Sweet Home softball held onto third place in the 4A-3 Oregon West Conference last week with a win against Philomath, a team nipping at the Huskies’ heels from the conference’s fourth spot.
The win came in emphatic fashion at Philomath on Saturday afternoon, with Sweet Home winning 19-7. The game moved Sweet Home to a 7-4 league record, while Philomath fell to 6-5 in conference play.
Philomath struck first with two runs in the bottom of the second inning, but Sweet Home answered with a monster nine-run third frame.
A double by Brooke Burke to center field got things started, scoring Maddie Harris. Then Makayla Guthrie singled to the shortstop, scoring Burke and tying the game at 2-2. Later in the inning, Kelsie Rush grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Guthrie.
Adaira Sleutel then hit a two RBI single, scoring Adisen Graber and Rush, and bringing the score to 5-2. Sleutel would later score on a Chloe Fairchild single to left field. Fairchild would score alongside Mykal Johnston on a two-RBI double from Harris. Harris would later score on an error in the last run of the inning. With Sweet Home winning 9-2 going into the bottom of the frame, Philomath exhibited some offense of its own, bouncing back with four runs to make the score 9-6 after three.
In the fourth, Johnston scored on an error to stretch the lead to 10-6. Philomath scored its final run in the bottom of the fifth, pushing the score to 10-7. But Sweet Home’s offensive effort was far from over.
The Huskies scored two runs in the sixth to put the ballgame at 12-7. The first came when Guthrie grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Fairchild. The second came when Riley Watkins singled to center field, scoring Burke.
The Huskies capped their impressive offensive showing off with seven runs in the seventh inning.
Harris drew a walk to score Sleutel. Burke singled, scoring Johnston. Guthrie hit a two-RBI single, scoring Fairchild and Harris. Watkins grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Burke. Jocelyn Fairchild then grounded into a double play, which scored Natalie Summers. For the last run, Sleutel doubled to center field, scoring Rush.
Harris started in the circle for the Huskies, pitching two and one third innings. She allowed four earned runs on five hits, while striking out two and walking three.
Guthrie was the relief pitcher for the Huskies, pitching four and two thirds innings. She gave up zero earned runs on five hits, while striking out one and allowing no walks.
Guthrie also led Sweet Home with four RBIs. Harris and Sleutel each had three. Sleutel, Fairchild, Harris, Burke and Watkins each had three hits for the Huskies.
The Huskies got 19 hits in all, while Philomath had 10. Sweet Home committed three errors to Philomath’s two.
On Wednesday, April 27, Sweet Home lost 10-0 on the road to conference leading Cascade, its second loss in as many matchups this season against the Cougars, who are 14-3 overall and an undefeated 11-0 in conference play. Cascade hit three home runs in the game.
Cascade scored two runs in the bottom of the second, five in the third, one in the fifth, and two in the sixth. The Cougars outhit the Huskies 10-3, and committed no errors on defense, while Sweet Home had four.
Harris started in the circle and pitched two and one third innings. She allowed six earned runs on six hits, including two home-runs. She did not walk any batters.
Guthrie came in for relief and pitched three and one third innings. She allowed one earned run on four hits, including one home run, while striking out one and walking four batters.
Harris, Fairchild and Sleutel each had a single for the Huskies.
The next day at Woodburn (0-11), Sweet Home dominated play, ending the game after three innings with a 19-1 victory. Sweet Home scored three runs in the first inning, four in the second, and 12 in the third, while Woodburn’s sole run came in the bottom of the second on a home run.
Fairchild led the team with four RBIs, while Johnston and Guthrie each had two. Johnston, Fairchild and Harris each had two hits for the Huskies, and Fairchild and Harris each hit a triple in the game.
Guthrie pitched all three innings for Sweet Home, giving up one earned run on one hit, while striking out four and allowing no walks.
Sweet Home, now 12-5 overall, hosts Woodburn on Tuesday, May 3 at 4:30 p.m. They then travel to Sisters (4-8) on Wednesday, May 4 for another 4:30 p.m. game. The next day, the Huskies host Stayton (15-2), at 4:30 p.m. again.