The Philomath High School softball team fell into a deep hole on the scoreboard over the first two innings Thursday in a home game against Newport and ended up with a 16-6 loss.
The Warriors trailed by 11 runs heading into the bottom of the second and edged the Cubs 3-2 the rest of the way but the visitors had built too big of an advantage. Newport (3-15 overall, 3-6 Oregon West) collected a dozen hits, including a pair of home runs by freshman Baby Garrett.
Gallery: PHS softball vs. Newport (April 25, 2024)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s softball game at home vs. Newport on Thursday.
Philomath (1-17, 1-8) will try to find the win column on Monday with a trip to Sweet Home. The Warriors also have games next week at North Marion and at Cascade.
Philomath scored three runs in the first inning. Junior catcher Janae Traglia opened with a single and junior Laighla Hockema followed by drawing a walk. That set up junior Hannah Bennett, who came through with a double to center field to drive in both base runners. Bennett later scored on a Newport error.
The Warriors added two more in the second inning. Junior Kaylie Kohler walked, moved up on a Traglia single and scored on a Hockema ground out. Traglia then scored on a Bennett ground out.
The team’s other run came in the third when junior Tatum Pope connected on a single to center field that brought in freshman Haley King, who had reached earlier on a single.
Traglia went 2 for 3 and scored twice for the Warriors. Bennett finished with three RBIs. In the circle, Pope got the start and Hockema relieved. Half of Newport’s runs were unearned. Hockema had six strikeouts.
Newport’s Garrett was a tough out with a 3-for-4 effort and five RBIs, including a three-run homer in the second and a solo shot to lead off the fourth. Freshman Scarlett Walker went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and senior Rylee Black finished 2 for 4. Junior Ivy Ruddiman drove in two. Sophomore Sophia Bush and Walker both pitched for the Cubs.
