Scappoose's softball team was a model of resiliency last year, bouncing back from forfeiting nine games early in the season to reach the 4A semifinals for the second year in a row.
This season, the deep, battle-tested Indians are determined to challenge for their first state title since 1995.
“They're looking to take it a step further,” coach Lindsey Johnson said. “They've tasted that success, so their goal is set to make it to the championship.”
Scappoose looks the part early, winning its first eight games by a combined 142-15. The Indians, No. 4 in the OSAAtoday 4A coaches poll, are getting contributions up and down the lineup.
“We can put anyone out into a situation,” Johnson said. “Anyone, whether they've started or come off the bench, has been able to perform. We have a group of really strong athletes and strong softball players. Our IQ is high.”
The last two years, the Indians have won despite having only two seniors on the roster. This year, they have five seniors, four of them starters from last season.
“I don't think there's a lot of pressure thinking we have these seniors and this is their last go,” Johnson said. “We have four sophomores and two freshmen, so we're pretty young in a sense, too. They all want it for each other and for themselves, too.”
Junior pitcher Saige Casey – the Cowapa League co-pitcher of the year as a freshman and a first-team pick last year -- is back for her third season as the team's ace. In 16 2/3 innings so far, she has struck out 26, walked one and has an ERA of 0.84.
“She throws hard and she's very disciplined,” Johnson said. “She will do her homework. She will scout out all the batters she's getting ready to face. She's just a very smart, dedicated pitcher.”
Other returning starters are junior catcher Ava Freeman, senior first baseman Aliza Brainerd, sophomore shortstop Sophia Bloyd, senior left fielder Ava Vetsch and senior center fielder Brooklyn Schmidt. Senior Ashlynn Komp, a right fielder last season, has taken over at third base.
Bloyd, who finished last season as the leadoff hitter and is batting first or second this year, is off to a tremendous start. She is batting .731 with one home run and 21 RBIs.
Komp, who hit a team-high eight home runs in 2024, is batting .444 with two doubles, six home runs and 18 RBIs. Twice she has hit two homers in a game.
Casey (.619, four doubles, one home run, 11 RBIs), Freeman (.526, 11 RBIs), Vetsch (.571, five doubles, two triples, six RBIs) and freshmen Lux Johnson (.550, four doubles, one triple, 17 runs scored) and Elly Casey (.476, nine RBIs) are among the many Indians putting up impressive numbers at the plate.
Scappoose plays host to Gladstone (2-5) in a nonleague game Wednesday before opening Cowapa play Thursday at rival St. Helens (10-1), which is No. 3 in the coaches poll. In the 4A quarterfinals last year, the Indians beat St. Helens 2-1.
“All those games against St. Helens, no matter how anyone is doing, they're always a big game and a good game,” Lindsey Johnson said. “We're definitely looking forward to playing them.”
The Cowapa also includes No. 7 Astoria (5-2), which won the league and made the semifinals last year.
“The past couple years our league is one of the toughest in the state,” Lindsey Johnson said. “We've just got to keep our heads on straight and keep playing the way we can.”
Morales keys Roseburg sweep
Junior Jasmine Morales was dominant in the circle in leading No. 7 Roseburg (9-2, 3-1) to a home sweep of No. 4 South Medford (5-4, 0-4) in a 6A Southwest Conference doubleheader Saturday.
Morales pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts, one walk and one hit batter as Roseburg won the opener 1-0. She took a no-hitter into the seventh inning before giving up two singles, but got out of the jam.
Morales tossed a one-hitter and hit a two-run, walk-off triple as the Indians powered past the Panthers 12-1 in five innings in the second game. Morales had three of Roseburg's 12 hits.
Junior Terra Singleton had a big day at the plate. She tripled and scored the game's only run in the first game and went 3 for 4 with two RBIs in the second game.
In Tuesday's home game against North Medford (7-2, 2-0), Singleton went 3 for 4 with a double, home run and two RBIs, but the Indians fell 4-3 after Black Tornado junior Natalie Tlascala hit a three-run triple with two outs in the top of the seventh inning to put her team ahead.
Murphy no-hits HRV
Senior Kendall Murphy pitched a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts and two walks as 4A No. 1 Pendleton turned back 5A No. 5 Hood River Valley 4-1 on April 2.
Murphy took a 4-0 lead into the seventh inning before giving up an RBI groundout. The reigning 4A champion Buckaroos (9-0) got RBI groundouts from seniors Ella Sams and Madelyn Lieuallen and run-scoring singles by seniors Josie Jenness and Reese Furstenberg to open a 4-0 lead in the fifth inning.
Y-C stops Dayton
It's been a rough start for Yamhill-Carlton, a 3A semifinalist the last two seasons after making the championship game in 2022.
But the Tigers, who lost their first five games, are hoping that a 7-5 win at second-ranked and previously unbeaten Dayton in a Special District 2 game Friday will help propel them forward.
Junior Taylor Bradfield got the win in the circle, allowing eight hits, striking out 12 and walking one, and Yamhill-Carlton's offense came to life against a Dayton (8-1, 3-1), which was coming off four consecutive shutout wins.
Junior Ella Amerson went 2 for 4 with a triple and an RBI and senior Kaitlyn Knapp went 2 for 4 for co-No. 7 Yamhill-Carlton (1-5. 1-1). Senior Lexi Lowe had a single and two RBIs.
jerryu@osaa.org
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