Softball team wins league championship

The Huskies finished the regular softball season with week of close calls and a pair of the toughest opponents around.

They shocked the Oregon West champions and the defending state champions on Monday afternoon when Cascade brought its 21-2 record to Husky field, and the Huskies did not back down, winning 6-3 in the non-league game.

Central brought a 15-game winning streak to Sweet Home Saturday for a doubleheader, and the Huskies lost 3-1 and 7-5.

Friday, the Huskies let Junction City slip ahead in the top of the seventh but closed the books on the Tigers 3-2 in the bottom half of the seventh.

On Thursday, the Huskies dominated Cottage Grove 13-2, winning under the 10-run rule in the fifth inning.

The Huskies finished league play 13-2, and they are 17-5 overall.

They will host Stayton from the Oregon West Conference on Friday in the first round of playoffs. Stayton finished league 7-8 and 8-9 overall.

Sweet Home 6, Cascade 3

“Cascade only graduated one senior last year and are certainly one of the best teams in the state,” said Coach Steve Hummer. “I think tonight we showed we are also one of the best teams in the state. This win really gives us a lot of confidence going into Thursday’s game playoff game against Stayton.”

Cascade scored first in the fourth inning on a solo homerun, while the Huskies responded in the bottom of the fourth by playing small ball and capitalizing on a Cascade miscue.

Sweet Home added two in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Shelbey Gillespie and later a squeeze bunt off of Tasha Saunders’ bat.

“The squeeze was huge,” Hummer said. “It gave us a two-run lead going into the sixth. I felt pretty good about that. Cascade, however, did what champions do. They responded by taking advantage of a two-out miscue and then strung together three more hits to tie the score at 3-3.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Hailey Hummer led off with a walk, and Katie Virtue moved her to second on a sac bunt. Ashley Cochran walked, and Sarah Wyatt bunted them over again, leaving runners at second and third for Emili Riggs.

Cascade intentionally walked Riggs, showing her a tremendous amount of respect, Hummer said. “The walk loaded the bases for Bayli Riggs, and she did not disappoint.”

Bayli Riggs hit a line drive single to right field, Hummer said, and it was misplayed, rolling to the fence and scoring three runs.

Megan Graville pitched 5-1/3 innings of great ball, Hummer said. “Cascade’s lineup is feared across the state, and she stared them down pitch after pitch. She really did an outstanding job of holding them down and letting us get going.”

Bayli Riggs pitched the last five outs and got the win.

“This was a great win for us going into the playoffs,” Hummer said. “This gives us a great deal of confidence. Stayton will be another test for us, but tonight we showed how good we can be, and I have a great deal of confidence we will have success in the playoffs.”

Cascade 000 102 0 – 3 8 1

Sweet Home 000 123 x – 6 6 3

WP: Riggs

LP: Ganfield

Doubles: E. Riggs, Sweet Home.

Homeruns: Ganfield, Cascade.

Central 3, Sweet Home 1

Central brought a 15-game winning streak to Sweet Home on Saturday and beat the Huskies in a non-league game. Central’s Emily Kenyon struck out 14 Huskies on her way to a three-hit victory.

“She is simply the best pitcher at our level in the state right now,” Hummer said. “It was a great opportunity for us to compete and make ourselves a better team.

“I felt we were a little tired from having four games in three days, but she is the kind of pitcher that can really make you feel tired every night. It was great to face her, she is tough, it will make us better and prepare us for the playoffs.”

The Panthers collected 11 hits on the Huskies, but the Huskies played solid defense, Hummer said. “We just couldn’t get the hits we needed to beat them .”

Emili Riggs went 1-3. Freshmen Virtue was 1-2 with a triple, and Graville was 1-3.

Game 1

Central 100 200 0 – 3 11 1

Sweet Home 000 010 0 – 1 3 1

WP: Kenyon

LP: Graville

Triples: Virtue, Sweet Home

Central 7, Sweet Homel 5

Struggling mentally, the Huskies dropped their second game against the Panthers.

“I think we just got tired and lost focus,” Hummer said. “Emily Marchbanks was a bright spot for us though. She pitched two hitless innings against a very good Central team. That’s a tough spot for a freshmen to come into, and she looked great. It really showed the depth of our pitching, and I think Emily has a very bright future.”

The Huskies had five girls collect one hit each but could not muster enough offense.

Game 2

Central 105 100 0 – 7 5 3

Sweet Home 200 300 0 – 5 5 2

WP: Cole

LP: B. Riggs

Doubles: Kenyon, Central

Sweet Home 3, Junction City 2

The Huskies clinched the Sky-Em championship Friday night at home.

In the bottom of a thrilling seventh-inning fight, Emili Riggs went to the plated and delivered a walk-off single that scored Hailey Hummer and Virtue for a 3-2 win against Junction City.

The win gave the Huskies a 13-2 Sky-Em record and the outright league championship, the team’s first outright league title since 1989. The Huskies tied Cascade for the Capital Conference title in 2006.

The Huskies scored their first run and took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning. Junction City scored twice in the top of the seventh, taking a 2-1 lead as the Huskies went to bat.

“Bayli Riggs pitched incredibly well tonight, giving up only two hits but was the bad luck pitcher collecting no decision,” Hummer said. “Graville finished the seventh and collected the win. Bayli pitched had one of her best performances of the year on senior night. It was truly a great game for her.”

Cochran went 2-4 with two stolen bases. Hailey Hummer was 1-2, and Katie Vitrue was 1-3 with two swipes.

“Junction City walked Emili three times tonight, showing the respect they have for her,” Hummer said. “But in the seventh, the bases were loaded, and they had to pitch to her. She did what great hitters do. She made them pay and clinched the Sky-Em championship. “

Junction City 000 000 2 – 2 2 1

Sweet Home 000 010 2 – 3 6 1

WP: Graville

LP: Devorak

Sweet Home 13, Cottage Grove 2

Sweet Home buried Cottage Grove 13-2 last Wednesday on the road.

The Huskies were led by Bayli Riggs, who went 4-4 with four RBIs, a double and a triple.

Sweet Home stole eight bases on the night, led by Wyatt’s three thefts. Wyatt, Emili Riggs, Graville and Virtue all had multiple hits.

Sweet Home 230 71 – 13 14 1

Cottage Grove 020 00 – 2 2 6

WP: Graville

LP: Hensley

Doubles: B. Riggs, M Graville, Sweet Home.

Triples : B. Riggs, Sweet Home.

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