North Medford was in position to win its first softball state championship since 2017 last season when it rallied with four runs in the sixth inning to tie Sherwood in the 6A final.
The Black Tornado couldn't sustain its momentum, though, and fell 10-6.
Fortunately for North Medford, the bulk of that team returned for another chance this season. And so far, the Black Tornado is taking care of business at 17-2 overall, 11-1 in the Southwest Conference.
“It gave them some motivation and drive to know how close they were, and how much they want to get over the hill this year,” coach Chris Campbell said. “They remember the opportunity they had to play in a game of that caliber, and also the bad taste in their mouths when they walked off the field.”
North Medford, No. 10 in the OSAAtoday 6A coaches poll, is winning behind a dynamic offense. The Black Tornado is hitting .366 as a team and averaging 11.1 runs per game, second in 6A to McDaniel (11.2).
Senior third baseman Becca Tuivanu (.552, four home runs, 32 RBIs), junior second baseman Gia Rutigliano (.455, two home runs, 14 RBIs), senior shortstop Natalie Tlascala (.444, three home runs, 32 RBIs) and senior left fielder Maili Hamlin (.429, 15 stolen bases, 11 RBIs) are leading the way.
The return of Rutigliano, who missed most of last season with injuries, has been a key factor in North Medford increasing its runs per game from 7.4 last season. She is hitting fifth behind Hamlin, freshman Capri Curtis, Tlascala and Tuivanu.
“Having Gia back as the No. 5 hitter to protect Natalie and Becca has helped us out a lot,” Campbell said. “She's been getting a lot of good production in the five-hole because they don't want to throw too many good pitches to 3 and 4.”
Tlascala and Tuivanu hit back-to-back home runs Friday during a doubleheader sweep of Willamette. North Medford won the second game 22-2 – a season-high output – in extending its winning streak to 11.
Tlascala, committed to Oregon Tech, is a fourth-year starter. Last season, she drove in 41 runs and was named the Southwest player of the year and second-team all-state.
Junior pitcher Julia Edwards, also a 6A second-team pick last year, is in her second season as the team's ace. In 69 1/3 innings, she has allowed 50 hits, struck out 90, walked 23 and has a 2.32 ERA.
Edwards worked on increasing velocity and improving control in the offseason and it has paid off. She has nearly matched her 94 strikeouts of last season, which she accomplished in 140 1/3 innings.
“I think she realized that she had to get a little faster, get a little better control, to be effective this year, and get us back to where we want to be,” Campbell said.
North Medford, which edged Roseburg by one game for the conference title last year, holds a two-game lead over the Indians (14-6, 9-3). The teams meet for three games next week.
The Black Tornado has not played a team currently ranked in the OSAAtoday coaches polls since opening the season by beating 5A No. 2 Crater 7-4 and losing to 6A No. 5 West Salem 2-0.
North Medford's other loss was a 7-1 home defeat to Grants Pass in a conference game April 7. The Black Tornado responded the following week by sweeping a doubleheader at Grants Pass, 12-7 and 16-8.
That sweep kick-started the 11-game winning streak, which included a 4-3 win at Sheldon in which North Medford pulled ahead with two runs in the seventh inning.
As the playoffs approach, Campbell is seeking more consistency from his team.
“We came into this with some high expectations,” he said. “We have the typical ups and downs that we shouldn't be having right now, but I think we're on the right track.
“The team has gelled a lot better lately than we were at the beginning. … If we can come together as a team, we can take that last step and walk out of there as the champions this year.”
Highlights from the past week:
No. 4 Forest Grove is alone in first place in the tough 6A Pacific Conference after rallying from a 3-0 deficit to win 6-3 at No. 3 Glencoe on Friday. Senior Cali Davis hit a grand slam in a five-run fifth inning as the Vikings pulled ahead 5-3, and freshman Grace Arruda added a solo shot. Junior Kherington Wright pitched a four-hitter with five strikeouts and four walks to earn the win. … No. 6 McNary is tied with No. 5 West Salem for first place in the 6A Central Valley Conference after a 6-3 home win over the Titans on April 29, getting payback for a loss in the conference opener. The Celtics took control after trailing 3-0 in the third inning. Senior Violet Siegel went 2 for 3 with a double and senior Natalie Macik went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Senior Ashlyn Wittnebel threw a six-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk. …
Barlow has surged to the top of the 6A Mt. Hood Conference after posting three wins last week. In a first-place showdown against visiting Sandy on April 27, the Bruins rolled 7-1 as junior Jaspen Lauderback-Smith tossed a four-hitter with seven strikeouts and two walks and went 2 for 4 with an RBI. She also recorded wins as Barlow defeated Nelson 10-0 in five innings and Gresham 6-2. … 5A No. 1 Caldera suffered its first loss of the season, falling 4-3 at No. 7 Ridgeview in an Intermountain Conference game April 28. Senior Addy Cummings doubled to drive in the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Freshman Honey Sue Nunes homered and drove in two runs and junior Brezlyn Hagemeister finished with a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts and five walks for the Ravens (14-4, 9-1), who are within a half-game of the first-place Wolfpack (18-1, 10-1). …
No. 4 St. Helens scored single runs in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings to overtake No. 1 Scappoose 3-2 in a 4A Cowapa League game April 30, avenging a 7-1 loss from April 9. Junior Jadyn Pense hit a sacrifice fly to tie 2-2 in the sixth and junior Dakota Drake hit a two-out, walk-off RBI single in the seventh. St. Helens junior pitcher Eme Curaming allowed seven hits and fanned seven to beat Indians senior Saige Casey, who gave up six hits and struck out nine. … No. 8 Cascade holds a one-game lead over Stayton in the 4A Oregon West Conference after a 3-2 road win over the Eagles on April 27. Sophomore Taylor Bays scattered seven hits and struck out three and drove in a run for the Cougars. …
No. 4 Yamhill-Carlton vaulted into first place in 3A Special District 3 by winning at No. 5 Scio 6-2 on April 28 and stopping No. 1 Dayton 4-0 at home April 30. Senior Taylor Brasfield pitched a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts against Scio and a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts against Dayton. In the latter, she went 3 for 3 with a double, home run and three RBIs. … 3A No. 2 Vale picked up its second win over 4A No. 10 Pendleton this season, downing the Buckaroos 5-2 at home April 28. Freshman Sophia Navarrete had a double, sacrifice fly and three RBIs and pitched a five-hitter with 14 strikeouts and no walks for the unbeaten Vikings. … First-place Powers turned back second-place Toledo 9-3 in a key 2A/1A Special District 4 game April 30 on the Cruisers' field. Junior Starlena Pina went 4 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore EmiLia Swenson and junior Danika Bushnell combined for a four-hitting, striking out 15 and walking seven.
jerryu@osaa.org
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