ATHENA — When Bre Ward is on her game, Weston-McEwen is hard to beat.

The senior pitcher allowed just two runs on four hits and struck out 17 to lead the No. 2 TigerScots to a 9-2 win over Umpqua Valley Christian/Camas Valley on Wednesday in the second round of the 2A/1A state softball playoffs at Athena Memorial Ball Park.

“Bre pitched a 17-strikeout game, which was great,” W-M coach Jeff Griggs said. “She’s been focusing on fundamental things to be ahead in counts and limit the number of passes, and today was an excellent example of that. We rely on her a lot. She just did a great job.” 

Weston-McEwen (15-6) will host Perrydale on Friday in the state quarterfinals. The Pirates beat three-time defending state champion Grant Union 11-10.

The Monarchs finished their season 15-11.

“We had seen them over in La Grande, and they were missing kids to FFA,” Griggs said of UVC. “They were a way better team today than then. They had some tough at-bats. They had a couple of kids who really shone. Their shortstop was a dandy, and their pitcher threw some high ones, but once we settled in we adjusted.”

The TigerScots got on the board in the bottom of the first inning as Ward hit a blistering shot to center field, sending Lily Langford across the plate. Langford hit a double to get on base and went to third on a passed ball, making it an easy trip to the plate on Ward’s hit.

In the bottom of the second, Megan McLouth led things off with a walk, then stole second and third bases before Hailie Burns brought her in with a sacrifice bunt for a 2-0 lead.

“Our speed paid dividends today,” said Griggs, whose team had nine stolen bases, including four by McLouth.

The runs just kept coming for the TigerScots.

In the third, Langford led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run over the right-field fence, and with two outs, a single by Burns put another run across the plate for a 4-0 lead.

The Monarchs got one run back in the top of the fourth with a solo home run by Ali Saylor.

The TigerScots quickly extended their lead to 7-1 with three runs in the fourth.

One run scored on an error, Olivia Sargent brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, and Reagan Pickard drove in a run with a single to center field.

In the fifth, Langford drove in a run with a single to right field, and Ward followed with an RBI double to center.

“I liked that, scoring a little as we went, and steadily,” Griggs said. “We had contact in the middle of the order. Lily had a fantastic day at the plate. We had some  aggressive base running today, and Hailie and Megan were seventh and eighth in the order and they did really well today.”

Langford was 3-for-3 on the day with two RBIs, while Ward was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and McLouth and Sargent and Pickard all had two hits.

Hailee Tabor took the loss for the Monarchs, giving up nine runs on 13 hits while striking out seven and walking four.

Kayleigh Johnson went 2-for-4 at the plate. Seven of the UVC batters struck out twice.

PILOT ROCK 9, OAKLAND 5 — Hailey Thieme, Kashley Golden and Autumn Severe all drove in two runs to help the Rockets knock off the No. 5 Oakers on the road in the second round of the 2/1A state playoffs.

“That’s what we talked about before the game, setting the tone at the plate and in the field,” Pilot Rock coach Kyle Golden said. “They started to tie up Jada (Deist) and we went to Coley (Gibbs). It worked out. They are the one-two punch for us, and Autumn was great behind the plate. She threw out runners at first and second.”

Pilot Rock (15-10) advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2018, where it will play Friday at No. 4 Heppner. Oakland finished its season with a 14-7 record.

Pilot Rock opened the scoring with four runs in the top of the third inning.

Golden hit a two-run double to get things going, and Thieme followed with a two-run single.

The Rockets then added three runs in the fifth to take a 7-0 lead.

Nevaeh Moore drove in a run with a groundout to the shortstop, and Severe put two runs across the plate with a double to right field.

The Oakers poured back with four runs in the bottom of the fifth to pull within 7-4 to make things interesting.

One run scored on a fielder’s choice, another off an error, and two on a single by Ella Whitaker.

Oakland added another run in the sixth to make it 75, but the Rockets turned a double play before the Oakers could add more.

The Rockets added a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Kessa Litfin stole home, and Gracee Hemphill hit a solo home run to take the wind out of the Oakers’ sails.

In the bottom of the seventh, Severe picked off a runner at first base, and Avery Hays struck out to end the game. They dig deep,” Golden said of his team. “It was all but who wanted it more. We were good at the plate and good in the field. We were complete today. It was good to see.”