Sports
A9
Thursday, May 12, 2022
ON DECK
May 10 results
PREP BASEBALL
Union/Cove 12, Stanfi eld/
Echo 9
Weston-McEwen 4, Joseph/
Enterprise/Wallowa 2
Weston-McEwen 9, Joseph/
Enterprise/Wallowa 8
Wednesday, May 11
(Games completed after
print deadline)
PREP SOFTBALL
Pendleton/Griswold at La
Grande, 3 p.m.
Friday, May 13
PREP BASEBALL
Baker/Powder Valley at La
Grande (2), 2 p.m.
Nyssa at Joseph/Enterprise/
Wallowa (2), 1 p.m.
PREP SOFTBALL
Baker/Powder Valley at La
Grande (2), 2 p.m.
Heppner/Ione at Union/Cove
(2), 2 p.m.
Nyssa at Joseph/Enterprise/
Wallowa (2), 1 p.m.
PREP TRACK & FIELD
Cove, Elgin, Imbler, Powder
Valley, Joseph at 1A Special
District 4, Baker High School,
1 p.m.
Union, Enterprise at 2A
District 5 Championship,
Weston-McEwen, 11 a.m.
COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD
Eastern Oregon at Cascade
Collegiate Conference
Outdoor Championships,
Ashland, all day
ABOVE: Kinzy Bowen (7) connects with a low pitch at Sam Marcum Field, La Grande on Thursday, April 7,
2022. La Grande’s softball team swept the visiting Ontario Tigers 13-2 and 15-1. RIGHT: Grace Neer (2)
lobs the ball across the plate against an Ontario hitter on April 7. The Observer, File Photos
Finding a
groove
By DAVIS CARBAUGH • The Observer
L
A GRANDE — The
Tigers are on the cusp
on fi nishing off a highly
productive regular season.
The La Grande softball program has put
together a strong regular season, nearing the
conclusion of the year near the top of the 4A
state rankings. With a mix of senior leader-
ship and young talent, teamwork and versa-
tility have played a major role in the team’s
success.
“Everybody has really understood their
roles and been fl exible,” senior Grace Neer
said. “I think we’re fi nally going to get solid
in our roles.”
The Tigers are 13-5 overall and 9-1 in
league play through 18 games, with just fi ve
matchups remaining in the season. After
starting the season 1-4 in the midst of a
smaller than usual roster, La Grande has
found a rhythm in league play. The Tigers
have won 12 of their last 13 games, climbing
to No. 3 in the OSAA 4A rankings as of
Tuesday, May 10.
The Tigers are set to host their senior day
against Baker/Powder Valley on May 13,
honoring three players in their fi nal seasons.
With eight underclassmen on the roster, the
team’s core senior leaders — Neer, Kinzy
Saturday, May 14
La Grande soft ball
seniors set the tone
for postseason push
COLLEGE TRACK & FIELD
Eastern Oregon at Cascade
Collegiate Conference
Outdoor Championships,
Ashland, all day
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Eastern Oregon Blue & Gold
spring game, 6 p.m.
Bowen and Keayra Krantz — have all
played a key role in the team’s success.
Neer has been the reliable ace in the
pitcher’s circle for La Grande, accumulating
a 6-2 record on the year with a 3.11 ERA.
The College of Idaho commit has tallied 80
strikeouts across 54 innings, allowing only
35 hits. At the plate, Neer leads the Tigers
with 34 RBIs.
According to Neer, the team’s ability to
wear a number of hats and step up when
needed has had a noticeable impact on La
Grande’s success.
“I think people have defi nitely stepped
up into their roles,” Neer said. “We’ve had
Monday, May 16
See, Softball/Page A10
PREP BASEBALL
Union/Cove at Dufur/South
Wasco County, 4 p.m.
PREP GIRLS GOLF
La Grande at 4A state
championships, Redmond
Thursday, May 19
PREP TRACK & FIELD
Cove, Elgin, Imbler, Powder
Valley, Union at OSAA 1A
State Championships,
Eugene, TBA
Union, Enterprise at OSAA
2A State Championships,
Eugene, TBA
PREP BASEBALL
SPORTS SHORT
Eastern Oregon
University’s
Maggie
Ledbetter,
shown
competing
in the weight
throw last
season,
became the
fi rst EOU
women’s track
and fi eld discus
All-American
at the 2021
NAIA National
Championships
in Gulf Shores,
Alabama.
Maggie Ledbetter earns conference
field athlete of the week honors
By DAVIS CARBAUGH
The Observer
LA GRANDE — Eastern
Oregon University women’s track
and fi eld thrower Maggie Led-
better recently earned conference
acknowledgment for her strong
recent performances.
Ledbetter was named Cascade
Collegiate Conference fi eld athlete
of the week, coming off a strong
showing at the Linfi eld Open on Sat-
urday, May 7.
The senior from Cove put
together a well-rounded perfor-
mance, winning both the shot put
and discus. She tossed the shot
put 13.77 meters and threw the
discus 41.93. In addition, Ledbetter
launched the hammer 49.02 to place
second.
Ledbetter’s score in the shot put
was good for an automatic quali-
fi er to the NAIA national champi-
onships. The 13.77-meter throw cur-
rently ranks tops amongst Cascade
Collegiate Conference competitors
this season.
Following the conclusion of the
regular season, the Mountaineers are
set to travel to Ashland to partake in
the conference outdoor champion-
ships. The two-day event begins on
May 13 and concludes after a day of
competition on May 14.
Connor Bracken/Eastern Oregon University, File
Find up-to-date scores and additional game coverage
for your local high school, available 24/7 at
www.lagrandeobserver.com.