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Sports
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Baseball Team aims for third consecutive league title
M organ J oscelyn
Staff Reporter
After winning the Three
Rivers League title for the
second year in a row, the
Varsity Baseball Team is
hoping to come out on top
again for a third straight
year. With only three players
returning with Varsity
experience, the young team is
working harder then ever to
prepare.
"As a coaching staff we
have really been challenging
P lif lii l l i t l
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our guys to compete every
pitch. So far for the past six
games they have been doing
a great job," Mike Lord, head
coach, said. "We are looking
forward to competing in the
toughest league in the state.
No one team has won three
straight league titles since the
1980s."
The team began its
preseason against three of the
top teams in. the state which
will give them an idea of how
they match up against the
competition.
"We work well together on
and off the field. Our strong
defense, complimented with
good pitching, is what is
going to win us games," Ryan
Barnes, senior shortstop, said.
The team is stacked with
talent that works hard during
the off-season. According to
Lord, Barnes is one of the
top players in the state, and
earlier in the year signed
with Oregon State University.
Lord thinks that Elliott Smith,
senior left-handed pitcher,
will also play a huge role this
season on the mound. The
pitching roster is very deep
and includes Riley Wilkerson
and Warner Edwards,
sophmores, Tyler Weber,
junior, and Michael Burke,
Austin Bailey, seniors.
The team played its first
game March 16 against
Westview at home. Overall,
they played fairly well and
managed to come out with
a 5-3 win. Smith threw four
innings, striking out five
batters. Spencer Dube, senior,
hit a clutch three run double
in the third inning to bring the
win home for the Lions.
The Lions were once again
victorious on April 1, beating
last year's State champion
Cavaliers. They won 4-2 over
Clackamas.
"Our senior leadership is
one of our strengths. We like to
laugh and have fun, keeping
a light-hearted atmosphere.
It really opens things up for
the underclassmen," Mitch
Halverson, senior outfielder,
said. "(Our goal is) to win
league title for the third year
in a row!"
The team plays its next
home game at 5 p.m. against
Lake Oswego today and take
them on again tomorrow at
Lake Oswego at 5 p.m.
Debs make progress,
capture third at State
to place third, the highest
Staff Reporter the team has placed in seven
tyan Barnes, senior, leads off from second base during a non-league game against Westview. The Lions
edged the Wildcats 5-3.
Photo by Carly Halverson
years.
It has been a pleasantly
surprising season for the
"It was very surprising.
Debs Dance Team. Almost
The team didn't very high
half of the team is composed hopes for the season. This
was a very new and young
of new members and, in
what was supposed to be a
team and everyone expected
growing year for the team,
it to be a building year,"
m J ennifer S itton
and fall, so we are somewhat disadvantage when it comes have come together faster
Rachel Tennis, senior captain
Staff Reporter experienced."
to speed, but they hope to
than expected, finishing third said.
According to LeVeque,
make up for it with improved in State.
The last time the Softball
This season has been very
Rhianna Russell, junior
power on offense. They also
Team made it to post season
In their first competition, special for the seniors who
play was 2003, when they lost pitcher, and McKenna Pyeatt, hope to get their four pitchers the Debs scored 66.7, placing have been on the Dance Team
senior catcher, will be key for enough pitching time in
to Southridge in the play-in
them in fifth. On March 7,
all four years.
the team this year. In softball, games.
round of playoffs. This year,
"We really exceeded
they dramatically improved
"People will be playing a
the pitcher and the catcher
as long as their pitching is
their score to a 79, which
our expectations. We beat
are two of the most important lot of different positions this
strong the team should be
year. I'm excited to see how
good enough to win the Three components, so Russell and
they will gel in those different
Pyeatt have a lot riding on
Rivers League, according to
spots," Jasmine Mondor,
their shoulders.
Jamie LeVeque, coach.
sophomore, said.
"This year is the first real
The season started off a bit
The team has been
chance our team has had at
slow due to the early March
working hard this offseason
making playoffs. This year
rain and snow. The girls
were unable to participate in for Ashley Bruser and myself to contribute to the team's
is very important to prove to hopeful success. They have
outdoor practices for about
been working on training
ourselves and our families
two and a half weeks, but
individual skill development
that years of playing every
that didn't stop them from
working on individual skills weekend through the spring, during workouts. The pitchers
throw year round with private
summer, and fall for club
in the gym.
coaches and some players
The Debutantes Dance Team poses with its third place State trophy.
The team played Aloha on sports, private lessons, and
They exceeded their expectations during the season, placing higher
practice with summer club
March 18, beating the Warriors new gear every season has
than they have in seven years. Photo courtesy of Dick Krippaehne
been worth it," Pyeatt said. "It teams as well.
4-3. The following day, they
was good enough to earn
Clackamas, who had been the
This year, the Lions
is the Lions' chance to shine
faced off against the Sunset
participated in a Spring Break fourth place at the Parkrose first place team in past years.
and with the great coaching
Apollos, who, according to
High School competition.
It has been a very sucessful
LeVeque, are possibly the best staff, impressive players and tournament in Bend where
in the Metro League and lost dedication to the program, we they played against mostly 5A They were also dangerously season overall," Jessie
close to beating the always
Hedman, senior captain said.
schools including Bend and
3-5. Regardless of the team's now have the ability to beat
Just three years ago, it was
Crook County. They also faced dominant Clackamas,
out the other competitors!"
current record, it will face
finishing only a point and
a team that barely avoided
off against Culver, Sheldon
While the team's
various challenges this year,
a half short. Overall, it was
last place at State. Now they
and Redmond during the
including fielding a youthful enthusiasm is high, they
a very good season for the
are among the top three in
tournament. They finished
do have some things to be
team.
team. They improved their
the state. The future looks
with two wins and three
worried about.
"I'd consider our team
scores in every competition very bright for this young
losses for the tournament.
"This team has a lack
young with two seniors, three
team.
The team's next home game coming into State.
of depth at certain key
juniors, six sophomores and
At State they made an
"They will definitely do
will be on April 15 against
positions. We cannot afford
freshmen," LeVeque
excellent showing, scoring
well and improve in the
the Milwaukie Mustangs at
v said. "However, most (of the any injuries," LeVeque said.
80.5. This was good enough future," Hedman said.
Willamette Park.
players) play ball in summer The team also has a slight
_____________
Softball Team hopes to advance to
playoffs for first time in six years
a G unnar W olfe
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