Not so fast closing that state-championship window on Weston-McEwen's softball team.
The TigerScots, 2A/1A runners-up to Grant Union/Prairie City the last three seasons, appear ready to contend again despite losing some key pieces to graduation.
Ranked second in the OSAAtoday 2A/1A coaches poll, Weston-McEwen improved to 5-1 on Tuesday with a 7-2 home win over top-ranked and previously unbeaten Heppner/Ione in a Special District 7 game.
“We're on pace for some of our goals,” coach Jeff Griggs said. “We certainly don't think that we've arrived in any sense of the word, but we're happy to beat Heppner. They're a great team.”
Among the six starters back from the 2025 state finals lineup are senior pitcher Brielle Ward, senior infielder Hope Berry and senior catcher Lily Langford. Last year, Ward was the 2A/1A pitcher of the year and Berry made the first team.
“We have a really good battery coming back, but we're so young in so many places,” Griggs said. “I hope that we'll be a more well-rounded team as the year goes on. We're piecing it together.”
Against Heppner, Ward tossed a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts and three walks to earn the win. Berry, Ward and sophomore Reagan Pickard hit consecutive RBI singles for a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third. The TigerScots scored four runs to make it 7-2 in the sixth, getting a two-run triple from Langford and a two-run single from Pickard.
The win halted a strong start to the season by Heppner, which averaged 12.6 runs in winning its first five games.
“The girls are going to take a lot from that,” Griggs said of the victory. “I think they feel like, if we play like we played in that game, if we pitch like we pitched, if we get quality at-bats, we can compete. For the younger girls, that was a really good thing for them. Beating them with all of our young players was a real encouragement.”
Weston-McEwen is carrying seven freshmen on its roster. Outfielder Olivia Sargent and utility player Genevieve VanHouten have started games, along with Georgianna Morris, who has contributed as a designated player.
The TigerScots are counting on new players to step up after graduating two key bats in Kylie Kramer and Ava Sams (first-team all-state), who batted second and third, respectively, last season.
“Our goal is to get quality at-bats, even if we don't get hits, and try to be a threat down the lineup,” Griggs said. “They're trying to figure it out. There's a good team chemistry. That goes a long ways.”
Langford is leading the way on offense, batting .727 with four doubles, three triples, three home runs, 21 RBIs, five stolen bases and 14 runs. She is hitting second in the order, behind junior second baseman Megan McLough (.318) and ahead of Berry (.591, nine RBIs) and Ward (.536, one home run, seven RBIs).
Ward has been outstanding in the circle. In 39 innings, she has allowed 20 hits, struck out 76 and walked 20 and has a 1.62 ERA. Her leadership also has been vital for the younger players.
“She's really taking a lot of ownership in helping them get up to speed,” Griggs said.
The seniors have a sense of urgency after getting close to winning the program's first state title the last three years.
“When these girls were sophomores, I go, 'You guys got two years to get this done,'” Griggs said. “So this year, I think it's motivational because they don't want to have to go backward. They want to move forward. I know they have high expectations.”
The TigerScots' only loss so far was a 9-0 defeat to 3A No. 5 Vale in a tournament at La Grande on March 27. Vale freshman Sophie Navarrete handcuffed them, throwing one-hitter with 19 strikeouts and no walks. Ward fanned 16 in the game but was undone by eight walks and two hit batters.
Weston-McEwen will get another crack at Vale (7-0) when it visits the Vikings for a playoff tuneup May 21.
6A unbeatens fall
The last remaining unbeaten teams in 6A suffered their first losses this week, both at home against unranked teams.
No. 1 Glencoe fell to Tualatin 5-1 on Tuesday and No. 3 Lake Oswego lost to Mountainside 1-0 on Wednesday.
Tualatin (8-1) beat Glencoe (9-1) behind the pitching of sophomore Reese Strode, who threw a four-hitter with one strikeout and one walk. Freshman Ella Bieberdorf broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh with an RBI single, and the Timberwolves added three more runs on an error, wild pitch and groundout.
Mountainside junior Jojo Appling won a pitching duel against Lake Oswego senior Ava Beach. Appling tossed a three-hitter with nine strikeouts and one walk and Beach pitched a six-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks.
The Mavericks (7-3) scored a run on a two-out rally in the top of the sixth inning and held off the Lakers (9-1). Senior Avery Gaoiran singled and senior Olivia Patterson followed with an RBI double.
Navarrete shines
Vale's Sophia Naverrete continued the blazing start to her freshman season Thursday by leading the 3A No. 5 Vikings to a 5-2 win at 4A No. 4 Pendleton.
Navarrete pitched a five-hitter, striking out 15 and walking none, and went 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI as Vale improved to 7-0. For the season, Navarrete is batting .727 with eight doubles, two home runs and 16 RBIs. In 18 innings, she has allowed six hits, struck out 43, walked one and has an ERA of 0.39.
Pelicans' turnaround
Coming off a 3-22 season, Klamath Union has done an about-face. The 4A Pelicans improved to 8-0 on Wednesday by sweeping 3A Rogue River 10-7 and 12-7 in a home doubleheader.
In the opener, sophomore Jocelyn Rice went 3 for 4 with a double, triple and two RBIs and senior Anyssa Jimenez went 2 for 4 and drove in three runs.
In the second game, Jimenez (3 for 3), sophomores Seven Harris and Emilia Seguera and freshman Amiah Andrews each drove in two runs. Jimenez and Seguera had two doubles apiece.
Junior Alexandra Pinacho is batting a team-high .600 with four doubles and nine RBIs. Jimenez (.423, 13 RBIs) and Rice (.385, three doubles, three triples, 12 RBIs) also are swinging hot bats.
jerryu@osaa.org
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