Oregon high school baseball semifinals highlights; vote for Tuesday's top star
By Dan Brood
The Oregon high school baseball playoffs continued Tuesday with state semifinals in all classes. Here's a look at some of the highlights.
Note: Entries are based on information provided by coaches. Don't see any details for your game? Email some notes/stats to danbrood91@gmail.com.
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Class 6A semifinals
West Linn 5, Lakeridge 4
The Lions got off to a fast start and held off the hard-charging Pacers to get the victory at Lakeridge High School.
West Linn struck quickly, getting a three-run homer by senior Spencer Sullivan and an RBI single by senior Kace Naone to jump out to a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
The Lions tacked on another run in the top of the fourth inning, with sophomore Gabe Howard touching the plate on a wild pitch.
Lakeridge came fighting back, starting in the bottom of the sixth inning. An RBI double by junior Paul Wilson and an RBI single by senior Mason Utech made the score 5-2.
The Pacers got even closer in the seventh. An RBI single by senior Zach Johnson and another RBI by Wilson made the score 5-4 with two outs, but West Linn reliever Drake Gabel got a game-ending strikeout.
Junior Drew Talavs picked up the pitching win, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out six in five and two-thirds innings.
West Linn, which improved to 24-7, will face Three Rivers League foe Canby in the Class 6A state championship game Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Lakeridge, also from the Three Rivers League, finished its season 25-6.
Canby 14, Clackamas 9
Canby struck first with a seven-run second inning. Clackamas responded, tying the score with a seven-run fourth inning. Canby answered, scoring six times in the top of the fifth, and this time, the Cavaliers couldn’t respond.
The Cougars, in a wild game which included 23 runs and 23 hits, came away with a win at Clackamas High School.
Senior Kellan Oakes helped lead Canby’s 13-hit attack, going 3 for 5 with a double, a triple, a run and three RBIs. Senior Clayton Langdale hit a home run, scored twice and drove in two. Senior Theo Netter went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs. Senior Bryce Oliver went 2 for 5 with two doubles, two runs and an RBI. Senior Mikey Gibson scored twice while having a hit and an RBI.
For Clackamas, senior Jacen Rademacher went 2 for 4 with a home run, two runs and three RBIs. Junior Garrett Strube doubled and drove in two runs. Senior Jackson Jaha went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Senior Ashton MacClanathan had a hit and two runs.
Canby, which moved to 19-12, will face Three Rivers League rival West Linn in the Class 6A state championship game Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Clackamas finished its season 26-5.
Class 5A semifinals
Lebanon 3, Willamette 2
The Warriors scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to erase a 2-0 deficit and get the victory at Lebanon High School.
Junior Colton Vandetta drove in junior Tyler Walker with a sacrifice fly for what turned out to be the winning run. Junior Sam Thompson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and junior Zach Lyon drew a bases-loaded walk to account for the other two Lebanon runs.
Walker also picked up the pitching win, moving him to 9-0 on the season, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out four and walking two. Junior Ryan Rivers pitched the seventh inning, striking out all three batters he faced, to get the save.
For Willamette, senior Dillon Butler went 2 for 4 with a double and a run. Junior Noah Cox and senior Griffen Bushnell also doubled for the Wolverines.
Lebanon, which improved to 23-4, will face Mid-Willamette Conference foe Crescent Valley in the Class 5A state championship game Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Willamette finished its season 23-4.
Crescent Valley 9, Wilsonville 4
The Raiders smacked 12 hits on their way to getting the victory at Wilsonville High School.
Senior Garrett Bozdeck helped lead the Crescent Valley attack, going 2 for 4 with a triple, a run and four RBIs. Senior Noah Dewey went 3 for 3 with two runs. Senior Caleb Kelley went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Senior Zach Escobar went 2 for 2 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore Luey Campos had a hit, two runs and two RBIs.
Senior Landen Parker pitched the first six innings for the Raiders, giving up three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out five and walking four.
For Wilsonville, senior Jack Johnson went 2 for 3 with a run and an RBI.
Crescent Valley, which improved to 19-10, will face Lebanon in the Class 5A state championship game Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Wilsonville finished its season 25-4.
Class 4A semifinals
La Grande 8, Philomath 0
Senior Devin Bell provided the power for the Tigers, both at the plate and on the mound, in their victory at La Grande.
Bell, in a complete-game performance, threw a no-hitter, striking out 11 and walking two. At the plate, he went 3 for 3 with a home run, a walk and three RBIs.
Senior Nick Bornstedt added a hit and two RBIs for La Grande, which had 10 hits while seven batters in its lineup reached base.
La Grande, which improved to 27-1, will face Hidden Valley in the Class 4A state championship game Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Philomath finished its season 17-10.
Hidden Valley 10, Mazama 1
The Mustangs scored three runs in the bottom of the second inning and added seven more in the third on their way to getting the victory at Hidden Valley High School.
Senior Caleb Richter led Hidden Valley’s 10-hit attack, going 2 for 4 with a home run, a double and four RBIs. Senior Isaac Hill homered and drove in two runs. Senior Nate Vidlak had a hit and drove in two runs.
Vidlak also picked up the pitching victory, giving up one run on six hits while striking out 10 and walking two.
Sophomore Marcos Ulloa-Ford hit a first-inning home run to account for Mazama’s run.
Hidden Valley, which improved to 27-2, will face La Grande in the Class 4A state championship game Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Mazama finished its season 19-9.
Class 3A semifinals
Santiam Christian 5, Blanchet Catholic 4 (9 innings)
The Eagles got a walk-off bases-loaded bunt from sophomore Jacob Yenchik, with senior Ely Kennel scoring from third base on the play, giving Santiam Christian a thrilling, nine-inning victory at Santiam Christian.
The Eagles also got a clutch home run from Kennel leading off the bottom of the seventh to tie the score at 4-4.
Kennel went 4 for 5 with two runs and two RBIs. Senior Jadon Roth went 2 for 5 with a triple and a run. Roth also pitched three hitless innings, striking out three and walking one.
For Blanchet Catholic, senior Sam Schindler went 2 for 5 with a home run. Freshman Carson McNally went 3 for 4 with two doubles and three RBIs.
Santiam Christian, which improved to 20-8, will face South Umpqua in the Class 3A state championship game Friday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Blanchet Christian finished its season 19-6.
South Umpqua 7, Yamhill-Carlton 6
The Lancers got a walk-off single by junior Jace Johnson in the seventh inning, with senior Kade Johnson scoring on the play, giving the team a thrilling 7-6 win in the back-and-forth contest at South Umpqua.
Yamhill-Carlton scored two runs in the top of the seventh to go up 6-5 before South Umpqua answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
For South Umpqua, which had just four hits in the game, Kade Johnson tripled, scored twice and drove in two runs. Senior Jordan Stevenson hit a solo home run.
For Yamhill-Carlton, senior Wyatt Hurley went 2 for 3 with a double and a run. Hurley also pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run on five hits while striking out 11 and walking one.
Junior Gavin Stafford went 2 for 3 with two runs for the Tigers. Junior Carson Robarts went 2 for 3 with a double, a run and an RBI.
South Umpqua, which improved to 24-5, will face Santiam Christian in the Class 3A state championship game Friday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Yamhill-Carlton finished its season 20-6.
Class 2A/1A semifinals
Umpqua Valley Christian 4, Dufur/South Wasco County 3 (9 innings)
The Monarchs got a walk-off run in the ninth inning, coming on a bunt by senior Nathan York with junior Levi Heard scoring on the play, to get the home victory.
Sophomore Will Haynes helped lead the Umpqua Valley Christian offense, going 2 for 3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Sophomore Daniel Withers went 2 for 4 with a run.
Withers, pitching in relief, also got the win. He gave up one run on three hits while striking out three and walking two in four innings.
For Dufur/South Wasco County, senior Brock Lafaver had a hit and drove in two runs. Senior Kaleb Pence doubled, scored a run and drove in a run.
Umpqua Valley Christian, which improved to 25-4, will face Kennedy in the Class 2A/1A state championship contest Friday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Dufur/South Wasco County finished its season 24-3.
Kennedy 11, Knappa 1
The Trojans pounded out 10 hits on their way to getting the five-inning victory at Kennedy High School.
Senior Riley Cantu led the offensive attack for Kennedy, going 4 for 4 with a double, a run and two RBIs. Junior Ethan Kleinschmit had a hit, three runs and an RBI. Juniors Charlie Beyer, Luke Beyer and Andrew Cuff each scored twice.
Kleinschmit pitched the first four and two-thirds innings for Kennedy, giving up one run on three hits while striking out 10 and walking none.
For Knappa, senior Mark Miller had a hit and scored a run.
Kennedy, which improved to 26-3, will face Umpqua Valley Christian in the Class 2A/1A state championship game Friday at Volcanoes Stadium in Keizer.
Knappa finished its season 21-5.
