolation bracket (played in pro sets), he won 8-4 before losing his consolation quarterfinals match 6-8.
Sky Leach lost his first match 1-6, 1-6. In his first consolation match he won 8-4, then won his consolation quarterfinals match 8-4 before losing in the consolation semifinals 3-6, 3-6.
Evan Stephens lost 3-6, 4-6 and then 4-8 in consolation.
Playing doubles, Luke Vaughn and Kizmo Chamnannarongsak lost 5-7, 3-6, although ”they played some of their best tennis,” Hollingsworth said.
They lost 4-8 in consolation.
”It was nice to see that we were very competitive with most teams,” Hollingsworth said. ”The matches were fun to watch.”
In the girls’ tournament, held May 9-11, Emme Whitson lost her first-round match 3-6, 6-7 (9-11).
Brooklyn Grubbs lost 1-6, 1-6, then 3-8 in consolation.
Amanda O’Reilly lost 1-6, 1-6, then 3-8 in consolation.
Carley Wilkerson lost 3-6, 1-6, then 2-8 in consolation.
In doubles, Makaela Seiber and Jillian Greenfield won 3-6, 6-4 (10-7). Unfortunately, their second-round opponents, from Klamath Union, was the tournament’s No. 2 seed, and they lost 1-6, 1-6.
”That was a tough break for their second match,” Hollingsworth said.
Virginia Laird and Tara Keepers fell 2-6, 1-6, then 2-8 in consolation.
”The girls’ side is definitely deeper than the boys’ side, so for our girls it was good experience,” Hollingsworth said.
”We should have most of our players back next year, bringing this year’s experience with them, plus some new players,” Hollingsworth said. ”It would be great to have 12 girls for a full team, and to get more depth on the boys’ team.”
