The Philomath High School boys and girls golf teams are fighting to advance to the state championships this week at their respective district tournaments.
Through the first day, the boys are sitting in fifth place in the Special District 2 Tournament at Tokatee Golf Club in Blue River. The Warriors are 14 strokes behind the fourth-place team — the top four qualify for the 4A state tournament.
Meanwhile in the District 3 Tournament at Santiam Golf Club at Aumsville, Philomath’s girls are also in fourth place at 13 strokes behind the second-place team. For the girls, the top two teams out of the district meet will advance to the 4A/3A/2A/1A championships.
PHS senior Elijah Bush shot a first-day round of 87 to lead the Warrior boys. Bush is currently in 12th place overall. Senior Logan Matthews is in 21st with a 94, senior Silas Pittman in 22nd with a 95 and senior Hudson Raab in 25th with a 96. Senior Caleb Russell shot a 106 and is currently in 33rd. The top four individuals count toward the team score.
Marist Catholic leads the team scoring with a 329, followed by Cascade’s 340, Stayton’s 341 and Junction City’s 358. Individually, Stayton senior Isaac Laro leads with a 1-under par 71.
Three golfers shot 100 or under for the PHS girls led by junior Isabelle Muir’s 98, which has her in 17th place individually. Senior Ashleigh Brown is right behind in 19th with a first-day round of 99 and senior Anneka Steen is sitting in 20th with a 100. Senior Kynlee Albin and junior Shaylee May both had rounds of 105 and are among a group tied for 27th.
Salem Academy’s Chloe Johnston leads with a 4-under par 68. Salem Academy leads the team standings by a considerable margin over second-place Harrisburg.
Both district tournaments continue Tuesday. The state championships will be May 19-20 at Tokatee Golf Club for the boys and Trysting Tree Golf Club for the girls.
BOYS GOLF
4A Special District 2 Tournament
Monday-Tuesday at Tokatee Golf Club, McKenzie Bridge
DAY 1
Team scoring — 1, Marist Catholic 329; 2, Cascade 340; 3, Stayton 341; 4, Junction City 358; 5, Philomath 372; 6, Sweet Home 390; 7, North Marion 392; 8, Newport 402; 9, Cottage Grove 438.
PHS results — 12, Elijah Bush 43-44—87; 21, Logan Matthews 46-48—94; 22, Silas Pittman 47-48—95; 25, Hudson Raab 47-49—96; 33, Caleb Russell 55-51—106.
GIRLS GOLF
4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 3 Tournament
Monday-Tuesday at Santiam Golf Club, Aumsville
DAY 1
Team scoring — 1, Salem Academy 313; 2, Harrisburg 389; 3, Santiam Christian 390; 4, Philomath 402; 5, Amity 413; 6, Taft 422; 7, Sweet Home 428; 8, Waldport 438.
PHS results — 17, Isabelle Muir 51-47—98; 19, Ashleigh Brown 55-44—99; 20, 20, Anneka Steen 57-43—100; 27, Kynlee Albin 50-55—105; 27, Shaylee May 52-53—105.
SOFTBALL
Philomath took a 4-3 lead into the fourth inning in an Oregon West home game against No. 3-ranked Cascade Monday but the Cougars erupted for 14 runs over the fourth and fifth innings to notch the victory.
The Warriors (11-11 overall, 5-8 Oregon West) are scheduled to play their final home game Wednesday at 5 p.m. against Newport. Prior to the first pitch at 4:30 p.m., the team will participate in a Warrior Field naming ceremony that will include Siletz tribe representatives and also have Senior Night recognition.
Philomath chased Cascade’s starter out of the game in the first inning with three runs. Leadoff batter Kaylie Kohler, senior, walked and later scored on a wild pitch. Freshman Hailey Smith, who also had walked, scored when senior Janae Traglia reached on an error. Later in the inning after a pitching change, senior Zoee Howard grounded out to the shortstop but got Traglia home for a 3-1 lead.
After Cascade (22-1, 12-1) had evened the score at 3-3, the Warriors regained the lead in the bottom of the third. Freshman Rylee Martin laid down a bunt for a single but Cascade’s first baseman committed an error on the play that allowed freshman Libby Kramer to come around and score from second.
The Cougars scored seven runs in the fourth but Philomath fought back with three runs in the bottom half. Kramer singled to left field that brought in junior Emma May and Smith. Senior Hannah Bennett followed with a single and Kramer scored on the throw.
But Cascade scored seven more runs in the fifth to build a 10-run advantage. Philomath added a couple of more runs to the scoreboard — sophomore Sierra Skaggs scored when May reached on an error followed by a one-run single by Kohler.
Kramer threw 5-2/3 innings for Philomath with sophomore Haley King throwing a third of an inning in relief. At the plate, Kramer went 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Martin finished 2 for 3.
Cascade freshman Taylor Bays, who entered the game with one out in the first inning, ended up with the win after throwing 4-2/3 innings, a performance that included no walks and seven strikeouts. Sophomore Kaitlyn Webb was the team’s top hitter at 4 for 5 with four RBIs. Senior teammate Malia Scanlan was 3 for 5 with five RBIs. Webb, Scanlan and sophomore Pearl Pruett hit home runs.
Cascade and Stayton will play Wednesday in a game that could decide the Oregon West’s regular-season championship.
Cascade 21, Philomath 9
Monday at Warrior Field, Philomath HS
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 R H E Cascade (22-1, 12-1) 1 1 1 7 7 4 21 20 9 Philomath (11-11, 5-8) 3 0 1 1 3 2 9 9 4
Lowry, Bays (1), Wright (6) and Kastl; Kramer, King (6) and Traglia. W — Bays. L — Kramer. 2B — Miranda, Webb, Scanlan. HR — Webb, Scanlan, Pruett.
BASEBALL
Philomath High’s scheduled game against North Marion on Monday didn’t happen and was rescheduled as a doubleheader at Terry Stephenson Field on Thursday. The Warriors and Huskies are scheduled to meet Wednesday at Aurora.
Philomath (17-4 overall, 10-2 Oregon West) is currently in second place behind Newport in the league standings in this final week of the regular season. The Cubs defeated Cascade, 1-0, on Monday and now lead PHS by a game and a half in the standings.
The top two teams out of the conference will earn automatic advancement to the 4A playoffs.
Thursday’s twinbill is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.