The Sweet Home High School softball team will host Stayton on Wednesday in the first round of state playoffs.
Finishing first in league with a 13-2 record, 18-3 overall, the Huskies received a bye during play-in week, during which they defeated 5A Division Willamette High School 5-3 on the road in a non-league game held on May 20.
The Huskies scored twice in the second inning and once in the fifth. Going into the seventh, the Huskeis led 3-0.
“We got two outs, and then one of their batters hit a little bitty popup just behind the pitcher,” said Coach Shane Cochran. Emily Marchbanks didn’t catch it. There was a little confusion about whether she or the shortstop would grab it. “They just started a little rally.”
With a couple of base hits, Willamette had tied the game 3-3.
The Huskies scored twice in the eighth to get the win.
Katie Virtue and Mackenzie Virtue both had base hits in the eighth, Cochran said, and then Caytlin Gillespie hit a shot to score both of the Virtue sisters.
The Huskies held Willamette to three up and three down in the eighth inning.
Katie Virtue and McKenzie Cochran led hitting, going 3-4.
The Huskies collected 14 hits overall, Cochran said. “Willamatte, they’re a good, good team. They’ve got a really good pitcher.”
Emily Marchbanks pitched a really good game, Cochran said. She had four strikeouts, and “our defense was a big part of that game.
The Huskies will face Stayton at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Cochran said. “I’m expecting them to be ready. They’re a solid team. We beat them 9-2 earlier this season. I know they’ve gotten better, but we’ve gotten a lot better too. It should be a good game. I’m looking for it to be a close game.
“Marchbanks is gong to have to do her job and strike some batters out.”
The Huskies will have to play really good defense too, Cochran said.
Stayton’s pitcher will throw strikes, Cochran said, and if the Huskies are facing a pitcher who throws strikes, they’ll be hitting the ball too, something they’ve been doing well at recently, with 10 to 18 hits per game.
The Huskies are sixth in the Oregon Student Activities Association rankings headed into playoffs.
The Eagles, ranked 12th, finished the in the Oregon West Conference in third place with a 10-5 record. Taft, ranked 10th, finished second there, also with a 10-5 record, behind eighth-ranked Newport, 12-3.
Stayton defeated La Grande 8-1 on the road in the play-in round on Thursday to get to the Huskies.