Going up against state playoff-bound Stayton and competing with three starters missing from the lineup, the Philomath High School softball team struggled to keep pace in a 21-2 loss on Saturday afternoon.
The visiting Eagles (18-5 overall, 13-2 Oregon West) scored early and often and the game ended after four innings on the 15-run mercy rule.
Philomath (1-22, 1-13) could not get anything going offensively against Stayton pitching. In the first, Laighla Hockema reached on an error and made it over to second on a ground out but was stranded.
In the second, Sierra Skaggs opened the inning with a single to right field and moved to second on a ground out. But a strikeout and ground out ended the inning.
Philomath got something going in the fourth to avoid a shutout. Riley Mason opened the inning with a walk and Hannah Bennett then reached on an error to give the Warriors base runners at first and third. Two batters later, Lilia Leman got aboard on an outfield error while Mason scored the team’s first run. Philomath’s second run was scored when Bennett reached home on a passed ball.
Stayton and Cascade finished in a tie for first place in the Oregon West Conference. The Cougars won the season series, however, and are higher in the OSAA rankings. Both teams will earn automatic berths into the 4A playoffs.
The Warriors will try to regroup for their finale at 5 p.m. Monday at North Marion, a game that had to be rescheduled from earlier this season.
