In a state championship where both teams were looking for redemption and one was also looking for revenge, No. 3 seed Pendleton (29-2) fulfilled their dual desires by outlasting No. 1 seed Henley (29-3) 4-0 at the University of Oregon’s Jane Sanders Stadium Saturday.
It’s the second title in three years for the Buckaroos, who lost 11-10 on an eighth-inning walk-off in an OSAA semifinal game at Henley last season. That was Pendleton’s first season in 4A after being moved down from 5A, where they had won state championships in 2012, 2014, 2018 and 2022 (the last one coming as part of a co-op with Griswold).
For the Hornets, it marks their fifth title game loss since they last won the 4A championship in 2017. Henley is now 2-10 all-time in title games (these stats include the 2021 4A Showcase final that was not sponsored by the OSAA and is not recognized in the association’s record books). Their other title came in 1989.
Last year, the Hornets suffered the largest loss in a softball state championship game in OSAA history as The Dalles run-ruled them 16-0 in five innings. This year, they held Pendleton scoreless through the first five innings, only for the Buckaroos to break through late.
“Just really proud of the girls and their approach to the game today,” Henley head coach Brian Stock said. “They did everything they could to make sure they were ready to compete…just very proud of their effort today.”
Annie Campos struck out Eastern Oregon signee Melanie Boatman to start the game. After Walla Walla Community College signee Madaline Schumacher reached on an error and was subsequently thrown out trying to steal second, Campos forced a groundout to end the half inning. In the bottom of the first, Samantha Moore hit a one-out double and was pushed to third on a groundout, but Henley couldn’t bring her across.
It would be the only time the Hornets got a runner in scoring position.
Campos and Pendleton pitcher Kendall Murphy continued to duel through the next four frames. The Buckaroos had a few chances to take the lead before the final innings, putting a runner on second in the second, runners on second and third in the fourth and a runner on second in the fifth. In each instance, Campos struck out the next batter to end the threat (she also struck out the side in the third). Murphy walked Layliana Segura to give Henley their only baserunner of the second inning, then set the Hornets down in order in the third, fourth, and fifth.
In the last two frames, Pendleton found enough cracks in Henley’s defense to gain an advantage they would not relinquish.
“They hit some balls hard,” Stock said. “We did our best to make plays.”
Avery Krigbaum chopped a ball softly to third base to lead off the sixth. Jillian Vickery fielded it cleanly, but her throw to first was slightly off target, forcing Gracie White to step off the bag to make the catch. Two batters later, Reese Furstenberg sent a fly ball close to the right field warning track. It came down into Suzy Nichols’ glove but popped back out, allowing Krigbaum to score from second. Two more batters later, Avery Quaempts drove in Furstenberg from third on a single up the middle to give the Buckaroos a 2-0 lead.
Nichols got Henley’s second hit of the day on a one-out single in the bottom of the inning as the Hornets tried to mount a response. Anna Harper also reached on a fielder’s choice, but that was all Henley could muster.
With two outs and two runners on base in the top of the seventh, Josie Jenness hit a rocket to second base that ricocheted off Samantha Moore, bringing both runs across and doubling Pendleton’s lead. The Hornets’ last three batters went down in order.
Campos was named the Henley player of the game after pitching all 7 innings and allowing 8 hits and 2 earned runs while issuing 3 walks and 11 strikeouts. At the plate, Nichols went 1-for-2 and Moore went 1-for-3.
Jenness was named the Pendleton player of the game after going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI. Furstenberg and Quaempts both went 2-for-3 with 1 RBI and Madelyn Lieuallen went 1-for-2. Murphy’s final line in the circle was 7 IP, 2 H, 1 BB, 7 K.
The Buckaroos finished the season on a 13-game winning streak and snapped the Hornets’ 25-game winning streak. It was also the 440th career victory for head coach Tim Cary, who ranks No. 10 on the OSAA softball all-time wins list. His career record stands at 440-122 over 19 seasons.
Pendleton’s 29 wins this year is the most in the program’s recorded history, although that number includes two losses to Scappoose that were reversed when the Indians had to forfeit 12 games for using an ineligible player. Henley also lost a game to Scappoose that was later reversed and picked up two other forfeit wins when Mazama could not field enough players for a pair of Skyline Conference games.
Both schools brought strong fan contingents to Eugene despite the three-hour drive from Klamath Falls and five-hour drive from Pendleton. As might be expected given the distances, Henley had a noticeable (though not large) advantage in crowd size.
Pendleton’s three seniors–Boatman, Schumacher and Krigbaum–missed the school’s graduation ceremony to play in Saturday’s game, so Pendleton and OSAA staff held a special “graduation” for them (complete with Pomp and Circumstance) after the trophy presentation. Each senior donned a cap and gown over their softball uniform and was announced individually to receive their diploma at home plate before all of them lined up and turned their tassels on the first base line.
Saturday’s game was the final one in a Henley uniform for Campos–who has signed to play basketball at Oregon Tech–and Nichols. Both were four-year varsity players.
“Any senior that makes it through the program for four years is special,” Stock said. “[It] takes a special commitment and investment level to something bigger than yourself.
“Both Annie and Suzy were great examples to the younger players in the program, and they will leave Henley better than they found it, which is all a coach can ask of them.”