Photo Credit: God’s Gifts Photography
KLAMATH FALLS, Ore – The Henley High School baseball and softball teams both earned wins in the opening round of the OSAA ‘On Point Community Credit Union’ State Championships. Here is how each game unfolded.
BASEBALL: Henley 12, La Grande 2
Henley (23-3) advanced to the quarterfinals after a mercy-rule victory against La Grande (12-13). The Hornets scored three runs in the first inning, and a Mark Carpenter two-run homer in the second ballooned Henley’s lead, which proved insurmountable for the visiting Tigers.
Carpenter led the Hornets’ attack both in the box and on the hill. Offensively, Carpenter was 4-4 with four RBI, three runs scored, and two doubles with a home run. He was helped by Jacoby Tacchini, who went 2-3 with two RBI, Carson Siems was 2-3 with two runs scored and an RBI, while Beau Pyle was 1-2 with a run scored and two RBI. As a team, Henley amassed 13 hits, compared to just one for La Grande. A leadoff hit in the sixth inning by Riley Krantz was the only hit of the day.
La Grande was able to score both of their runs in the fifth inning, when Henley committed two errors, allowing the runs to come across. As a team, Henley committed five errors, but the Tigers committed six, leading to three unearned runs for the Hornets.
As stated, Carpenter led the Hornets on the mound, collecting his ninth win of the season, going 3.0 innings without allowing a run or hit, and striking out seven batters. Corbin Hamilton earned his first save of the season, pitching the final 3.0 innings, allowing one hit and two runs (0 earned) while punching out five hitters. The losing pitcher is La Grande’s Bryce Pennington, who pitched 3.0 innings, allowing five hits, five runs (three earned), and one strikeout.
La Grande’s season is over after suffering its second consecutive opening-round loss. Henley will advance to play Newport in the quarterfinals. The Hornets met the Cubs earlier this year at the Oregon Coast Invitational, where Newport won 10-9. First pitch for this quarterfinal is set for 4:30 p.m. on May 30th with free coverage on 104.3 FM & 960 AM and mybasin.com
SOFTBALL: Henley 6, Stayton 5
Henley (22-6) advanced to the quarterfinals after a walk-off win against Stayton (16-9). A Layli Segura double to right field scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Hornets to victory.
Henley jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning after an RBI single from Samantha Moore, followed by a two-run home run from Anna Harper. However, the Eagles slowly chipped away, scoring one run in each of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Despite seeing the lead slip away, the Hornets stung back in the bottom of the sixth when Anna Harper led off the frame with her second longball of the afternoon. Henley was able to manufacture one more run in the sixth after a sacrifice fly from Natalie Hudson, carrying a one-run lead to the seventh.
Stayton would not surrender. With two outs in the inning, back-to-back Henley errors allowed the tying run to score. The Hornets were able to escape the inning, only allowing the single run to score while stranding the go-ahead run in scoring position. In the bottom of the seventh, Belle Birch reached on a walk, followed later that inning by a Moore single, which put Birch on third base. Segura lined a double to the right field fence, which scored Birch and secured the win for Henley.
Anna Harper was an offensive juggernaut, going 2-3 with three RBI and two home runs. She was helped by Sam Moore, who went 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored, and Layli Segura finished 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI. For La Grande, Mylie Walker was 2-4, and Madison Schacher was 2-4 with an RBI.
Kalin Blankenship picked up the win in the circle for Henley, going 1.2 innings, allowing one hit and one run. Kenzi Beougher pitched a complete game for Stayton, allowing eight hits and six runs while striking out 7.
Stayton’s season is over as they suffer a second consecutive opening-round loss. Henley will face Astoria in the quarterfinals on May 30th, with first pitch scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
