Stayton brought out the big bats Monday to post an 18-3 softball victory over Philomath in an Oregon West Conference matchup.
The Eagles set the tone early with seven runs in the top of the first. The Warriors showed some promise in the bottom half of the inning by scoring a couple of runs but the visitors responded with two of their own in the second and then erupted for nine runs in the third to put the game away.
“For some reason, they’ve got our number,” first-year PHS coach Kari Jaques said.
Stayton collected 14 hits — four of them for extra bases — and the Warriors committed five errors
“We just need to keep working,” Jaques said. “We can’t bring stuff like that to a game and expect to come away with a win.”
Stayton’s first five batters all collected hits, including a leadoff double by junior Makenzie Schacher, to rattle the Warriors early. By the time the inning ended with a force at third, the Eagles had scored seven runs.
Philomath (9-7 overall, 3-4 Oregon West) tried to bring a positive vibe to the plate in the bottom half and after the team’s leadoff batter struck out looking, freshman Hailey Smith connected with a double to right center. Senior Janae Traglia then followed with a double over the right fielder’s head to get the Warriors on the scoreboard. Senior Hannah Bennett singled to right field to drive in another run.
But the inning ended when Stayton’s second baseman caught a pop-up and doubled off Philomath’s base runner, who had ventured too far away from first.
“When we first went up and put some runs back on the board, I was excited, but I think when you keep … having those errors, it’s just hard to emotionally come back from that. You just keep digging yourself deeper into a hole.”
The Eagles (9-6, 5-2) got two runs back in the second with two walks and a two-base error figuring into the equation. Then in the third, Stayton sent 12 batters to the plate and scored nine runs on six hits. The highlight for the visitors was a two-run homer to left center by senior Brookelyn Morley.
Stayton has outscored Philomath 33-3 In their two games so far this season. They’ll meet for a third time at Stayton on May 8.
Every batter in the lineup had a hit for the Eagles with Morley finishing 3 for 4 with five RBIs. Senior Kenzi Beougher allowed four hits and no walks with three strikeouts in the circle.
Philomath had those errors but also had a few nice moments in the field. For example, in the third inning on a hit to left field by Hollenbeck, Philomath freshman Taylor Martin hit freshman shortstop Libby Kramer on the relay and Kramer threw a strike to the plate where Traglia tagged out a base runner.
“We had people in different positions and people were still talking and doing things,” Jaques said. “We did have some good things, for sure, but it’s tough against these good teams. You can’t make that many errors.”
Philomath will play its next two on the road with a game Wednesday at Cascade and Thursday at Newport.
