Playing in a Philomath High School softball uniform for the final time, senior Emma May made the most of it.
May got a hit in her final plate appearance and talked her coach into letting her play an inning behind the plate as the Warriors closed their season with a 12-2, five-inning victory over visiting North Marion on Thursday at Warrior Field.
Gallery: PHS softball vs. North Marion (May 21, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s 12-2 softball win in five innings over North Marion on Thursday.
As the lone senior on the roster, May was the sole focus of Senior Night festivities. She was recognized before the game alongside her parents, and afterward she made a final senior run around the bases.
“It’s just crazy, kind of surreal, I can’t believe it,” said May, who has played with the varsity for three seasons. “I’ve been playing since I was 5.”
May, who usually patrols left field, opened the game behind the plate — a nod to where she got her start in the program.
“I caught my JV season here — that’s like all I did was catch,” she said. “I told coach, ‘please, one inning, just let me catch’ and she was like, ‘OK but no more so you don’t hurt yourself.'”
May stayed at catcher for the first inning before eventually making her way back out to left. For her, the appeal of the game has always come down to the people she plays it with.
“Just getting to play with people,” she said. “I really like the team aspect of it and just being active.”
The game also marked the end of an era for the program in another way. Head coach Kari Jaques, who announced her resignation earlier in the week, watched her team deliver the kind of performance she had been chasing for much of this spring.
“Tonight’s game was a culmination of all the things that we’ve been pushing to try to do all season,” Jaques said. “I’m glad that they were able to finally put it into play and I hope they continue that into next season because that’s the team they can be. They can be a great team — we’ve just got to get out of our own way.”
Jaques said the decision to step down came down to family.
“It just seemed like a good time to part ways and move on and be a mom now,” Jaques said.
Reflecting on what she has appreciated most, Jaques pointed to the day-to-day growth.
“I enjoy the hard work that the kids want to put in and watching them succeed in the things that they’re trying to get better at,” she said. “I love watching a kid have three at-bats in a game and adjust, adjust, and then the last time come through and do what they’re working on. It’s just rewarding to watch them make changes and see them take effect.”
The program under Jaques for the past two seasons had a record of 22-25.
On the field, Philomath’s offense backed up the sentiment. Five players had two hits apiece in the win over North Marion — sophomore Rylee Martin, sophomore Libby Kramer, junior Riley Mason, junior Haley King and junior Emily Burner — as the Warriors collected 13 hits. Burner and Mason added doubles, and Kramer drove in three runs.
In the circle, sophomore Hailey Smith allowed three hits and four walks while striking out four over five innings.
Freshman Rachael Willis doubled to lead the North Marion offense, and the Huskies turned two double plays on defense.
Philomath (9-13 overall, 4-11 Oregon West) trailed 2-0 before erupting for seven runs in the third. The Warriors tied the game on a one-run single up the middle by Kramer and took the lead when junior Sierra Skaggs later scored.
The Warriors added five more in the fourth to go up by 10. Kramer delivered a key two-run single to left field, while Burner and Mason smacked doubles and both Smith and freshman Adeline Victorine drove in runs on sacrifice flies to center.
In the top of the fifth, North Marion (5-20, 2-13) threatened by loading the bases but Smith struck out the final batter to end the game on the 10-run rule.
Philomath 12, North Marion 2 (5)
Thursday, May 21, at Warrior Field, Philomath HS
Team 1 2 3 4 5 R H E North Marion (5-20, 2-13) 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 6 Philomath (9-13, 4-11) 0 0 7 5 x 12 13 3
Shaffer and Curths; Smith and May, Mason (2). W — Smith. L — Shaffer. 2B — Willis (NM), Burner (P), Mason (P).
