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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2019)
PAGE A12, KEIZERTIMES, MAY 17, 2019 Sandy spoils McNary’s senior night TENNIS, BY MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes After dropping their fi nal four games in Mountain Val- ley Conference play, McNary was hoping to get back on the right foot before postsea- son play begins next week. But in the fi nal home game of the season, the Celtics had their senior night spoiled by the Sandy Pioneers, as Mc- Nary was non-competitive for the majority of the game in their 13-2 loss on Tuesday, May 14. Needless to say, this was not the way the Celtics want- ed their home season to end. “At this point, we’re just going to have to try and fl ush this effort,” McNary head coach Larry Keeker said. McNary’s downfall in the beginning of the contest was on the defensive side. The Celtics made six errors in the fi rst two innings and allowed Sandy to jump out to a 5-0 lead. While the Celtics were dealing with some injuries and made some lineup ac- commodations to get all the seniors more playing time, Keeker acknowledged his displeasure with the defen- sive miscues. “Our defense was very poor. There was no excuse for it.,” Keeker said. “We just didn’t play well.” Nigel Harris, who was coming back from a high ankle sprain, pitched the fi rst two innings for the Celtics. Harris came out for the top of the third, but was replaced by Alex Simpson after giving up back-to-back doubles and KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings McNary pitcher Nigel Harris unleashes a fastball towards the plate in the Celtics 13-2 loss to Sandy. not recording an out in the frame. Simpson hasn’t got a lot of time on the bump this sea- son, but still provided some quality innings for the Celt- ics in his outing. The junior right-hander threw three innings and gave up only one run, keeping his team in striking distance. “In the few innings he’s had this season, Alex has shown us that there is some potential there,” Keeker said. Sandy increased their lead to 6-0 in the top of the third, but McNary was able to re- spond in the bottom half of the frame. Jacob Jackson started the inning off by reaching on an error by the Sandy shortstop – he was pinch run for by Alex Tavera. Simpson earned a free pass on the next at- bat and both runners would move into scoring position on a wild pitch just moments later. Tavera scored on another wild pitch to give McNary their fi rst run of the game. Simpson would come home when Robert Benson roped an RBI-double that one- hopped the wall in left fi eld, cutting the Sandy lead to 7-2. The Celtics had several other opportunities to con- tinue to cut into the Sandy lead, but could never take advantage. After leaving a pair of run- ners stranded in the bottom of the fourth, McNary load- ed up the bases in the fi fth. But after working the count to full, Sandy pitcher Tanon Main struck out Darren Kin- naird to end the threat. In the bottom of the sixth, McNary would once again pack the bags after drawing a pair of walks to go along with a single from Simpson. Noah Bach, however, couldn’t come through for the Celtics as he grounded into a fi elder’s choice. “We faced some quality high school pitchers tonight,” Keeker said. “We have to be really focused and have our competitive juices in place in order to deal with quality teams because our margin of error is so small.” “We can’t afford to be lackadaisical.” Benson, who came in to pitch in the top of the sixth, threw a scoreless inning to start his outing. But Sandy teed off on him in the top of the seventh, pushing six runs across the board to go up by double-digits. Despite fi nishing below .500 this season, McNary was still able to qualify for the playoffs this season. Their fi rst-round game will be on the road on Monday, May 20 and will likely come against one of the top fi ve ranked teams in the state. “We have to commit and be fully prepared for Mon- day because we’ll be get- ting ready to face a top-tier team,” McNary catcher Ty Covalt said. continued from Page A16 other McNary boys to pick up a win on the singles side ans he defeated Grant Burk from Mountain View 8-5 in the fi rst round of the conso- lation bracket. The freshman doubles team of Grant Goesch and Jaden Rhines won McNary’s only other match in the fi rst round of the consolation doubles tournament (8-6). “Grant and Jaden both im- proved by leaps and bounds the last three weeks of league play. They also played their best tennis at districts and started to have some fl ashes of greatness,” McAvoy said. “I think they got a glimpse of what they could do with more experience and prac- tice. I am hoping to build on that next year.” “They have a huge upside and I look forward to see them develop as players and as young men the next three years.” The McNary boys team had to break in a lot of new players this year, but McAvoy was pleased with the fi ght that they showed every day. “The word for the season was courage. Kids showed a lot of courage to come out and try a new sport and then to have to go out day after day and play versus com- petition that was at a pretty high level. But nobody quit and nobody complained. I’m proud of them,” McAvoy said. KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlings McNary’s Jorie Skipper attempts to send a backhand shot over the net in a match from earlier this season. Wilson honored Former Keizertimes G.I. Wilson won fi rst place in the humor category of the Excellence In Craft competition at the annual Northwest Outdoor Writers Association Conference last week in Wenatchee, Washington. The article, which ran in the Keizer- times in December of 2018, is titled Buford and the Willamette Sturgeon. WorshipDirectory These Salem-Keizer houses of worship invite you to visit. Call to list your church in our Worship Directory: (503) 390-1051 KEIZER CLEAR LAKE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH a member of Open Door Churches of Salem-Keizer REV. ALYSSA BAKER, Lead Pastor Services are Sunday at 10 am (Nursery & Sunday School for Children) 7920 Wheatland Rd N • 503-393-2402 • www.kclumc.org PEOPLESCHURCH 4500 LANCASTER DR NE | SALEM 503.304.4000 • www.peopleschurch.com Father Gary L. Zerr, Pastor Saturday Vigil Liturgy: 5:30 p.m. Sundays: 8:15 a.m. & 10:30 a.m. La Misa en Español: 12:30 p.m. SUNDAY SERVICES 4505 River Road N, Keizer • 503-393-4507 www.FLCkeizer.org Sunday School - 9:00 am Worship Service -10:00 am 452 Cummings Lane North • 393-0404 8:30 am • 10 am • 11:30 am • 6 pm Faith Lutheran Church , ELCA Pastor Linda Matz Easterling John Knox Presbyterian Church JOIN US FOR SUNDAY WORSHIP 9:00 am Children’s Programs, Student and Adult Ministries 1755 Lockhaven Dr. NE Keizer 503-390-3900 www.dayspringfellowship.com and 10:45 am www.KeizerChristian.org Rev. Dr. John Neal, Pastor Worship - 10:30 a.m. Education Hour - 9:15 a.m. Nursery Care Available www.keizerjkpres.org
