Local Sports Shorts
More items of note from girls basketball, Corban University, and prep baseball/softball
More small but significant sports items from the Salem-Keizer area are out. Here is the brief list of items locally that have come out in recent days.
West Salem’s Lizzy Bennett to play hoops at Corban
Soon-to-be West Salem High graduate Lizzy Bennett will be taking her basketball skills to Corban University next season. The two-time conference player of the year—who shared that honor this season with teammate Mady Diaz—announced her signing via Twitter.
A double-digit scorer the past two seasons for West Salem—including 15.5 ppg this last year—the 6-0 Bennett will play forward for the Warriors. West went unbeaten (12-0) in Central Valley Conference play, and finished the season with a record of 22-7.
The Titans advanced to the elite eight of the 6A Oregon Girls basketball tournament this season for the first time in school history, finishing in sixth place. Bennett was the team leader in blocked shots, steals and offensive rebounds during tournament play.
Corban’s Women’s Basketball Coach adds AD duties at the school
Warrior Women's Basketball Head Coach Bill Pilgeram has added the position of Director of Athletics to his duties in the Corban University Athletic Department. The announcement by Corban officials on Friday is effective as of Monday, May 8th.
Pilgeram succeeds the departing Marty Ziesemer as AD.
Since becoming the leader of the Corban women's basketball program, Pilgeram has posted the third-highest winning percentage in school history, as his teams have emerged victorious in nearly half of their games played to date.
Before coming to Corban, Pilgeram was an outstanding girls basketball coach in Helena, Montana.
Softball Commitments Locally-OSAA
The Oregon School Activities Association has collected a list of players committed to play softball at the college level next year. Here are Salem-Keizer players on the current list (as of 5/5/2023):
Desi Hatfield, South Salem (Willamette University)
Mackenzie Scott, South Salem (Fort Lewis College, Colo.)
Rowan Thompson, South Salem (Oregon)
Lacey Vasas, McNary (Linfield College)
Mia Zachary, West Salem (Saint Martin's University, Wash.)
Central Valley Softball, Baseball closes out regular season soon
Softball and baseball in Salem’s Central Valley Conference wraps up over the next two weeks, with two teams at the top of each sport looking to advance deep into the 6A playoffs.
In softball, McNary—which reached the semifinals in 2022—has first place nearly locked up in the CVC with a record of 8-1. South Salem is 2 ½ games back at 5-2. However, in the OSAA power rankings the edge goes to South Salem—where the Saxons are rated sixth after 1-0 shutout win on Saturday at previously fourth-rated McMinnville. McNary’s Celts are listed at number eleven. The two teams have overall records of 15-5 (McNary) and 13-4 (South) respectively.
Both softball squads have a full schedule this coming week and next. McNary has four games—three of them this week against conference opponents. South has five games on its slate, with two the following week. The two teams clash one last time on Tuesday at South. A Saxon win could help the team forge a tie atop the standings.
On the baseball side, South Salem and Sprague also have similar records and rankings. South—which carved out a big 2-1 non-conference road win at then #5 North Medford this past week—leads the conference standings at 5-1. Sprague stands at 4-2, after dropping two of three the previous week to South. The Olys scored a big non-league victory Thursday over #15 McMinnville, 4-3.
After a day’s worth of big games statewide Friday, South Salem (17-3) is now ranked fifth, Sprague (17-6) is sixth in the OSAA baseball power rankings.
The Saxons finish league play this week with a three-game set versus winless West Salem; the Olympians play three against 3-3 McNary to complete their CVC schedule. South has three non-league games scheduled the next week, while Sprague has just one.
Stay tuned. The post season for baseball and softball begins May 22nd.