By Mike Warner
For The New Era
The Lebanon baseball team won a home-and-home series with Woodburn last week, then lost a close one to visiting West Albany, 3-2, Friday, May 8.
At home on Monday, May 4, the Warriors brought the lumber, recording 15 hits and nine bases on balls, producing 20 runs.
Brayden Fountain had a spectacular game, hitting a grand slam and totaling five RBIs for the game.
Trey Enright and Trenton Lewis recorded three hits, each with two doubles. Trenton Lewis threw a one-hitter with nine strikeouts.
The Wednesday game, at Woodburn, was much the same.
Lebanon’s bats were nearly as active, as the Warriors totaled nine hits and 10 runs. Lebanon scored seven runs in the first four innings to take a commanding 7-2 lead.
Trey Enright, Wyatt Jenkins and Jaidyn Von Ruden each recorded two hits. Enright and Jenkins each had two RBI. Preston Bryan took over as relief pitcher in the third inning, holding the Bulldogs to just one hit and recording six strikeouts.
The Friday game with West Albany was a nail-biter.
Lebanon scored a run in the bottom of the first, and West Albany tied things up in the third, then scored two more in the fourth, thanks partially to a missed catch in the outfield. The Warriors had the tying run on third base in the bottom of the seventh but were unable to plate the run.
The Warriors finished with seven hits and two runs, while the Bulldogs had just five hits but were able to plate three runs.
Lewis had a dominating game on the mound, striking out 15 of 21 batters. Coupled with the nine strikeouts on Monday, that gave Lewis 24 K’s for the week.
This week, the Warriors have three games, traveling to West Albany Monday, hosting Silverton on Wednesday, May13, then traveling to the play the Foxes on the road Friday.
Lebanon came into this week 6-7 in Mid-Willamette Conference play, 8-14 overall, and tied with Crescent Valley for sixth in the league. Silverton, one notch up in the rankings, was 7-6, with Dallas in fourth (9-5). Central and West Albany were tied for second at 11-2, behind Corvallis (12-1). The top four teams automatically qualify for the 16-team playoffs.
Lebanon softball splits two games
Lebanon’s softball team won its second league game of the season, downing Corvallis 18-3 on the road Friday, May 8, after losing 13-1 at home to Central on Monday.
The Warriors came into this week 2-7 in league play, 5-14 overall, in seventh place in the MWC standings.
Central was a difficult game for the hosts, as the Panthers scored eight runs in the first three innings, all but locking to door on Lebanon’s post-season possibilities. The six runs they scored in the fifth inning did the deed.
The Warriors scored one in the first and two in the fourth to make things interesting.
The Warriors managed five hits; two each by Hailey Myers and Scarlett French. Central recorded 10 hits.
Against the Spartans, the Warrior bats exploded for 11 hits and 18 runs, while holding the Spartans to just three and three.
Hailey Myers recorded four hits and two RBIs, and Tatum Cole had three hits, including a home run, a double and a single, which totaled five RBIs.
Annastazia Marshall recorded a double and three RBIs. Bristol Hockema pitched a complete-game three-hitter.
This week, the Warriors host West Albany on Monday, visit Crescent Valley on Wednesday, and host Silverton on Friday. West (8-3) came into this week second in the MWC behind unbeaten Dallas, with Silverton third (7-3).
