Two days after a home loss to Wilsonville cost Canby a chance to clinch a repeat title in 5A Northwest Oregon Conference softball, the Cougars finished the job in the regular-season finale on the Wildcats' field Friday.
With the teams tied for first place, No. 8 Canby turned back No. 6 Wilsonville 4-2 to secure the conference title. The Cougars bounced back from a 3-0 defeat to the Cougars on Wednesday.
“It's not fun to lose on our home field, and they came back with a vengeance,” Canby coach Emily Conklin said of her players. “I think the nerves were a little bit higher Wednesday. They seemed a little more relaxed and ready to play and not necessarily thinking about what's at stake.”
Canby finishes the regular season at 20-7 overall, 15-1 in the NWOC. Wilsonville, which had not allowed a run in its previous seven games, fell to 20-7 overall, 14-2 in conference.
Freshman Presley Ricksger hit a two-run double with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the fifth inning to put Canby ahead 4-2.
“It was such a clutch hit for us,” Conklin said. “Even as a freshman her mental toughness is through the roof. She's just so in the game. She just has the softball IQ.”
The Cougars had eight hits against Wilsonville sophomore Addi Smith, who on Wednesday beat them by throwing a four-hit shutout with 15 strikeouts and no walks. Seniors Abigail Troutman and Alli Hayzlett and sophomore Kristin Vissers had two hits apiece.
Canby took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Hayzlett scored on a dropped third strike and junior Taylor Saucedo hit an RBI single. Wilsonville drew even at 2-2 in the fourth inning on a two-run double by junior Mia Rucker.
Hayzlett, who took the loss in the circle in Wednesday's game, pitched Canby to the win Friday. She tossed a four-hitter with six strikeouts and no walks.
Due to a finger injury, Hayzlett had not pitched this season until May 13 at La Salle Prep. A 5A first-team pitcher last year, her return has brought a calming presence to the team, according to Conklin.
“She came back ready to pitch,” Conklin said of the Lower Columbia College-bound Hayzlett, who transferred from 6A Oregon City as a sophomore. “Her mentality and softball IQ is through the roof. She's an absolute rock. We love having her there. She centers everybody.”
Troutman, who has committed to Oregon Tech, is a fourth-year starter at shortstop. She is batting .524 with six home runs and 42 RBIs.
“When her energy is up, everyone's energy is up,” Conklin said. “I think she recognizes that in being a leader on this team. She brings the drive to win, the drive to be better.”
The seventh-seeded Cougars play host to No. 10 Churchill (20-6) in a first-round game Tuesday. Last season, Canby went 21-8 and lost at eventual 5A champion Ridgeview 6-2 in the semifinals.
Conklin was encouraged by how her players swung the bat Friday against Smith.
“Addi is one of the best pitchers in 5A, and if we can do well against her, I think we could do well against anybody,” Conklin said. “I think we have a really good shot this year with the team and talent we have.”
Vale wins battle of No. 1s
Vale rolled to a 7-1 home win over Weston-McEwen on Thursday in a game between teams ranked No. 1 in the OSAAtoday coaches polls in 3A and 2A/1A, respectively.
Freshman Sophia Navarrete pitched a three-hitter with 18 strikeouts and two walks for the host Vikings (26-0), the state's only undefeated team. In was a similar performance to the season opener, in which Navarrete fanned 19 in a one-hitter as Vale beat Weston-McEwen 9-0 at La Grande High School.
In Thursday's game, the Vikings had only three hits off Weston-McEwen senior Brielle Ward but took advantage of 13 walks. They drew five bases-loaded walks, including four in a five-run first inning. Their other two runs scored on errors.
South Umpqua's 24-game streak halted
Scappoose, No. 1 in the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll, ended South Umpqua's 24-game winning streak with a 5-1 home win in a nonleague game Thursday.
Senior Saige Casey pitched a three-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk as the Indians (23-3) downed the 3A No. 4 Lancers (24-2), who had not lost since opening the season with a 4-0 defeat at 3A No. 2 Dayton.
Casey and senior Ava Freeman each had two hits and senior Emily Greiner and junior Grace Duncan had RBIs for Scappoose. Senior Kylee Pachao accounted for South Umpqua's scoring with a solo home run.
Lancers senior Jasmine Morales took the loss, giving up six hits, fanning seven and walking three. The five runs are the most South Umpqua has allowed this season.
jerryu@osaa.org
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