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Softball Story Archive

Tornado on top

The focus throughout the season for the North Medford High baseball and softball programs has been to improve with each passing day and try to finish as high up in the state's power rankings as possible.

Challengers enter state playoffs on hot streak

Cascade Christian will enter the Class 3A baseball state playoffs on an eight-game winning streak after taking both games of a nonleague doubleheader against Horizon Christian on Saturday at U.S. Cellular Community Park.

Zanni fans 12 as Phoenix advances to state playoffs

TALENT — Phoenix pitcher Meranda Zanni was so dominant in a Class 4A softball play-in game against Brookings-Harbor on Thursday, her teammates were getting bored.

GP stuns North

GRANTS PASS — The top-ranked North Medford softball team suffered a rare disappointment on Wednesday, falling 2-1 to Southern Oregon Hybrid foe Grants Pass in nonleague action.

Mitchell, Winningham boost Crater to victory

CENTRAL POINT — The Crater Comets had tradition on their side going into Tuesday's Class 6A softball play-in game.

South's Brooks, North's Walker in hunt at state

CORVALLIS — South Medford senior Noah Brooks and North Medford senior Joey Walker put themselves in contention among a packed first-round field at the Class 6A boys golf state championships at Trysting Tree Golf Club on Monday.

A BIG HIT

TALENT — As if to deflect the attention she was receiving to her softball teammates, Phoenix junior Amanda Skaff braves the sunlight and watches them congregate near a sweltering Hagler-James Field as she reluctantly speaks of herself from about 50...

Pirates split with Vikings, tie for first in Skyline

KLAMATH FALLS — The window was open for the Phoenix High softball team to claim the Skyline Conference title outright when North Valley beat Henley in Grants Pass, but Phoenix failed to capitalize, falling 5-2 to Mazama in the first game of a...

Westfall's gem helps North take SOH lead

GRANTS PASS — North Medford sophomore Colton Westfall and Grants Pass senior Chris Ingledue waged quite a pitcher's duel on Tuesday, with Westfall getting the better of the deal as the Black Tornado secured a 1-0 victory at Grants Pass High.

Phoenix pulls even with Henley in Skyline

KLAMATH FALLS — Phoenix kept its hopes alive for the Skyline Conference softball championship by beating Henley, 3-2, Tuesday and pulling into a tie with the Hornets atop the standings.

May 2013

North sweeps South to clinch outright title

North Medford broke through with early surges in both games to pull away from South Medford for a doubleheader sweep in Southern Oregon Hybrid softball on Saturday.

She's Quite a Catch

Shin guards, a chest protector and a catcher's mask. Since the early days on the diamond, such equipment has been referred to as the tools of ignorance.

Indians use big fourth to pull away from Crater

CENTRAL POINT — Other than a rough fourth inning, Crater fared well against Roseburg.

April 2013

Pirates go deep in sweep of Knights

MERLIN — Phoenix softball teammates Amanda Skaff and Meranda Zanni have enjoyed monitoring each other's home run count this season.

Tornado secures another conference title

Putting the ball in play more than your opponent is as good of a strategy for victory as any, and North Medford certainly used that to its advantage during a key Southern Oregon Hybrid softball doubleheader on Friday.

Earning her wings

Neeshaa Garcia has put a lot of work into making herself a better softball player, and the investment seems to be paying off.

Mitchell, Comets ease past Panthers

Crater concocted a big third inning and defeated host South Medford in Southern Oregon Hybrid softball Tuesday, 11-6.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Christina Kuykendall

South Medford salvages split with Grants Pass

South Medford junior Brandon Lupton earned the pitching victory and had a key two-run double in Game 2 to help the Panthers salvage a split with Grants Pass in Southern Oregon Hybrid baseball Saturday at Harry & David Field.

Moates' heroics lead Henley past Phoenix

TALENT — Henley slugger Tara Moates hit a solo home run with two outs in the top of the seventh and Phoenix left the tying run stranded at second base on a game-ending double play as the Hornets secured a Skyline Conference softball sweep Saturday...

Merrill tosses three-hitter in Eagle Point triumph

EAGLE POINT — Eagle Point pitcher McKinzee Merrill tossed a three-hitter and the Eagles' defense turned in one of its best performances of the season in a 10-0, six-inning Class 5A Southern Oregon Hybrid victory over Ashland.

North blanks South

The North Medford softball team let out a cheer near its dugout before heading into the bottom of the second inning against South Medford.

Pearson leads Black Tornado past Comets

CENTRAL POINT — Batting ninth in the order, Brett Pearson made the most of his opportunity to help North Medford take the first game from Crater in a key Southern Oregon Hybrid baseball series Tuesday.

Luzny pitches gem against IV

CAVE JUNCTION — Isaiah Luzny was unhittable against Illinois Valley on Tuesday.

Cavers sweep Comets in SOH twin bill

CENTRAL POINT — The Grants Pass softball team swept Crater in a Southern Oregon Hybrid doubleheader, earning a 5-2 win before cruising to a 12-1 triumph in six innings in the second game on Saturday at Crater High.

New kid in town

No denying it was a bold move by Alexis Barkwell but, in her mind, it was necessary.

Pirates go deep in Skyline opener

TALENT — A few big swings by Amanda Skaff and Hailey Wyncoop went a long way for the Phoenix softball team on Tuesday.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Kylie Howson, Ashland softball, and Kenzie Nielsen,Eagle Point softball

Black Tornado powers past Roseburg

ROSEBURG — North Medford's softball team continued to flex its muscles Monday, blasting two more home runs to bring the team's total to 13 already this season during a 6-1 win at Roseburg in Southern Oregon Hybrid action.

Becker overpowers Crater with arm, bat

CENTRAL POINT — Maryssa Becker tossed a no-hitter and belted her sixth home run in Game 1, and the North Medford softball team took advantage of seven Crater errors in the nightcap to complete the Southern Oregon Hybrid sweep Saturday at Crater...

Westfall, Tornado breeze by Klamath Union

North Medford sophomore pitcher Colton Westfall continued his hot start and the Black Tornado baseball team made quick work of Klamath Union on Wednesday in improving to 9-1 overall.

Grants Pass coasts past South Medford

The South Medford softball team took a little too long to find its offense on Tuesday.

March 2013

North prevails in battle of Gatorade players of year

GIG HARBOR, Wash. — In a battle of two Gatorade softball players of the year, Maryssa Becker and North Medford came out on top.

Pirates fit for split

The Phoenix softball team's high-powered offense cooled down a bit over the last two days, but head coach Jason Zanni said he was still happy with the resolve his bunch displayed at the 36-team North Medford Invitational.

Tornado caps Invitational with sweep

North Medford softball coach Mike Mayben gave Maryssa Becker a break inside the circle but that didn't necessarily mean a break for Southridge and West Salem during Tuesday's action at the 36-team North Medford Invitational.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Teresa Lehman

North splits in tourney

Something had to give when the tycoons of Class 6A softball met at North Medford High on Monday.

Zanni shines in Phoenix split

Phoenix senior Meranda Zanni threw a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts and bashed a two-run home run in the Pirates' 11-1 softball win over North Salem at the 36-team North Medford Invitational at U.S. Cellular Community Park on Monday.

Becker tosses no-hitter in North sweep

GRANTS PASS — Maryssa Becker opened the Southern Oregon Hybrid softball season for defending state champion North Medford with a no-hit performance and the Black Tornado swept Grants Pass with a pair of 10-0 victories Saturday.

State's top pitchers in North Medford invitational

The Rogue Valley will play host to some of Oregon's top softball pitchers on Monday and Tuesday, including one of its own.

Eagle Point splits twin bill with Douglas

EAGLE POINT — Brandon Wilson tossed a gem in the opener but Eagle Point faltered in the nightcap of a nonconference baseball doubleheader split with Douglas.

Undefeated Pirates sweep away Etna

TALENT — The undefeated Phoenix baseball team collected 30 hits scored 27 runs as it swept Etna, Calif., 11-10 and 16-11 in nonleague action at Colver Field on Wednesday.

Tough Opener

South Medford stayed even with powerful Roseburg early in the game during the Panthers Southern Oregon Hybrid softball opener Tuesday.

Grants Pass rallies past Comets in SOH start

GRANTS PASS — Crater scored four fourth-inning runs, but the Comets' production stopped there and Grants Pass rallied for a 10-4 win in the Southern Oregon Hybrid softball opener for both teams Tuesday.

Tornado in the black

Nice guys don't always finish last. Mike Mayben's a nice guy, and he's making a habit of finishing first.

Panthers solid in season-opening victory

South Medford softball pitcher Hannah Newman held South Eugene scoreless in 62/3 innings and Tia Garrett and Sara Gartland both tripled in the first inning as the host Panthers earned a 10-3 win in their nonleague season opener Saturday.

Sheldon sweeps Crater in season debut

EUGENE — The Crater softball team's season debut didn't go as planned against former conference foe Sheldon in a pair of extra-inning slugfests on Friday.

Tornado opens strong against Henley

North Medford's first chance to show its blend of veteran players and newcomers vying to defend last year's Class 6A softball state championship proved to be a rousing success Thursday at North Medford High.

Dixon pitches Eagles past Yreka

EAGLE POINT — Eagle Point head coach Adam Randall knows that the Eagles will need more production out of their batting lineup eventually. In the meantime, it's nice to know that the team's pitching and defense has the ability to pick up the slack.

St. Mary's rallies for win over Riddle

RIDDLE — Daniel Seus did his job at the top of the batting order in St. Mary's season opener Tuesday.

November 2012

Tornado ace Becker signs with Louisville

Staying as steady as when she was pitching North Medford to the state championship last spring, Maryssa Becker held true to her long-standing commitment to the University of Louisville softball program on Wednesday by signing a letter of intent to join...

June 2012

Following in her footsteps

As the wild ride toward the Black Tornado's sixth softball state title turned corner after crazy corner until a final destination in Corvallis, Carrie Becker found herself at wit's end in support of her daughter Maryssa.

Becker receives state Gatorade award

North Medford pitcher Maryssa Becker has been named the Oregon Gatorade softball player of the year, adding to a long list of highlights for the junior standout this spring.

Mustangs, Knights earn Skyline Conference honors

The Hidden Valley baseball team, which lost to Ontario in the Class 4A state championship, had four players named to the Skyline Conference first team, while state semifinalist North Valley received five first-team nods.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Renee Murphy

Becker Delivers

CORVALLIS — North Medford's softball team didn't need any adversity to show its true poise in the Class 6A state championships on Saturday.

Targeting a Title

It doesn't always happen this way at the large-school level, but Saturday's matchup in the Class 6A softball state championship is as fitting as one could hope with top-seeded North Medford and No. 2 overall seed South Salem.