The Philomath High School softball team could not keep pace with Stayton in a 19-3 loss in three innings on Thursday afternoon at Warrior Field.
The visitors erupted for 16 runs in the second inning alone to strengthen their hold on second place in the Oregon West Conference. The top two teams earn automatic berths into the Class 4A playoffs. Cascade leads the pack with a 12-0 record with the Eagles second at 9-2 and Sweet Home a distant third at 6-6.
Gallery: PHS softball vs. Stayton (Thursday, May 14, 2026)
A collection of photos from Philomath High’s home softball game against Stayton on Thursday.
Philomath, meanwhile, is currently in a battle with Newport for fourth place in the league standings. The Warriors are sitting at 3-8 in the conference and have games remaining at Cascade on Monday, at Newport on Tuesday and at home for a Senior Night game against North Marion on May 21.
In Thursday’s game, the Warriors (8-10 overall) had a promising start by holding the high-powered Eagles to a single run in the first inning. Stayton’s offense is averaging 11 runs per game in league play this season.
But the second inning was a different story with the Eagles taking a 17-0 lead. In the inning, Stayton (13-9) collected 10 hits and reached base five times on walks and three times when hit by pitches. After a popup to shortstop Libby Kramer for the first out, the next 16 plate appearances ended with a batter reaching base.
Philomath scored in the bottom of the second inning. Hailey Smith led off by reaching on an error and after a popup for the first out, scored on a double to left field by Haley King. The Warriors stranded King at second, however, with the inning ending on back-to-back ground outs.
Stayton added a couple of more runs to its lead in the third, although Smith in the circle for Philomath struck out three of the last four batters that she faced in the inning.
In the bottom half, Emma May led off with a single to left field. Rylee Martin followed with a ball that she put in play toward the middle and reached on a fielder’s choice. Stayton made an error on the play when the ball got away from the second baseman, who had the intention of forcing out May at second.
Emily Burner also reached on a fielder’s choice on a ground ball that led to a force at third. Kramer then walked to load the bases. After an infield popup led to the second out, Riley Mason knocked a single into center field to drive in Martin and Burner. The game ended on a popup to third base with Stayton securing the victory on the 15-run rule.
Stayton 19, Philomath 3 (3)
Thursday, May 14, at Warrior Field, Philomath HS
Team 1 2 3 R H E Stayton (13-9, 9-2) 1 16 2 19 14 2 Philomath (8-10, 3-8) 0 1 2 3 3 0
Schacher and Stutrud; King, Smith (2) and Mason. W — Schacher. L — King. 2B — Schacher (S), King (P).