The Philomath High School baseball team opened a pivotal series against Newport Monday with a 6-3 victory on the road. The Warriors jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and junior Caleb Babcock threw a complete-game six-hitter in the team’s 11th straight victory.
Babcock, who was throwing on his birthday and backed up by an errorless defense, walked two and struck out eight to go to 7-0 on the season.
Hitting barrage lifts Philomath to softball win
Back in her familiar position at the top of the order, Philomath High senior Kaylie Kohler broke out of a slump in the team’s 17-7 victory over North Marion Monday at Warrior Field. Well, most might not refer to a .333 batting average over the past month as a slump — but it’s below Kohler’s…
The Warriors (17-3 overall, 10-0 Oregon West) never trailed in the game with runs in the first inning coming on a sacrifice fly by senior Grant Niemann, a bases-loaded walk by sophomore AJ Altishin and a two-run single by senior Joe Barnes.
The Cubs (16-3, 9-1) pulled to within 4-3 in the fourth but the Warriors added single runs in the fifth and seventh while holding the home team scoreless the rest of the way. In the fifth, Niemann scored on a ground ball to first by sophomore Jacob Hernandez. And in the seventh, Barnes picked up another RBI with a double to right field that scored senior Kayson Olsen.
Babcock (2 for 3), Niemann (2 for 3) and Barnes (2 for 4, three RBIs) were Philomath’s top hitters. Senior Curtis Olivera went 2 for 3 for the Cubs.
The series moves to Philomath Wednesday for a 5 p.m. game at Terry Stephenson Field.
Philomath 6, Newport 3
Monday at Frank Wade Field, Newport HS
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Philomath (17-3, 10-0) 4 0 0 0 1 0 1 6 7 0 Newport (16-3, 9-1) 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 3 6 1
Babcock and Niemann; Hockema, Bruns (2), Fierro (6) and Mattson. W — Babcock. L — Hockema. 2B — Babcock, Barnes. HR — Langeliers.
Junior varsity: Philomath 18, Newport 7 (6).
BOYS GOLF
Philomath at Junction City Invitational
Seniors Elijah Bush and Caleb Russell shot a 94 and 95, respectively, to lead the PHS boys golf team to a fourth-place finish Monday at the Junction City Invitational.
Bush made par on five holes and finished strong with a 43 on the back nine. Russell’s stronger nine came on the front half, which included back-to-back par holes on the fourth and fifth, as part of a 45.
Senior Logan Matthews had a team-high seven par holes as part of his 98, which included a 45 on the front nine.
Stayton won the team title by 16 strokes over runner-up Cascade. Two golfers finished tied atop the leaderboard with Cascade teammates Cruz Shank, a senior, and Grant Hemelstrand, a sophomore, both shooting 80.
Philomath is scheduled to participate Wednesday in a tournament at Emerald Valley Golf Club near Creswell.
Junction City Invitational
Monday at Diamond Woods Golf Club, Monroe
Team scoring — 1, Stayton 337; 2, Cascade 353; 3, Junction City 360; 4, Philomath 389; 5, Newport 406; 6, North Marion 414; 7, Cottage Grove 415; 8, Phoenix 566.
PHS results — 14, Elijah Bush 51-43—94; 17, Caleb Russell 45-50—95; 20, Logan Matthews 45-53—98; 24, Silas Pittman 52-50—102; 24, Roman Robins 56-46—102.
GIRLS GOLF
Philomath at Trysting Tree
The PHS girls hosted a meet Monday at Trysting Tree Golf Club in Corvallis and finished third among the four schools that fielded full teams. In all, 10 schools sent golfers to the event.
Seniors Kynlee Albin, Ashleigh Brown and Anneka Steen all finished within two strokes of one another. Albin was the team leader with a 107, which included a 49 on the front nine. Brown had a 108 with a strong back nine, including back-to-back par holes coming into the clubhouse. Steen also had a stronger performance in the second half of the course at 49 and finished at 108.
Junior Shaylee May shot a 100, which included three par holes and a birdie on the 11th but she was listed in the official results as disqualified.
Salem Academy easily won the team title by 112 strokes over runner-up Taft and had the top individual golfer in Ellie Gladow, who shot an even-par 71.
Philomath will now turn its attention to the Special District 3 Tournament, scheduled for May 12 at Santiam Golf Club near Stayton.
Trysting Tree Varsity Match
Monday at Trysting Tree Club, Corvallis
Team scoring — 1, Salem Academy 318; 2, Taft 430; 3, Philomath 436; 4, Waldport 451.
PHS results — 16, Kynlee Albin 49-58—107; 18, Ashleigh Brown 60-48—108; 18, Anneka Steen 59-49—108; 24, Isabelle Muir 55-58—103; DQ, Shaylee May 48-52—100.
GIRLS TENNIS
Marist Catholic 6, Philomath 1
Defending state champion Marist Catholic won six of seven matches in a rescheduled girls tennis match Monday on Philomath’s home courts.
Marist’s Whitney Hedden, who reached the state semifinals last year as a freshman, defeated Philomath’s Adele Beckstead at No. 1 singles.
Philomath’s lone victory of the afternoon occurred at No. 3 doubles with Bethany Cannon and Bella Nuñez. The PHS freshmen won the first set, 6-3, and were then awarded the match when their opponents retired and conceded the match.
Philomath is scheduled to play at 4 p.m. Wednesday at West Albany.
Marist Catholic 6, Philomath 1
Monday at Philomath HS
Singles
Whitney Hedden, MC, def. Adele Beckstead, 6-0, 6-1; Ashley Powell, MC, def. Lucy Thomas, 6-1, 6-2; Taylor Murphy, MC, def. Isabelle Norman, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles
Phoebie Larson/Stella Larson, MC, def. Maggie King/Lizzie Workman, 6-0, 6-0; Gina Schroffner/Alanna Scala, MC, def. Lucie Oster/Clara Neville, 6-1, 6-2; Bethany Cannon/Bella Nuñez, PHS, def. Mackenzie Fort/Scout Pellegrini, 6-3, ret.; Aune Aguero/Hunter Portz, MC, def. Logan Cook/Charlotte Storch, 6-0, 6-0.