PILOT ROCK — Kashley Golden hit a three-run home run and drove in five runs to lead No. 5 Pilot Rock to a 12-1 Blue Mountain Conference win Tuesday over Irrigon.
“We talked early in the season about what our goals were,” Pilot Rock coach Kyle Golden said. “Everybody has the same frame of mind that we would go all out and not give up until the very end. They have stayed on track and it has worked out well so far.”
The Rockets (12-1 overall, 2-0 BMC) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, then hung seven runs on the board in the second, highlighted by a two-run single by Paige Hansen, Golden and Gracee Hemphill.
Pilot Rock stretched its lead to 12-0 in the bottom of the third as Golden belted the ball over the center field fence, and Stevee Osborn hit an RBI single.
“She’s always been a really good hitter,” Golden said of Kashley Golden. “She has her off days, but today was a good one for her. We had a good day at the plate (11 hits). We tell them to start strong and everybody hits. They did that all game. When they get on base, they know what to do to score.”
The Knights (20-10, 0-2) scored their lone run in the top of the fifth inning as Shianne Claassen drove in the run with a single.
Hansen went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs for the Rockets, while Hailey Thieme was 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored.
Coley Gibbs picked up the win for the Rockets, allowing one run on six hits while striking out four and walking none.
“She pitched well and hit all of her spots,” Golden said. “She battles hard out there and she has confidence that the defense will play well behind her.”
Avaree Pantoja took the loss for Irrigon, giving up 12 runs on 11 hits while striking out three and walking three.
Pilot Rock will play April 21 at No. 1 Weston-McEwen. Irrigon will play on Friday at Grant Union.
HEPPNER 9, WESTON-MCEWEN 2 — After dropping a game to the TigerScots last week, the Mustangs came back and evened the score with a Blue Mountain Conference home win Tuesday afternoon.
Sarah Estes went 4-for-4 with a double and four RBIs as Heppner scored early and held onto its lead.
“Proud of my girls today,” Heppner coach Petra Payne said. “They put the ball in play and played good defense. Sarah came up huge with four RBIs.”
It was the first conference loss for the TigerScots (7-2 overall, 3-1 BMC).
“Heppner came ready to play and hit the ball much better than our previous matchup,” W-M coach Jeff Griggs said. “Our team can learn a lot from our loss, both about ourselves and our skills. We refuse to let our inexperience be an excuse and will grow from this game.”
Top-ranked Weston-McEwen loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the first, but Reagan Pickard struck out and Olivia Sargent grounded out to end the threat.
The fifth-ranked Mustangs (8-1, 1-1) put two runs on the board in the first, the first coming off an RBI single by Estes. Isa Payne scored on a passed ball to make it 2-0.
Delaney Stefania and Estes each hit RBI singles in the second inning, and Cici Stefani scored on an error to give the Mustangs a 5-0 lead after two innings.
The TigerScots picked up a run in the top of the third as Lily Langford hit a solo home run to right field.
Heppner would score two runs in the fourth and two in the fifth for a 9-1 lead.
Weston-McEwen scored one run in the top of the seventh on an error, but would leave one runner on base as Hope Berry flew out to Khloe Rodriguez at second base and Bre Ward struck out.
Delaney Stefani went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Isabelle Ogden hit a double.
Maya Payne earned the win for the Mustangs, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out eight and walking two.
Langford went 3-for-4 for the TigerScots. Ward took the loss, giving up nine runs on seven hits while striking out 11 and walking three.
Baseball
GRANT UNION 12, PILOT ROCK 1 (5) — The Prospectors improved to 4-0 in Blue Mountain Conference play with a road win over the Rockets.
Grant Union (7-3 overall) led 2-1 after the first inning, then scored one in the second to take control of the game for good.
Jerett Waddel hit a three-run double in the second for GU, and Chet Workman added a two-run single to highlight the scoring.
The Rockets (5-3, 3-1) scored their lone run in the first on an error.
Lucas Thieme and Tucker Holton each had a hit for Pilot Rock, while Gage Williams took the loss.
Baryn Huerta earned the win for GU, allowing one run on two hits while striking out eight and walking none.
IRRIGON 8, WESTON-MCEWEN 7 — Irrigon overcame a 5-4 deficit with four runs over the last two innings for a Blue Mountain Conference road win over the TigerScots.
Irrigon (6-4 overall, 2-2 BMC) scored both of its runs off bases-loaded walks in the sixth to take a 6-5 lead.
In the seventh, Aiden Wells sent one run across the plate with a groundout, and Rene Garcia stole home for an 8-5 lead.
Weston-McEwen battled back in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs on one error with two outs to trim the deficit to 8-7. EJ Pickard flew out to center field to end the game.
Cole Akers went 1-2 with a triple and two RBIs, while Bennette Atkins, Cody Johnson and Garcia hit doubles for the Knights.
Aidenn Mahaffey had a double and an RBI for the TigerScots, while Quincey Stanford drove in two runs.
Girls tennis
PENDLETON 6, LA GRANDE 2 — The Bucks won three of four singles matches, and did the same in doubles, for a Special District 5 home win over the Tigers.
In the top singles match, Pendleton’s Noemi Alvarez-Barroso beat Karli Kretschmer 6-2, 6-1, followed by Oliver Allen with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Mallie Gitome.
The Bucks made it three in a row as Kamryn Matteson beat Irelyn Collins 8-3. The Tigers won the No. 4 match as Emerson Miller topped Sophia Estrada 8-2.
La Grande won the No. 1 doubles match as LeAnna Scott and Maddie Armstrong beat Isabelle Bernier and Hannah Morioka 6-0, 7-6 (4).
Pendleton won the next three matches, starting with Avery Pitner and Avery Brown beating Ava Mendoza and Ella Lees 6-2, 6-1. At No. 3, Madelyn Gunter and Jules Gunter beat Marie Davis and Dora Koltuv 8-2, and Miracle Edmiston and Emily Pattison finished the match with an 8-0 victory over Amber Venutolo and Gracie Murie.
Boys tennis
PENDLETON 5, LA GRANDE 1 — Freshman Sam Larsen improved to 6-1 on the season to help the Bucks to a Special District 5 home win over La Grande.
Larsen beat Carter Pennington 6-1, 6-1 to lead Pendleton’s sweep of the Tigers in singles. Adam Harrison followed with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Tave Hendrickson, and Caden Crowder won the No. 3 match with an 8-0 win over Ronan McDonald. At No. 4, Will Larsen won by default.
In the No. 1 doubles match, La Grande’s Blake Hildebrandt and Jeremiah Jones beat Thor Case and Cooper Crosby 6-2, 6-0. The Tigers defaulted the No. 2 doubles match.
