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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (May 17, 2019)
PAGE A16, KEIZERTIMES, MAY 17, 2019 KEIZERTIMES.COM Celts crowned conference champs KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlihgs The McNary softball team fl ashes the #1 sigh after defeatihg Behd 12-2 oh Saturday, May 11. The Celtics clihched the Mouhtaih Valley Cohferehce title with a 13-1 record ih league play. BY MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes The McNary softball team knew they had already clinched the Mountain Val- ley Conference title in their previous game before they took the fi eld against Bend on Saturday, May 11. But putting an exclama- tion point on the conference season on senior night was still a sweet moment for the Lady Celts. Faith Danner pitched six innings and gave up just sev- en hits and one earned run to along with her 3-for-4 day at the dish, propelling McNary to the 12-2 run-rule victory against Bend. “I knew this team was capable to accomplish what they just did,” McNary head coach Kevin Wise said. “I love this group. It all comes down to their work ethic and their willingness to just fi ght over and over again.” Coming into the season Danner, who is one of only two seniors on the team, knew that she had to step up both on the fi eld and in a leadership role for a roster that has four sophomores and three freshmen. But so far, Danner has loved play- ing with a team that is young and hungry. “It’s be really awesome to play with this group,” Danner said. “We have all been really supportive of each other. I’m going to miss them when the season is over.” McNary fi nishes MVC play with a 13-1 record and ended the regular season on a 12-game win streak. They also put up double-digit run totals in all but one of their league contests. Even though they won via mercy-rule, the Celtics still had to deal with some adversity in this game. McNary held a 1-0 lead when they took the fi eld in the top of the second in- ning thanks to an RBI-single from Taylor Ebbs in the bot- tom of the fi rst. Bend’s Maya Eliff hit a hard ground ball to Ebbs at shortstop to begin the sec- ond frame. Ebbs put herself in perfect position to make the play, but the ball took a bad hop and hit her square in the face. After being tended to for more than 10 minutes, Ebbs had to be escorted off the fi eld with a fractured nose. It was diffi cult for the rest of the McNary squad to see their teammate and star slug- ger in so much pain. But like they have for much of the season, the Celtics found a way to be resilient. “That sucked to watch,” Danner said. “But we be- lieved in each other and we all wanted to win for Taylor.” Bend tied the game with a run in the top of the sec- ond. McNary, however, re- sponded by producing a pair of runs in the bottom half of the frame. Hannah Ebner laid down a perfect sacrifi ce bunt to move Shaylee Cluster and Kayelee Schwab into scoring position after they were both issued free passes. Kamryn Miller brought in Please see CELTS, Page A13 McNary tehhis battles at district tourhameht BY MATT RAWLINGS Of the Keizertimes The McNary girls and boys tennis teams closed out their respective seasons last week at the Mountain Valley Conference District Tournament May 6-7. The boys team competed at the Salem Tennis and Swim Club, while the girls played in Sunriver. “I am very pleased with this season. There was im- provement over the season across the board. The girls who put in the effort real- ly developed and we have set ourselves up to be even more successful next year,” McNary girls tennis coach Sean Smith said. “I hope even more girls try tennis next year and we can contin- ue to develop a competitive program.” Gina Munguia and Nata- lia Gonzalez started off the fi rst day for the Lady Celts by winning their opening match in thrilling fashion (6- 4, 4-6, 7-5) against Moun- tain View’s top doubles squad to move onto the second round. The duo would drop their second match 6-1, 6-3. After losing their fi rst round match, Jorie Skipper and McKinsey Jarragin ral- lied to win their fi rst round consolation doubles match 8-5. Ashlyn Lyda and McK- enzie Proctor also picked up an a victory (8-4) on the consolation side. Even though it’s only her fi rst year playing tennis, Lexy McKay proved that she could hang with some of the best singles players in the MVC. McKay picked up an easy 8-1 win in her fi rst conso- lation match, then followed it up with an 8-4 victory to advance to the consolation semifi nals — where she fell 8-4. “It is amazing for a fi rst year player to make it that far in the bracket; so that was very exciting. (McKay) has great athletic ability and is very coachable,” Smith said. “She has the ability to get to the ball and get it back, which leads to success in our league.” Avery Haymowicz also took home a win in her fi rst consolation match (8-3), helping the Celtics fi nish in seventh place. “I was impressed with the attitude of the whole team. They are all so positive and come off the courts, win or lose, excited about their match and how they played,” Smith said. On the boys side, Luke Skipper started off the tour- nament with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win against South Salem’s Ben Byler in the fi rst round of the singles tourna- ment. “Luke Skipper is a seri- ous competitor. He is one of those players that hates to get beat. And he is crafty,” McNary boys tennis coach Marc McAvoy said. “He plays a very patient and ce- rebral game. A lot of his suc- cess is related to his ability to outlast his opponent. I have seen him beat some very quality players over the last two seasons.” Adam Graneto was the Please see TENNIS, Page A12 KEIZERTIMES/Matt Rawlihgs McNary’s Graht Goesch competes at the Mouhtaih Valley Cohferehce district meet oh Mohday, May 6.
