PILOT ROCK — Heppner got off to a slow start, but once it got the bats going, the hits and runs were plentiful in a 14-4 Blue Mountain Conference victory over Pilot Rock on Tuesday afternoon.

Caleb George hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning, and Keaton Coiner added a solo shot in the fourth as the Mustangs overcame an early 2-0 deficit.

“We had a slow start, but after the home run in the fourth, we got on a roll,” Heppner coach Tim Wilkins said. 

Trailing 2-0 after two innings, the conference-leading  Mustangs (11-5 overall, 10-2 BMC) scored three runs in the top of the third, highlighted by a two-run double by Caylan Proudfoot.

Coiner’s home run was part of a three-run fourth inning to give the   Mustangs a 6-2 lead. It was his first home run of the season.

In the fifth, the bases were loaded when Ryan Haugen scored on an error. George then belted a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for a three-run home run and a 10-3 lead. It was George’s fourth home run of the year.

“Caleb’s having one of the best years he’s had,” Wilkins said of his leadoff hitter. “He’s been hitting the ball hard all year.”

Heppner would add four more runs to its total before the game was over.

George went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs scored, while Proudfoot was 3-for-4 with two doubles, four RBIs, two runs scored and two stolen bases, and Lord Dickenson had a double and an RBI.

Proudfoot went 6 1/3 innings for the win. He allowed two runs on four hits while striking out six and walking two. 

“Caylan did a really good job,” Wilkins said.

Carter VanHouten went 2-for-3 for the Rockets (6-8, 4-6), while Gage Williams was 2-for-4, and Deacon Gourlie was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Pilot Rock’s pitching staff of five gave up 14 runs on 12 hits while striking out nine and walking four. Tate Thacker was credited with the loss.

The Mustangs are off until May 5, when they host the Rockets. Pilot Rock is at Sherman for two games on Friday.

“It’s pretty tight,” Wilkins said of the conference standings. “It’s going to be pretty competitive toward the end. We have John Day (May 12) and hopefully we get one back.”

WESTON-MCEWEN 11, ELGIN/IMBLER 1 (5) — Freshman Buck Sparks hit a double and drove in four runs to help the TigerScots to a Blue Mountain Conference home win over the Huskies.

Weston-McEwen (2-10 overall, 2-8 BMC) opened the scoring with five runs in the third inning, highlighted by an RBI double by Tim Taylor and a two-run single by Sparks.

The TigerScots added six runs in the fourth, including a two-run double by Sparks and an RBI double by Mason Stallings.

Elgin (2-6, 2-6) scored its lone run in the top of the fifth off an RBI single by Kadin Allen.

Bennett Cavalletto earned the win, giving up one run on three hits while striking out nine and walking none. Tim Taylor went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.

Ely Murphey and John Rito also had hits for the Huskies.

Softball

WESTON-MCEWEN 8, PILOT ROCK 5 — Lily Langford hit a two-run home run, and Bre Ward struck out seven, as the top-ranked TigerScots beat the Rockets on the road in Blue Mountain Conference action.

“Pilot Rock is a good club, I have to admit,” W-M coach Jeff Griggs said. “They have some good kids. In our first game (April 23), Bre had 14 strikeouts and they cut that in half this time. They put the wood on the ball and we had to make plays. We made routine plays and threw people out.”

Weston-McEwen (11-2 overall, 7-1 BMC) led 4-3 after five innings, then put up four runs in the sixth, two courtesy of Langford’s home run, for an 8-3 lead.

Pilot Rock (12-5, 2-4) scored twice in the bottom of the seventh with two outs as Audrey Umpleby hit a two-run single to right field. Ward struck out Stevee Osborn to end the game.

Evie Hodgson went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and one stolen base for the TigerScots. She also threw a ball in from center field for an 8-5 tag out on Kashley Golden at third base in the fourth inning.

Hope Berry was 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI and two stolen bases, and Megan McLouth was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

For the Rockets, Hailey Thieme was 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Autumn Severe was 2-for-3.

VALE 5, PENDLETON 2 — The Vikings broke open a close game with three runs in the fifth inning for a home win over the Bucks.

Pendleton (10-6) opened the scoring in the second inning, scoring on an error.

Vale (16-0), the No. 3-ranked 3A team, stormed back with two runs in the third on a double by freshman Sophia Navarrete for a 3-1 lead.

The Vikings tacked on three runs in the fifth for a 5-1 lead and a little breathing room.

In the top of the sixth, the Bucks scored one run on a single by Kelsi Primus with two outs. Tatum Lambert popped out to the second baseman with two runners on base.

Primus went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Bucks, while Avery Quaempts was 1-for-3 with a double. Shaylor Fisher took the loss, allowing five runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

Navarrete picked up the win, giving up two runs on two hits while striking out 14 and walking none.

Boys tennis

BAKER 5, PENDLETON 1 — Caden Crowder won the No. 3 singles match for the Bucks and the host Bulldogs ran away with a Special District 5 win.

Crowder rallied to beat Jarrin Bott 2-6, 7-6 (5), 10-8.

In the No. 1 singles match, Baker’s Hasen Hellberg topped Sam Larsen 7-5, 6-3, while at No. 2, Zayne Hills beat Adam Harrison 2-6, 6-3, 11-9. Luke Hills finished the singles with an 8-4 win over Will Larsen.

In doubles, Baker’s Gabe Schwartz and Theo Pepera beat Ben Larsen and Cooper Crosby 6-1, 6-0, and at No.2, Jacob Burton and Weston Burton swept Jordan Hentke and Henry Pullen 6-0, 6-0.

Girls tennis

IONE 4, WESTON-MCEWEN 0 — The Cardinals swept the TigerScots on the road in Special District 4 action, led by top singles player Silvia Garagozza, who beat Angelina Erb 9-8 (5).

Lizzy Doherty won the No. 2 match with an 8-0 win over, Aleah Peterson.

In doubles, Doherty and Brionna Serrano beat Nelly Barahona and Alethea Bond 8-0, and Teagan Roy and Sophia Serrano eked out a 9-8 (5) victory over River Dennett and Rebecca Young.

PENDLETON 5, BAKER 3 — The Bucks won three of four doubles matches to escape Baker City with a Special District 5 win over the Bulldogs.

Avery Pitner and Avery Brown won the No. 1 doubles match for Pendleton with a 6-3, 6-0 win over Lilly Fields and Kaytee Zinn, and Hannah Morioka and Amelia Thompson followed with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Jailey Ford and Payton Anderson.

In the No. 3 match, Madelyn Gunter and Jules Gunter cruised to a 6-1, 6-2 win over Avery Martin and Ella Herrera. The Bulldogs won the No. 4 match as Camber Yencopal and Mykenzie Coley beat Miracle Edmiston and Emily Pattison 6-3, 5-7, 10-7.

In singles, Baker’s Liz Timm won the No.1 match with a 6-2, 6-4 win over McKinley Moore, but Pendleton’s Noemi Alvarez-Barroso evened the score with a 6-2, 7-6 (1) win over Kaitlyn Schwin. Madison Sullivan beat Pendleton’s Olivia Allen 6-1, 3-6, 10-6 in the No. 3 match, while at No. 4, Kamryn Matteson picked up an injury forfeit from Baker’s Khloe Van Dyken.