The Philomath High School softball team finished the North Medford Spring Break Tournament on a high note with victories of 13-6 over Amity and 6-2 over Salem Academy.
The Warriors won three of four at the tournament — the program’s best showing at the event. Competing in North Medford for the fourth straight season, the Warriors had lost 10 of 12 heading into this most recent appearance. On Monday, PHS beat Elmira, 10-8, and lost to Willamina, 5-4.
Playing in an 8 a.m. game for the second straight day, the Warriors outslugged Amity with 17 hits in the seven-run win. Amity scored in the top of the first for an early lead but Philomath came right back in the bottom half with a couple of runs. Senior Kaylie Kohler led off with a single and scored when the next batter, freshman Hailey Smith, smacked a triple. Smith later scored on a sacrifice to center field by senior Hannah Bennett.
Amity regained the lead in the second, 4-2, but PHS had answers again in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Sierra Skaggs hit a one-run double and then later stole home to tie the score. Smith followed a few batters later with a one-run double to put the Warriors on top. Smith then scored on a passed ball to make it 6-4.
Philomath added four more runs in the third for more cushion. Freshman Libby Kramer, Skaggs and Kohler hit one-run singles and Skaggs stole home for a 10-5 lead.
The Warriors added two runs in the fourth on one-run singles by senior Laighla Hockema and Kramer. Philomath’s 13th run came in the fifth when Smith scored on a ball put into play by sophomore Haley King.
Seven PHS batters had a multiple-hit game. Freshman Taylor Martin and Kramer both went 3 for 3 and five others had two hits — Kohler, Smith, senior Janae Traglia, Hockema and Skaggs. Smith, Kramer and Skaggs each drove in two runs.
At pitcher, Hockema went the distance and allowed 11 hits, five earned runs and four walks with six strikeouts in six innings.
Philomath followed with a 6-2 victory over Salem Academy in a game that the Warriors led from start to finish. The Warriors scored three in the top of the first. Traglia hit a one-run single, Smith stole home and Traglia made it home on an error. The Warriors added another run in the second on a one-run single by Kohler.
The game remained 4-2 until the sixth inning with Philomath’s Smith and Salem Academy’s Addi Bennett squaring off at pitcher. The Warriors broke through in the sixth for two more runs to pad their lead. Philomath went up 5-2 when Kramer doubled to send freshman Rylee Martin around the bases — she scored on an error by the third baseman. Kramer then scored on a passed ball.
Smith threw seven innings and allowed nine hits, two runs and three walks with five strikeouts for the win. At the plate, Kohler went 3 for 4 and Smith was 2 for 4.
Philomath (4-2) will take a break from competition for the rest of the week and is scheduled to see its next action at home on March 31 against Gaston.
