Sweet Home’s softball team seemed to be holding its own early on at No. 1-ranked Scappoose Tuesday, May 26, in the first round of the 4A state playoffs, but then the Indians flexed their offensive muscle and held the Huskies scoreless en route to an 8-0 win.
Scappoose’s bats came alive in the second inning against Sweet Home starter Katriana “Peanut” Harris, and, thanks in part to home runs by Sophia Bloyd and Saige Casey, the hosts ran off six runs in the bottom of the second to leave the Huskies in a big hole.
Sweet Home could not figure out Scappoose starter Casey, who finished with 14 strikeouts, one walk and allowed just one hit in seven innings.
The Huskies’ single hit came from Aaliyah Brown, who stroked a double leading off the third inning.
Harris finished with one strikeout and two walks, but gave up eight hits, allowing two earned runs.
Casey threw 83 pitches, 63 of them strikes.
Some tough defense from the Huskies kept the lid on things through the latter innings, as the Indians got a lead-off run from Kayla Brainerd who homered in the bottom of the fifth, and Elly Casey added a final home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Sweet Home finishes 14-13 overall, and third in the Oregon West Conference with an 8-7 record. The Huskies are graduating seven seniors: Harris, Anabelle Morris, Aubrey Newberry, Miley Smith, Natalie Smith, Addy Vanice and Trinity Victor.