The Philomath High School baseball team opened its three-game conference series with North Marion a little later than expected this week but posted a victory nonetheless by a 9-1 margin Wednesday on the road.
The two teams will now meet Thursday for a doubleheader at Philomath’s Terry Stephenson Field. The first game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
Philomath (18-4 overall, 11-2 Oregon West) has secured at least second place in the conference to earn an automatic berth in the Class 4A playoffs. Newport (20-4, 13-1) clinched a share of the league title with a 9-1 win Wednesday over Cascade. If the Cubs lose Thursday and the Warriors sweep their twinbill, the two teams would be tied for first — although Newport won the season series.
Philomath never trailed the Huskies (8-14, 5-8) and took control by scoring seven runs over the fourth and fifth innings. Senior Kayson Olsen had a two-run double to give the Warriors a 4-0 lead. The next inning, junior Rocco De La Rosa drove in a pair of runs on a triple to center field.
De La Rosa had a stellar performance at the plate by going 3 for 5 with the triple and two RBIs. Junior Caleb Babcock had a 2-for-4 game with two RBIs. Olsen also had those two RBIs in the fourth.
Babcock got the win at pitcher after going 5-1/3 innings with three hits, no earned runs and four walks allowed against nine strikeouts. Senior Grant Niemann and sophomore Jacob Hernandez finished out the game and combined had five strikeouts to give PHS 14 in the game.
After the Philomath-North Marion series wraps up Thursday, the Warriors will play one more regular-season game at 5 p.m. Monday at home against Blanchet Catholic. The team will recognize its seniors before the game.
Philomath 9, North Marion 1
Wednesday at North Marion HS, Aurora
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Philomath (18-4, 11-2) 0 0 1 4 3 0 1 9 9 4 North Marion (8-14, 5-8) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 3 5
Babcock, Niemann (6), Hernandez (7) and Niemann, Henley (6); Stafford, Ruby (6) and Flores. W — Babcock. L — Stafford. 2B — Olsen. 3B — De La Rosa.
Junior varsity: Philomath 7, North Marion 6.