Varsity Baseball Team sets sights on "unfinished business"
carried over into this season,
co-Editor-in-Chief
and is driving this year's team
Three years ago, the Varsity to capitalize on the missed
Baseball Team lost a close State opportunities of the last three
years.
Championship game, falling
So far this season, the team
short of its season-long goal.
Two years ago, they fell short is 11-6 overall, including four
again, losing in the semi-final losses at the National Classic
in Anaheim, Calif., and has
round. Last year, same story.
This season the team is set on a 4-2 record in league. In the
National Classic tournament,
winning that championship
ten of the top 20 teams in the
title.
nation were playing.
"Leaving last season, we
"It (the National Classic)
felt that we had unfinished
was a good tournament, better
business that we needed to
than regular games because it's
take care of," Mike Lord,
a tournament environment,"
Varsity Baseball head coach,
Lord said. "It was really good
said.
That mindset and attitude preparation for our season and
what we're going to experience
in the Three Rivers League.
We played against some tough
teams. If you make a mistake
against a good team, they will
capitalize on it, instead of bad
or average teams who might
not capitalize. We played well,
even though we lost."
In their six League games,
their two losses came against
Lake Oswego, a team that
Lord expects will be one of the
Lions' top competitors in the
TRL this season.
"We've had a few rough
Weber, sophomore, takes his lead off from first base in a Varsity game
spots this season, like the two Tyler
against Lake Oswego on Apr. 2. Weber serves as a pitcher and an infielder.
losses to LO (Lake Oswego).
Photo by Jon Helmkamp
No one said this season was
scoring position according to for us this year. He's always
going to be easy. We expect
Lord and have been working been a good catcher, the best
to
make
it
back
to
the
State
Snowboard Team brings Championship but we're going on it in practice.
in the TRL in my opinion, but
On April 14, they set a
he's stepped up and has been
to have to earn everything we school record with 25 hits in
home State hardware
hitting really well lately," Lord
get.
Every
team
wants
to
beat
a game against Oregon city,
M ax H ays
said.
196, and a tenth place finish West Linn, so we know that
Staff Reporter
This year's seniors have
in Slopestyle with a best run we have to come ready to play earning a huge morale booster
of a victory, winning handily been playing together for
The Boys' and Girls'
of 216 points. Joey McMillen, every game," Lord said.
21-5.
many years and most of them
Snowboard Teams brought
sophomore, also had a good
Lord
feels
that
it's
going
to
"Kyle (Kraus) has been
have been together since Little
back positive results in
finish in the half-pipe, ending take good pitching and timely
League. "(Winning the State
both the individual and
up in sixth place with a best hitting to make it to State. The throwing well, and Ryan
(Barnes) and Justin (Monahan) Championship) would be
team performances at the
run of 175 points.
team
has
been
struggling
a
have been hitting well. Joe
a great cap to their baseball
2008 State Snowboard
The girls' team captured
little
bit
hitting
with
runners
in
Offer's been a good surprise
careers together," Lord said.
Championships held March third place in both Halfpipe
6-8 at Timberline.
and Slopestyle. Individually, Softball Team fights through early season blows
For the boys, the team
Mackenzie Bruns, senior, had
A dam H olmes
In addition, the girls this
the team. Exceptional players
placed third in the Halfpipe a strong performance in the
Staff Reporter
year will be more competitive,
this year are newcomers
competition and took home
Halfpipe with a best run of
have more speed, offensive
As spring sports continue, Taylor Brooke, junior, and
fourth in the Slopestyle
149 points and Hay ley Shafer,
power, and defense than in
the Girls' Varsity Softball has Kylie Crawford, freshman.
Competition. Individually,
junior, finished an excellent
had a rocky start, with a 2-4
In addition, McKenna Pyeatt, the past, in order to improve
Tanner Kewley, junior,
fifth place in the Banked
record so far. This year's team junior, is returning again this their chances of winning.
had a couple phenomenal
Slalom competition with a
"Many of these girls play
has improved since last year, year as catcher and co-captain
performances, including a
time of 47.89 seconds, only
ball year around. They are
with Ashley Bruser, junior.
second place finish in the
one tenth of a second behind specifically in pitching and
more experienced and b etted
hitting.
"I was really excited for
Halfpipe with a best score of the fourth place finisher.
In the first game of the
the first couple of games. We prepared for high school
season against
have some really good frosh," ball," LeVeque said.
In addition, the girls seem
Pyeatt said.
the Grant High
School Generals,
LeVeque says that the key to have an excellent team
chemistry that promotes
to a good softball team is
the Lions'
teamwork.
pitching, catching, and the
dominated with
"I like our connection. We
an 11-0 shutout.
ability to hit the ball out of the
perform very well together,"
The second game infield.
ended with a
"The best softball players Pyeatt said.
The next home game for
defeat at the hands and teams play ball in the
the Lions will be against
of the Gladstone
summer and fall to prepare
Putnam at Rosemont Ridge
Gladiators, with a for the school season in the
1-11 loss.
fall. That is how this program Middle School on Apr. 21 at
4:30 p.m.
"We struggled will improve and what I
"People should come to the
to hit and score
encourage all the girls to do
Three-sport athlete Justin Monahan knows
games to show school spirit,"
runs over the
that want to play Varsity
Pyeatt said.
first few games," softball," LeVeque said.
Hometown Sports is the best local source for
Jamie LeVeque,
Sports Apparel, Spirit Wear and by far the
head coach, said.
Girls' Golf wins first place in TRL
coolest Letterman’s Jackets anywhere.
Despite that,
m N icholas A rntz
ancj piavjn^ j^ g holes at the
Stop by for a visit and see how things the team scored
co-Editor-in-Chief
another victory
club. The girls played 18 holes
have changed. Individual or team — when against St. Mary's
With the Girls' Varsity Golf to get ready for their Mid-Dis
High School at 8-0. Team ranked number one in tricts match on Apr. 14.
you need sportswear for any sport and
However, several
the Three Rivers League, and "The girls work hard and prac
you expect full customer satisfaction,
more defeats soon
Lake Oswego four points tices don't usually end until
occurred
with
a
Hometown Sports has you covered.
behind in second place, their after 6 p.m.," Shawn Hoffman,
1- 3 loss against
goals of winning the league girls' coach, said.
Lake Oswego, a
and competing in State are Even though the weather has
2-
3
defeat
against
Lacrosse and Baseball equipment and
underway. The seniorless team been wet, the girls prevailed
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0-7 shutout against of whom play Varsity, and the vitational on Apr. 10, taking
Rex Putnam. The
second place. West Linn took
remaining three on JV.
team is keeping
The team consists of captains home the win At the TRL Mid-
their heads above
Josie Sells and Brianna Ruiz, Districts, with a total score of
water, as they
juniors, along with teammates 353, with their rivals, Lake
recently scored a
Elizabeth Enderle, Katherine Oswego, close behind with
3- 2 win against
Longtain, Sydney Nopson, 356. West Linn also had the
Oregon City, and
lowest individual score of 72,
sophomores,
Suna
Shin,
Mor
a 4-3 victory also
gan Thompson and Darian by Shin, a perfect par on the
against Oregon
Stone Creek course.
Royse, freshman.
City.
Their rigorous practice "It's going to be a dogfight
Under new ownership and dedicated to customer satisfaction
The team has
schedule consists of three to winning the league, as Lake
a wide roster of
four days of golfing at The Oswego and Lakeridge are
new
players,
with
5 0 3 - 59 * 4-0575 five freshmen and Oregon Golf Club, putting, right there as well," Hoffman
1795 Willamette Falls Drive * West linn, Oregon * Located in the Historic Willamette area two juniors joining working on their short game, said.
J on H elmkamp
One Sport or 3 Sports,
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has you covered.
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