Warriors Baseball Heats Up
Lebanon went 2-1 last week in baseball, dropping a close 9-8 decision at home to Dallas on Monday, April 27, but then exploding against South Albany, 21-4 on the road Wednesday and 11-1 at home Friday.
Coach Jeff Stolsig’s prediction that the team would improve going forward looks on point.
The Warriors went into this week 4-6 in Mid-Willamette Conference play, tied for fifth with Silverton at 4-6. Corvallis and Central were tied for the league lead at 10-0 each, and West Albany and Dallas were in third, tied at 8-2.
Lebanon had a very good game offensively against Dallas, recording 11 hits. Cohen Vandiver and Austin Turnidge each collected three hits for the Warriors. Cole Gerig and Jaidyn Von Ruden had two each. Vandiver, Gerig and Turnidge each had doubles. Lebanon had a solid lead for most of the game but Dallas scored six runs in the top of the seventh and Lebanon was unable to add a tying run.
The Warriors’ bats came out big-time against South Albany. The Warriors recorded 19 hits in the first game and 12 in the second.
Lebanon scored early and often, so neither game was particularly close.
In the Wednesday game, Trey Enright, Wyatt Jenkins and Turnidge had three hits. Cohen Vandiver, Von Ruden and Preston Bryan each had two. Of those hits, Trey Enright and Niko Autry had triples and Jaidyn Von Ruden and Wyatt Jenkins had doubles.
Owen Wodtli pitched the entire game allowing four hits, three earned runs and striking out seven.
In the Friday game, the score was not so lopsided, but the Warrior bats still affected great impact on the game. Von Ruden and Trenton Lewis each had three hits. Enright and Jenkins had two hits.
The long ball was a factor in this game as Turnidge and Lewis each belted home runs.
Bryan went the entire game on the mound, holding the RedHawks to four hits and just one earned run and striking out four.
The quality of opposition on the schedule continues to be a challenge for the Warriors with roughly two weeks left in the season, though they have a home-and-home with Woodburn, which came into this week 1-9 in MWC play, but will host West Albany on Friday.
After the Bulldogs, whom Lebanon will play on the road Monday, May 11, they have home-and-homes with Silverton and Crescent Valley, which gives them opportunities to move up in the league standings as the season winds down.
– Mike Warner
Lebanon Softball Continues to Battle
Lebanon’s softball team had it rough last week, with an 11-1 loss Monday at home to No. 2 Dallas, the league leader, and then a 4-3 heart-breaker to South Albany.
Dallas jumped on the Warriors with six runs in the first inning, two in the second and two more in the third. Lebanon managed just three hits, two by Hailey Myers. Dallas had nine hits and six walks.
The Wednesday game against South Albany was considerably more competitive.
The Warriors stayed close the entire game. South scored two in the first and fourth innings to take a 4-1 lead.
Lebanon scored single runs in the top of the fifth and sixth to close the lead to just one, but the Warriors were not able to plate another run in the seventh.
Five Warriors had hits including two by Jalynn Wilson. Wilson, Scarlett French and Annastazia Marshall each had doubles.
Brystol Hockema pitched the entire game striking out four and allowing only one earned run.
This week the Warriors, 1-6 in MWC play, 4-13 overall, again have only two games. They hosted Central on Monday, May 4, and then travel to Corvallis (3-5 coming into this week) on Friday.
– Mike Warner
Huskies go 2-1 in softball
Sweet Home softball put together a strong showing last week, finishing 2-1 and highlighted by a dominant 16-0 win over No. 20 Philomath.
The Huskies opened with a narrow 6-5 victory over North Marion, using a balanced offensive effort to secure the win.
Sweet Home tallied 14 hits, with multiple players contributing throughout the lineup. Aaliyah Brown and Katriona Harris each recorded three hits, while Kylie Silacci, Emma Rosa, and Ava Newberry added two hits apiece.
Addison Vannice helped lead the offense, scoring two runs and driving in another, as the Huskies did just enough to hold off North Marion in a close finish.
Sweet Home followed with a 6-3 loss to Stayton, where offensive struggles and defensive miscues proved costly. The Huskies were limited to six hits and struck out 11 times.
Brown led the way offensively with two hits and two RBIs, while Trinity Victor added two hits. Despite getting runners on base, Sweet Home was unable to consistently string together productive at-bats.
“I think we need to have good at bats from the start of the game,” Coach Emily Marchbanks said. “I also think that we need to eliminate defensive errors (especially ones that cascade into unearned runs).”
The Huskies bounced back in a big way against Philomath, delivering their most complete performance of the week in a 16-0 shutout.
“It feels good to see the work the girls have been putting in pay off,” Marchbanks said.
Sweet Home came out aggressive at the plate, scoring early and often while taking advantage of disciplined at-bats. The Huskies finished with 11 hits and six walks, while striking out just twice.
Emma Rosa led the way with three hits and two RBIs, while Harris, Victor, and Hannahe Sieminski each recorded two hits. Brown added a hit, two runs, and an RBI, as nearly every player contributed offensively.
“Philomath had a different pitcher throw than the pitcher that threw against us last time we played them,” Marchbanks said. “She was easier for our team to hit. I do feel like the girls did a much better job of jumping on the other team’s pitcher right away instead of waiting so long to have good at-bats.”
The difference from earlier matchups with Philomath was evident, as the Huskies capitalized early rather than waiting to adjust.
“Philomath had a different pitcher throw than the pitcher that threw against us last time we played them,” Marchbanks said. “She was easier for our team to hit, I do feel like the girls did a much better job of jumping on the other team’s pitcher right away instead of waiting so long to have good at bats.”
With the strong response, Sweet Home showed both resilience and potential, but the focus now shifts to maintaining consistency against top teams.
The Huskies, 3-3 in Oregon West Conference play coming into this week, 9-8 overall, will look to build off the momentum as they face No. 8 Cascade, undefeated in OWP coming into the game, at home on Monday. The Huskies then travel to Newport Wednesday, before hosting North Marion Thursday.
– Keeghan Gittins
Tennis: Lady Warriors Tie
Lebanon’s girls tied Central on the road 3-3 Tuesday, April 28, then fell 8-0 to Crescent Valley at home on Thursday, April 30.
Crescent Valley showed why it is one of the top teams in the state, as the Raiders largely dominated both the singles and doubles matches. The Warriors’ No. 1 doubles team of Greta Abbott and Daniela Sanchez-Guzman had the most success on the day, winning three games in a 6-1, 6-2 loss.
Lebanon had a better day Tuesday, winning two singles and one doubles match.
Alison Frey defeated Chelsea Bowman 6-4, 6-4 in the No. 1 singles match, and Hailey Destowet won her No. 2 singles match 6-3, 6-3 for the Warriors.
In the No. 1 doubles match, Abbott and Sanchez-Guzman won 6-3, 6-2.
Jane Gonzalez and Payton Voight put up a fight in the No. 3 doubles match with Central’s Keiko Zellner and Hannah Smith, winning the first set 6-4, but falling 6-0 in the second and then losing 7-5 in the third set.
The girls finish their regular season Tuesday, May 5, at South Albany.
– Staff
Lebanon Boys Tennis
The Warriors struggled in an 8-0 loss to Crescent Valley on the road Thursday, April 30, but did better in a 7-1 win over Central at home Tuesday, April 28.
Lebanon won two singles and swept the doubles against the Panthers.
Micah Zderad won in No. 1 singles (6-0, 6-3) and Daniel Doerzapf won the No. 3 match 6-3, 6-1.
In doubles, Benjamin Clinger and Joshua Allydice won the No. 1 doubles match 6-3, 6-0, with the No. 2 doubles team of Landyn Whitney and Silas Fitchett, and No. 3 doubles players Hunter Jacobsen and Ryan Robinson getting default wins.
The boys host South Albany Tuesday, May 5, to end their regular season.
Districts are May 13-15 at Timberhill Tennis Club in Corvallis. Lebanon has 12 players that will compete in districts; seeding will be announced Friday, May 8.
“Going into seeding and districts we have a couple (of players who) are playing decent right now,” Coach Jacob Butler said. “ Micah Zderad is playing pretty good right now and looks like he could be a contender. We also have a couple doubles teams that, with the right draw, can get into Day 2 of districts and maybe get an upset.”
– Staff
Sweet Home Boys Golf
Trent Harvey led Sweet Home’s boys with a 10-over 82 Wednesday, April 29, at the Oregon 4A State Preview Wednesday, April 29, at Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell.
The Huskies shot a team score of 381 to finish 12th out of 15 teams in the event, which drew some of the top schools in the 4A Division, as well as Columbia River of Vancouver, Wash., which won the event with 319.
Marist was second (324), followed by St. Helens (343), Pendleton (346) and Cascade (457).
Evan Malabago finished with a 98, followed by Henry Gainer (99), Lynkin Royer (102) and Blayne Schuster (116).
Up next for the Huskies is the district tournament May 11-12 at Tokatee in McKenzie Bridge.
– Staff
Sweet Home Girls Golf
Sweet Home’s girls finished sixth among six scoring teams on a rough day at Salishan in Lincoln City, in which even top 4A/3A/2A/1A golfers struggled, few shooting under 100 for the round.
Isabella Wagner led the Huskies with a 112, followed by Lynmikka Damag (122), Tori Victor (129), Taelyn Coleman (141) and Eleanor Larsen (146).
Only Santiam Christian’s Emory Langeliers (85) and Akira White (88), and Blanchet’s Hallie Beyer (96), normally near-par golfers, finished under 100.
Sweet Home hosted the Special District 3 district tournament Monday and Tuesday, May 4-5, of this week.
– Staff
Lebanon Boys Golf
Lebanon’s boys finished sixth out of nine scoring teams in an MWC match Monday, May 27, at the OGA Golf Course in Woodburn.
The Warriors shot 351 to best South Albany (356). Corvallis won with 325, followed by Crescent Valley and Silverton (332), and West Albany and Dallas (337).
Sam Tunstill shot a seven-over 79 to lead Lebanon, followed by Joey Squires (83), Tanner Lee (93), Austin George (96) and Jaden Offutt (147).
The boys will host the MWC district tournament Monday and Tuesday, May 11-12, at Mallard Creek.
– Staff
East Linn Boys Golf
East Linn’s boys finished fifth out of 10 scoring teams Monday, April 27, at McNary Golf Club in Keizer, hosted by Blanchet.
Parker Caddick led the Eagles with an 89 after Grady Knurowski had to withdraw from the competition after nine holes.
Anderson Kropf and Liam Medford both shot 95, and Wyatt Smothers finished with a 99, as ELCA scored 378 as a team. Pleasant Hill won the tournament with 338, followed by Santiam Christian (359), Salem Academy (361) and Regis (364).
The Eagles are scheduled to play in the Blue River State Preview Thursday, May 7, with districts on May 11 at Glendenen Beach.
– Staff
East Linn Home Track
East Linn’s girls took the team win and the boys were second in the Eagles’ only high school track meet of the season Thursday, April 30.
The girls finished with 142 points to beat Delphian (110), Toledo (42), Santiam (22) and Monroe (19).
The boys were second with 78 points behind Delphian (120.5) and ahead of Monroe (57), Santiam (39.5) and Toledo (14).
Lexy Kauffman led the girls with wins in the 100 (13.02) and 200 (26.13), both season’s bests, along with a leg on East Linn’s winning 4×400 team that also included Erin Davey, Kaylyn Kauffman and June Cowan.
Cowan won the 100 hurdles in a season’s-best 10.06 and was second in the 300 hurdles (51.82).
Also winning for the Eagles was Maci Modderman in the discus, scoring a personal best with a throw of 104-6, and finishing second in the shot, also with a PR, of 34-1.
Winners for the boys were Jonah Magness in the 800 (2:14.19), the 4×400 relay team of Magness, Josh Rehart, Gabe Talleur and Ryder Howard (3:37.67), Howard in the high jump (5-11) and the long jump (21-2, a personal best), and Hank Davidson in the pole vault (11-3).
For the girls, Svetlana Manner won the pole vault, clearing 7-9, and was third in the javelin (91-0) behind Allie Presley, second with 91-5.
Ella Stutzman was second in the triple jump (29-8, a PR) and Avery Runyon was third (28-0).
In the distances, Presley was second in the 800 (3:00.50) with Anna Henry third (3:11.39), while Morgan Lalonde was second in the 1500 (5:49.63) and Bella Albert finished second in the 3000 (13:02.86).
On the boys side, other top finishers were Rehart, second in the 100 (11.79) and 200 (23.33), both personal bests, with Howard third in the 200 (23.77, also a PR).
Jack Johnson was second in the 800, behind Magness, in a PR of 2:28.15.
Davidson, Talleur, Beckham Kramer and Magness combined for second in the 4×100 (46.71).
Davidson was third in the discus (110-10) and Kramer was second in the pole vault in a PR of 9-9.
Up next for East Linn is the Jim Mucken Memorial Invitational Friday, May 8, at Blanchet.
– Staff
East Linn Baseball
The Eagles had a tough time last week in a home-and-home series with No. 3-ranked Monroe, and being at home wasn’t an advantage as they lost 7-1 on the road, then both home games on Thursday and Saturday by the same 11-0 score.
East Linn couldn’t slow the Dragons, its pitching staff giving up nine hits in the first game, 10 in the second and nine in the third, while managing just two hits of its own in the first game, from Blake Burns and Marshall Darwood, one in the second from Asher Taylor and one in the third, from Casey May.
The Eagles entered this week 5-9 in Special District 3 play, 8-9 overall, and sitting sixth in the league. This week they travel to Culver on Tuesday, May 5, then host the Bulldogs for a double-header Friday, May 8.
– Staff