Spring sports always come to a sudden end at the prep level. Numerous game cancelations due to bad weather always seem to impact the ability of schools to finish their schedules. With that in mind, here are a few more spring sports as the seasons rapidly throttle down.
OSAA 6A Golf-Round One
McNary’s Colby Sullivan is one shot off the lead after the opening round of the OSAA 6A Boys Golf Tournament at the Emerald Valley Golf Club near Creswell after shooting a two under par-70 on Monday.
Sullivan—a senior headed for Southeastern Louisiana next year—trails Douglas Bailey of Tigard by the single stroke. Bailey’s Tigers are tied with Lake Oswego for the team lead with combined scores of 304.
Sullivan—who moved to Oregon from Virginia his sophomore year—won his last four conference competitions this season—and credits his improved putting for a great year. He says the Emerald Valley course was difficult at times on day one of the state tourney.
“I had a solid day playing mostly steady golf on the first nine holes with 7 pars, a birdie and a bogey,” recounts Colby.
“On my back nine, I started off hot with three consecutive birdies—three 10-15 footers in a row to jump to three under.”
Sulllivan says he if keeps the ball in the fairway to maneuver for good spots on the green, he can rely on his putter for more success Tuesday—and a chance to claim the individual crown.
There is one Central Valley team among the top schools on the leaderboard. West Salem is the best CVC team—in 14th place after round one. The Titans are 45 shots behind Tigard and Lake Oswego.
Local golf note-BONUS: Congratulations to sophomore Joseph Beyer of Salem’s Blanchet Catholic High School! He picked up an extremely rare HOLE IN ONE today in the opening round of the 3A/2A/1A Boys Golf Tournament at the Tokatee Golf Club in Blue River, Oregon—east of Eugene. Joe’s ace came on the par-3 11th hole from 170 yards out. Here is Joe—beaming. (photo courtesy of the OSAA)
Look out for South Salem softball
Last season, the McNary Celtics shocked OSAA softball fans, advancing to the semi-finals of the 2022 6A tournament before falling to eventual state champion Tigard.
This year, the Celts are still very much in the mix, taking the CVC crown after winning the Central Valley Conference title by winning the head-to-head series with rival South Salem. Despite that, the Celtics (10-2, 17-6 overall) are actually ranked behind the Saxons (8-3, 18-5) in the OSAA power rankings. South Salem is being noticed.
Part of the reason for the Saxons’ ratings advantage is a stiffer non-league schedule tailored by South’s longtime coach, Scott McCormick. The Saxons won a pair of difficult out-of-conference contests in the last week—winning at McMinnville 1-0 on Saturday, May 6th—and then at home over Mountainside of Beaverton, 7-0. Both opponents were ranked in the top ten coming into the games.
McCormick is Oregon’s longest serving softball coach, now in his 41st season. During his time at South and before that, at McNary, he has amassed 731 victories (and counting). The shrewd scheduling this year for his team—which also includes games against other top ten teams like North Medford—has helped with power rankings, which are based in large measure on the strength of schedule.
McCormick says the continued development of junior pitcher Rowan Thompson—who has committed to the University of Oregon—has helped to bring his team together. South lost four starters from last season. Rowan collected a total of 31 strikeouts against seven walks in those wins over McMinnville and Mountainside. For the season, the 5-11 Thompson has recorded 236 strikeouts in 123 innings, sports an impressive 1.19 ERA, and has allowed just 70 hits all season. She has thrown two no-hitters for the Saxons, the latest in the Mountainside game.
“Rowan is definitely good most nights,” says McCormick almost matter-of-factly.
“She has matured as a pitcher and overall player… (she’s) developed a strong will and really competes.”
McCormick also is highly complimentary of the Saxon defense, which has given up just 38 runs this season—second only to top-ranked Sheldon (18) in that category.
When it comes to offense, the coach recites a long list of key contributors, including Thompson, Hallie Olson, Mackenzie Scott, Desi Hatfield, and Hannah Tapusua. The team has generated an impressive 8.6 runs per game on the season.
With one more league game slated for Tuesday (vs. Sprague) and one tune up game on Thursday, McCormick is confident about his team’s chances heading into the post season.
And the numbers seem to back him up.
Good on the field and in the classroom
The Central Valley Conference champion South Salem Saxons baseball squad is not only one of the best teams in Oregon, it is also one of the smartest, grades-wise.
Coach Max Price’s squad had a grade point average of 3.71 in their last term, second in the 6A ranks only to the Clackamas baseball team, which had a GPA of 3.74.
The Saxons and Sprague High finished tied atop CVC standings at 7-2, but South claimed the conference title, winning 2 of 3 in their season series with the Olympians.
Sprague (20-6) is ranked seventh in the latest OSAA power rankings, while the Saxons (19-4) are eleventh. McNary is currently ranked 29th, and has a chance at a post season game. All teams have tune-up games slated this week.
Salem-Keizer Middle Schools Hold All-City Meet
Hundreds of middle school athletes from across the Salem-Keizer area will gather at North Salem High School Tuesday for their annual All-City Meet with races and competition in a long list of events.
The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade tracksters from all eleven middle schools will square-off to see who will bring home the top awards for the 2023 season.
All schools have had a handful of dual and three-way meets this spring. The All-City meet is the culminating event, and will include a large crowd of volunteers donating their time to spot, time and otherwise run the meet.
Parking will be at a premium at North Salem High School. Teams are being bused to the North track facilities.