Challengers reach state with upset of Glide

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GLIDE — Cascade Christian upset Glide 9-7 to secure a Class 3A softball state playoff berth in a Sunset League playoff Tuesday.

The Challengers (12-14), who finished fourth in the Sunset standings, will play at second-place Reedsport at 4:30 p.m. Thursday to determine the league's No. 2 and 3 seeds in the state playoffs.

Cascade's bats came alive against third-place Glide. Brandi Johnson and Nikki Jones both went 3-for-4 and combined for four RBIs to spark the Challengers' 16-hit attack.

"We hit the ball, that's what it took," said Cascade Christian coach Jerry Johnson.

The Challengers used three extra-base hits, doubles by Becca Fronek and Emily Teterud and a triple by Johnson, to take a 7-3 lead with five runs in the third inning.

Cascade Christian scored what proved to be the winning run in the fourth when Johnson singled with one out, Jones singled and Amanda Kinney delivered an RBI single. After a sacrifice bunt, Teterud singled to drive in Jones with an insurance run but Kinney was thrown out at the plate on the play.

The Challengers received two hits apiece from Brittany Biondi, Kinney and Teterud.

Sophomore Leah Weakley (8-10) went the distance on the mound for the Challengers.

"(Weakley) kept her composure," said coach Johnson. "She did a good job when she had to.

"We're playing together and battling," added Johnson. "This was a big game for us. To make the playoffs in our first year at 3A is awesome."

Cascade Christian 205 200 0 — 9 16 5

Glide 301 102 0 — 7 10 1

Weakley and Biondi; Meyer and Eifert. W — Weakley (8-10). L — Meyer. 2B — CC: Jones, Teterud, Fronek; G: Gummerson. 3B — CC: Johnson.

NORTH MEDFORD 3, CRATER 1 — Brittany Griffor drove in the tiebreaking run with a line drive past second base to help North Medford (11-12) to the nonconference victory.

Pitcher Taylor Schmidt limited Crater to three hits and struck out seven for the Black Tornado.

Sarah Haga drove in Emily Morrill in the first for Crater's lone run of the game.

North Medford's McKenna Storey hit an RBI single to plate Kayla Williams and tie the game at 1-all in the second inning.

Logan Hagey sent a line drive to center field to plate Griffor for the second run of the sixth inning.

Crater 100 000 0 — 1 3 3

North Medford 010 002 x — 3 5 4

Reed, Reeves (5) and Haga; Schmidt and Wolfe. W — Schmidt (6-9). L — Reed.

Baseball

CRATER 10, HIDDEN VALLEY 6 — At Central Point, Bryce Peila went 3-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs, including a key solo home run in the fifth inning, to lead Crater to the nonleague victory.

Peila's leadoff homer allowed Crater to take an 8-6 lead, and the Comets tacked on two more runs in the sixth to gradually pull away from Skyline Conference champion Hidden Valley.

Johnny Wood was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Ryan Baxter 2-for-4 and Kos Ray 2-for-3 with two runs and a solo HR in the third to pace Crater (19-8).

Zach Zelecki came on in relief of Haden Bighouse in the fourth inning to help nail down the win, allowing only three hits over the final 31/3 innings.

Ryan Hayden hit a two-run homer in the fourth to pull the Mustangs within 7-6 and finished 3-for-4 overall. Mike Suthann, Casey Albright and Seth Aamatti each getting two hits for Hidden Valley.

Hidden Valley 130 200 0 — 6 13 4

Crater 043 012 x — 10 10 1

Bars, Scott (3), Albertson (6) and Sager; Bighouse, Zelecki (4) and Boskovich. W — Bighouse (3-1). L — Bars. 2B — HV: Lord; C: Peila. 3B — C: Wood. HR — HV: Hayden; C: Ray (1), Peila (6).

BUTTE FALLS 6, ST. MARY'S 3 — At Butte Falls, Butte Falls knocked St. Mary's (12-11, 9-9 District 5) out of playoff contention with the victory.

Joey Knighton and Dakota Gordon were each 2-for-4 and Butte Falls (9-10, 7-10) took advantage of six St. Mary's errors, including three in the first inning that led to four runs.

Gordon pitched a complete game, allowing seven hits and one earned run while striking out six and walking five.

Paul Hume had a double and a solo home run to lead St. Mary's in defeat.

St. Mary's 002 010 0 — 3 7 6

Butte Falls 420 000 x — 6 4 5

Brimble, Hume (2) and Hoffman; Gordon and Knighton. W — Gordon (4-0). L — Brimble (3-4). 2B — BF: Knighton; StM: Hume. HR — StM: Hume (3).

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