Varsity 541

Maurer dominant in North victory

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North Medford's Matt Maurer was expecting to throw only 85 pitches in Wednesday's game against visiting North Eugene.

But the standout junior pitcher was in such a groove, he made it difficult for Black Tornado coach Brett Wolfe to call in relief.

Maurer, working all seven innings, allowed one hit and struck out 15 in North Medford's 6-0 victory.

He retired the last 12 batters of the contest, the final eight by strikeout.

"He was so comfortable," Wolfe said. "He had command of his breaking pitch and just kept them off balance. He worked a really good tempo."

Shaun Boehm had North Eugene's only hit of the contest on a bloop single over first base in the fourth inning. Maurer then walked the next batter, but that was North Eugene's last baserunner.

The Black Tornado scored four runs in the second inning, the key hit being a two-run double by Chris Bradshaw.

Jordan Ellis hit a two-run home run over the left-field wall in the fourth. Ellis, in his first year playing baseball since his freshman season, finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

"I always thought his best sport was baseball," Wolfe said. "He's catching up fast. He's an athlete, he's strong, and he likes the game. I look for him to get better and better every game."

Maurer and Colin Sowers were also 2-for-3.

North Eugene 000 000 0 — 0 1 1

North Medford 040 200 x — 6 11 1

Mills, Moore (5) and Lari. Maurer and Sowers. W — Maurer (1-0). L — Mills. 2B — NM: Bradshaw. HR — NM: Ellis (1)

CRATER 5, GRANTS PASS 4 — At Central Point, freshman Corey Wynant delivered the game-winning hit on a bases-loaded single in the eighth inning in Crater's season opener.

Crater led off the eighth with Kos Ray's single, and Grants Pass committed one of its four errors with an overthrow on a bunt attempt to put runners at first and third.

Kenny Fahndrich was intentionally walked, bringing Wynant to the plate in his first varsity game. He finished 2-for-4.

Crater sent the game into extra innings when Bryce Crawford reached on a one-out walk and scored from second on another Cavemen error.

Crawford was 1-for-3 with a solo home run in the third, which trimmed the Comets' deficit to 3-1.

Craig Kathol recorded the victory for Crater by pitching four scoreless innings. He struck out six and allowed just one hit.

Cody Sells and Ryan Miller were 2-for-4 for Grants Pass while Jordan Brown and Jordy Romick were 2-for-3.

Grants Pass 111 100 00 — 4 9 4

Crater 001 200 11 — 5 7 1

Barrett, Spencer (4), Drury (8) and Brown. Morgan, Kathol (5) and Fahndrich. W — Kathol (1-0). L — Drury (0-1). 2B — GP: Miller, Drury. C: Cartwright. HR — C: Crawford.

ROGUE RIVER 3, NORTH VALLEY 2 — At Rogue River, John White registered his 100th win beginning his eighth year as Rogue River coach.

The Chieftains received RBI singles from Kelly White in the first inning and Craig Lee and Christian Reyes in the fifth.

Reyes picked up the victory, allowing three hits and one run in five innings.

Cody Austin had two hits and scored one run for North Valley.

North Valley 100 000 1 — 2 6 3

Rogue River 100 020 x — 3 5 1

Shippy, Weisbart (3), Werner (5), Herklotz (6) and Austin; Reyes, Lee (6), Taylor (7) and Garcia. W — Reyes (1-0). L — Werner. 3B — RR: Michael Freitas.

Softball

SOUTH SALEM 3-4, GRANTS PASS 0-8 — At Salem, Kelsey White tossed a three-hit shutout in the opener, but Grants Pass bounced back in the nightcap behind the hitting of Karleigh Prestianni and Tara Glover.

In Game 2, Prestianni had three hits, including two doubles and a two-run single in the Cavers' four-run fourth inning. Glover added two hits, including a home run to open the game.

FIRST GAME

Grants Pass 000 000 0 — 0 6 3

South Salem 100 020 0 — 3 3 0

Barnes and Woolf; White and Peterson. W — Kelsey White (1-0). L—Barnes. 2B — SS: Bliss. HR — SS: Coates.

SECOND GAME

Grants Pass 100 402 1 — 8 11 2

South Salem 000 120 1 — 4 8 0

Barnes, Jantzer (5) and Misfeld; Phillips, White (4) and Bliss. W — Barnes (1-1). L — Phillips. 2B — GP: Glover, Prestianni (2), Sippola; SS: Barnes. 3B — GP: Bennett. HR — GP: Glover; SS: Donovan.

HIDDEN VALLEY 18, GLENDALE 9 — At Glendale, Chauncie Porter drove in nine runs and Jessica Guirlani collected five hits for Hidden Valley.

Porter smacked a grand slam and a three-run homer to go with a double and triple. Guirlani went 5-for-5 and scored four runs.

Hidden Valley 337 202 1 — 18 26 4

Glendale 014 022 0 — 9 17 3

Porter, Krout (5), Porter (7) and Guirlani; Lovemark, Streeter (3) and Tsubaki. W — Porter (1-0). L — Lovemark. 2B — HV: Aslakson, Wise (3), Guirlani (3), Porter, Krout, Varner; G: Lovemark, Lovelady. 3B — HV: Porter. HR — HV: Porter 2; G: Willams.

PHOENIX 5, ROGUE RIVER 2 — At Talent, Kirstin Stroud struck out 11 and allowed just four hits in seven innings as the Pirates won the season opener.

Phoenix's Carlee Storey was 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Phoenix led 2-1 before scoring two runs in the fifth to pull away. Courtney Scoggins opened the inning by reaching on an error and eventually scored on a squeeze bunt by Stroud. Storey, who reached on a bunt that moved Scoggins to third, scored on a passed ball later in the inning.

Phoenix had eight stolen bases in the game.

Rogue River 001 000 1 — 2 4 4

Phoenix 101 021 x — 5 5 1

Cates and Lillie. Stroud and Heath. W — Stroud (1-0). L — Cates (0-1).

NORTH VALLEY 12, CASCADE CHRISTIAN 4 — At Merlin, North Valley took control in its season opener with six runs in the fourth inning.

Rachel Conard was 4-for-4 with two doubles, two triples and four runs batted in, and Jasmine Aaron hit a two-run single in the second with the bases loaded.

Brandi Johnson was 2-for-4 for Cascade Christian. Amanda Kinney was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

Cascade Christian 201 100 0 — 4 6 1

North Valley 230 601 x — 12 9 4

Weakley and J. Martinez. Aaron, Conard (5) and Conard and Aaron (5). W — Aaron (1-0). L — Weakley (0-1). 2B — CC: R. Martinez. NV: Conard, 2. 3B — NV: Dellsite, Conard, 2.