North remains unbeaten

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TALENT — A battle between two of the state's best at any classification went the way of North Medford on Saturday.

The Black Tornado, last season's Class 6A state champions, used solid pitching and timely hitting to edge past Class 4A Phoenix, 4-2, in a nonconference baseball game at Hagler-James Field.

North Medford (9-0), a 12-2 winner over the Pirates last season, jumped to a 3-0 lead after four innings, then answered a pair of Phoenix scores with an important insurance run in the seventh to hold on.

Zack Earle provided the big blow in the third inning for the Tornado when the senior shortstop reached down and slugged a Jordan Lewis offering over the left-field fence for a two-out, two-run home run that pushed North ahead 2-0.

"That was on a pitch that was down by his ankles," said Phoenix coach Joe Hagler of Earle's homer. "That was a big one."

Colin Sowers added an RBI single in the fourth inning against Lewis, Phoenix's ace.

"Pitching-wise, we didn't do too badly," said Hagler. "But walks hurt us and we hit a couple batters."

Phoenix rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Kory Locken led off the frame with a walk and came around one batter later on a single by Ryan Robinson and a throwing error by North. Josh Johnson followed with an RBI single to score Robinson.

The Pirates (6-1) had the tying run at the plate in their last at-bat in the seventh but Earle induced a game-ending groundout to first base.

"We made some mistakes," said Hagler, "and sometimes you get away with those. But that's why this game was so important against a very good team like North. It gave us a chance to see a great team and, despite our mistakes, we hung around."

Kody Stevens went 2-for-3 to lead the Black Tornado, which finished with five hits.

Tornado pitchers Matt Maurer, Dylan Bedortha and Earle combined to give up just six hits.

North Medford's streak of 32 straight innings without giving up a run was snapped in the win.

Both teams begin conference play on Tuesday. North Medford travels to Eugene to take on Sheldon in a Southwest Conference opener and Phoenix ventures to Merlin for a game against North Valley in a Skyline Conference opener.

North Medford 002 100 1 — 4 5 1

Phoenix 000 002 0 — 2 6 0

Maurer, Bedortha (3), Earle (6) and Sowers; Lewis, Emerson (6) and Locken. W — Bedortha (2-0). L — Lewis (3-1). 3B — NM: Stevens. HR — NM: Earle (1).

Softball

SOUTH MEDFORD 2-3, NORTH EUGENE 1-10 — At Eugene, Dominique Newman gave up one run over three innings of relief to lead South Medford to a win in Game 1 of a nonconference doubleheader sweep.

Newman entered the game for starter Jessica Mondale, who left after four innings with an injury.

Shyanne Jones and Mondale each had RBIs in the opener to lead the Panthers.

In Game 2, North Eugene answered South Medford's three-run first inning with three runs of its own, then pulled away with a four-spot in the fifth.

Rochelle Hiett and Mallory Taceol each had two hits for the Panthers (5-3), who open Southwest Conference play atSouth Eugene on Tuesday.

FIRST GAME

South Medford 000 101 0 — 2 5 1

North Eugene 000 001 0 — 1 2 2

Mondale, Newman (5) and James; Larsen and Harvey. W — Mondale (2-2). L — Larsen.

SECOND GAME

South Medford 300 000 0 — 3 6 2

North Eugene 301 042 x — 10 13 2

Newman and James; Larsen and Harvey. W — Larsen. L — Newman (3-1). 2B — SM: James; NE: Larsen.

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