KLAMATH FALLS, Ore – The spring sports season is nearing an end, with the postseason for baseball and softball beginning in one week. Three local baseball teams, including Henley, Lost River, and Crosspoint Christian, have punched a ticket to the state playoffs. Henley and Lost River will also be sending their softball teams to battle for the coveted blue trophy.
The Henley Baseball team finished with an unblemished Skyline Conference record of 16-0 and an overall mark of 21-3, which was good enough to earn the number five seed in the OSAA playoffs. After a 2-2 start to the season, Henley rattled off 12 straight wins. Despite a loss to #2 Junction City on May 3rd, Henley returned to winning ways, having marked victories in their last seven contests.
The Hornets have been powered by marvelous pitching. Their 51 runs allowed is the fewest in the 4A Classification. Seniors Mark Carpenter, Beau Pyle, and sophomore Corbin Hamilton have proved to be a three-headed monster leading the pitching staff. Those three players combined to pitch 131.0 innings with an ERA of 1.47.
Aside from the best pitching staff in 4A, Henley also has the highest scoring offense in the class, having scored 227 runs, which is 10 more than the second-best Pendleton/Nixyaawii. Connor Shively has been a table-setter for the Hornets, hitting .483 throughout the season. Carpenter also makes key contributions on offense with a .455 average. Jacoby Tacchini, the freshman, has been a huge addition to the team this season. Tacchini bats .435 with a league-leading 34 RBI in his inaugural high school season.
Henley will wait for the outcome of the play-in round of the postseason to find out who they’ll play in the opening round of the playoffs on May 27th.
The Lost River Baseball team earned a league championship for 2A/1A Special District 6. This is the third consecutive conference title for the Raiders, who finished 16-2 against league opponents and 18-6 overall. Their only losses in conference play came in early April when the Raiders met league runner-up Illinois Valley.
Lost River’s league-best 85 runs allowed were produced by a dominant pitching staff featuring junior Kyle Diaz. Diaz tossed 64.0 innings this season with an ERA of .656. Another junior, Drew McDonald, was also instrumental in 31.2 innings pitched with an ERA of 1.98.
Offensively, junior Connor Guthrie was a force to be reckoned with. He led the team in batting average (.485), hits (33), doubles (8), and RBI (31). Senior Doug Jenkins also made an impact with a .419 season at the plate, adding a team high on-base-percentage of .544.
Lost River still has two games left on the schedule as they face La Pine on May 20th and Lakeview on May 22nd. The Raiders will find out their seeding and opponent when the OSAA rankings freeze on May 26th. As of publication, the Raiders are ranked 17th.
The Crosspoint Christian Baseball team has been a very pleasant surprise this season. The upstart program will end its inaugural season in the playoffs as the Warriors secured the third and final automatic bid out of Special District 6. The Warriors finished with a 9-9 record in the conference and 11-14 overall. Despite starting the season 2-10, Crosspoint Christian rallied to embark on a seven-game winning streak before seeing it snapped in the final series of the season against Illinois Valley.
This team of primarily underclassmen (eight freshmen) was assisted by a few upperclassmen contributors. On the mound, senior Chase Knecht carried the bulk of the innings for Crosspoint. Knecht tossed 44.1 innings and finished with a 2-4 record and a 3.00 ERA. Senior Kody Sparks pitched 29.1 innings with a 6.92 ERA.
The underclassmen flourished at the plate for Crosspoint. Freshman Nate Gibson led the team in average (.538), hits (35), doubles (6), triples (4), and runs scored (44). Another freshman, Wyatt Moyles, was also key batting .288 and leading the team with 26 RBI.
The Warriors have one game left on the schedule, facing Mazama on May 22nd. They’ll find out their seeding and opponent when the OSAA rankings freeze on May 26th. As of publication, the Warriors are ranked 39th.
The Henley Softball team clinched its 16th consecutive Skyline Conference championship with a 7-4 win over Phoenix on May 19th. The Hornets finished with a 13-3 record against league opponents and 21-5 overall. Henley won their final five games in a row to secure the league crown.
Henley’s offense has been the strength this season as their 300 runs scored is second best in the 4A Classification, only behind #4 Cascade. Henley is led in hitting by freshman Cozette Venegas with a .514 batting average. The offensive MVP of the Hornets would go to senior Anna Harper, who leads the team in hits (42), home runs (6), RBI (36), and runs scored (38). Makayla Schroeder, another freshman, has been key to Henley’s success too, hitting .452 with five home runs.
In the circle, Henley is led by another freshman phenom in Rylee Hollingsworth. She has pitched 79.0 innings for Henley this year with a 4-1 record and 3.63 ERA. Henley has struggled at times to keep opposing offenses quiet, as their 140 runs allowed is the 11th best in the classification.
Henley has earned the #6 seed in the OSAA playoffs and will await the outcome of the play-in round before finding out their opponent in the opening round on May 27th.
Lastly, the Lost River Softball team claimed the 2A/1A Special District 6 league championship. It is their third consecutive league championship. The Raiders finished 14-1 in league play and 18-4 overall.
Unfortunately, no stats have been submitted by the Lost River softball program; however, what can be said is that their 61 runs allowed is the fewest in the classification. And their 261 runs scored is the seventh best.
Lost River is riding a seven-game winning streak into the final regular season game against La Pine on May 20th. The Raiders will find out their seeding and opponent when the OSAA rankings freeze on May 26th. As of publication, the Raiders are ranked 9th.
