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7A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018 CONTACT US FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorianSports Gary Henley | Sports Reporter ghenley@dailyastorian.com Seaside wins two at Madras tournament The Daily Astorian MADRAS — An otherwise success- ful road swing came to a disappointing end for the Seaside baseball team over the weekend. The Gulls participated in the three-day Madras White Buffalo Spring Classic, scoring two wins with one loss. Seaside completed its stay Saturday afternoon against Crook County, which scored an 11-1 win over the Gulls. Seaside pitchers Travis Fenton and Gage McFadden gave up 11 hits, with eight strikeouts and three walks. Crook County pitcher Heath Pickhardt scattered three hits, with seven strikeouts and three walks. The Gulls scored their run in the fourth, Dawson Blanchard scoring after a triple. Josh Norris had a triple and teammate Brody Connell had a home run and four RBIs for the Cowboys. Gulls 7, Madras 4 MADRAS — The Seaside infield turned a triple play to highlight a 7-4 win Friday over Madras, on Day 2 of the White Buffalo Spring Classic. The Gulls held a 6-4 lead going into the bottom of the fifth, when Madras had runners at first and second with no outs and the heart of their order at the plate. Madras attempted a bunt off Seaside pitcher Payton Westerholm, who made a diving, snow-cone catch near the first base line. Before either base-runner could return safely, Westerholm fired the ball to Ashton Boyd at first for the second out, and Boyd delivered to Gage McFad- den at second to complete the triple play. Meanwhile, Seaside scored three runs in the top of the fourth to take the lead, and finished the game with nine hits. Isaias Jantes was the only multiple hit- ter for the Gulls, with a single and a dou- ble. McFadden scored twice, and Wester- holm was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Duncan Thompson drove in two runs. Pitchers Brayden Johnson and Wester- holm scattered four hits with three strike- outs and three walks. Blazers clinch playoff spot, then beat Grizzlies 113-98 By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press PORTLAND — The cel- ebration in the Trail Blazers’ locker room after making the playoffs for the fifth straight season was one of relief more than excitement. First goal accomplished. Now Portland heads out on the road with more work to do. “We’re just looking to stay sharp, keep doing the things that’s allowed us to have the success that we’ve had and try to finish it off and win the divi- sion, get home court,” Damian Lillard said. Lillard had 27 points and nine assists, and the Trail Blaz- ers held off a late run by the Memphis Grizzlies for a 113- 98 victory on Sunday night. The Trail Blazers clinched their fifth straight playoff spot earlier in the evening when Utah won at Minnesota. “I told the team, one thing I like about Major League Base- ball is when they clinch some- thing, they celebrate. Unfor- tunately, we don’t do that as much as we probably should,” Blazers coach Terry Stotts said. “Clinching the play- offs, being in the playoffs five straight years is a good accom- plishment, is one of our goals at the beginning of the season. We still have some more goals to accomplish, but it’s some- thing everybody should be proud of.” CJ McCollum added 20 points and another nine assists for Portland, which is still holding on to third place in the Western Conference with five games remaining. The Blazers, who have won four of their last five, embark on a four-game trip starting Tuesday night in Dallas. Rookie Dillon Brooks had 28 points for Memphis, which sits second-to-last in the West. Brooks was one point shy of his season high. “Yeah, my teammates wanted me to get it,” said TODAY Softball — Chemawa at Knappa, 4:30 p.m. TUESDAY Baseball — Scappoose at Asto- ria, 5 p.m.; Valley Catholic at Sea- side, 5 p.m.; Knappa at Colton, 4:30 p.m. Softball — Astoria at Scappoose, 5 p.m.; Seaside at Valley Catholic, 5 p.m. Girls golf — Seaside at Valley Catholic, 1 p.m. Boys golf — Seaside at Astoria, 2 p.m. BASEBALL Crook County 11, Seaside 1 Crook County 205 04—11 11 2 Seaside 000 10—1 3 2 W: Pickhardt. L: Fenton. RBI: CC, Connell 4, Burkhardt 2, Pickhardt, Faust, Norris. 2B: CC, Faust. 3B: CC, Norris; Sea, Blanchard. HR: CC, Connell. HBP: CC, Smith. LOB: Crook County 6, Seaside 5. The Daily Astorian WILLAMINA — League play has not even started, and the Warrenton baseball team has already quadrupled its number of wins from last season. The Warriors improved to 4-1-1 overall with a dou- bleheader sweep Saturday at Willamina, 13-1 and 11-2. It’s early, but — for what it’s worth — the Warriors are currently ranked No. 1 in the state at the 3A level. Warrenton completely dominated their future league opponents from Wil- lamina, racking up 24 runs on 18 hits, while the Warriors had a pair of pitching gems on the mound. Warrenton’s Devin Jack- son tossed a two-hitter in the opener, with nine strikeouts and two walks on 99 pitches thrown. Austin Little provided the offense, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, three steals, two RBIs and two runs scored. While the Bulldogs used a combined 12 pitchers (who walked 15 and hit eight bat- ters), the Warriors used just two pitchers on the day. Dalton Knight followed Jackson’s two-hitter with a 14-strikeout performance in Game 2, allowing six hits with just one walk and three hit batters. Offensively, Jacob Mor- row had a double and a tri- ple, and Alec Herrera drove in two runs. “It was just a great day,” said Warrenton coach Len- nie Wolfe. “I told the play- ers afterwards that I was pleased with the pitching, the defense, the hitting and the base running. Both games were our most complete games of the season so far. “Devin threw very well in the first game,” he said. “And we didn’t have to play a lot of defense. Dalton dug himself out of some jams in Game 2, but we only had to make seven plays defensively in that one. Our pitchers made it an easier day for us. “When it’s this early, it’s not about the rankings,” Wolfe added. “It’s about get- ting better, and I thought we did that today.” Warrenton is scheduled to play Wednesday, 4 p.m. at Ilwaco. Warrenton shuts down Willamina in twin bill The Daily Astorian Photos by Craig Mitchelldyer/AP Memphis Grizzlies forward Jarell Martin shoots in front of Portland Trail Blazers forward Al-Farouq Aminu, left rear, during the first half. Portland Trail Blazers forward Evan Turner looks to pass the ball away from Grizzlies forward Jarell Martin. Brooks, who played at Oregon. “That was on me, I missed two open layups.” Portland led 103-80 in the fourth quarter, but the Griz- zlies went on a 13-0 run capped by Brooks’ jumper with 4:19 left, pulling within 10. That led Stotts to re-insert his starters. Marquis Teague’s bas- ket got Memphis within eight points, but the Blazers took over with back-to-back 3-pointers from Evan Turner and Al-Farouq Aminu to extend Portland’s lead to 113- 95 with 1:12 left. That sent the starters back to the Blazers’ bench for good. Marc Gasol started for the Grizzlies, but his minutes were limited because of a left groin injury. He finished with seven points and five rebounds in 20 minutes. Seaside 7, Madras 4 Seaside 102 301 0—7 9 3 Madras 112 000 0—4 4 4 W: Westerholm. L: Rodriguez. RBI: Sea, Thompson 2, Jantes, Kuhl, Westerholm; Mad, Mitchell, Holli- day, Zemke, White. 2B: Sea, Jantes, Johnson. HBP: Mad, Zemke 2. LOB: Seaside 6, Madras 6. TP: Seaside. Morrow. HBP: War, Jackson, Kapua; Wil, Ash, Colton, Onstot. LOB: War- renton 5, Willamina 6. SCOREBOARD PREP SPORTS SCHEDULE Top-ranked Warrenton sweeps Willamina Game 1 Warrenton 13, Willamina 1 Warrenton 023 305—13 10 2 Willamina 001 000—1 1 1 W: Jackson. L: Reid. RBI: War, Bre- itmeyer 2, Little 2, Herrera 2, Knight, Morrow, Falls. 2B: War, Little. HBP: War, Morrow 2, Breitmeyer, Kapua, Pedraza, Miller; Wil, Ash, Reid, Toney. LOB: Warrenton 9, Willamina 6. DP: Willamina. Game 2 Warrenton 11, Willamina 2 Warrenton 240 001 4—11 8 0 Willamina 000 101 0—2 6 3 W: Knight. L: Colton. RBI: War, Herrera 2, Morrow, Breitmeyer, Jackson, Falls; Wil, Bruckner 2. 2B: War, Morrow; Wil, Cook. 3B: War, SOFTBALL Game 1 Warrenton 11, Willamina 6 Warrenton 130 025 0—11 12 2 Willamina 001 030 2—6 7 0 W: Niqui Blodgett (10 Ks, 8 walks). L: Graham (4 Ks, 7 walks). RBI: War, Duncan 3, Blodgett 2, Bue, Bussert, Ra.Dyer, Ru.Dyer, Ramsey; Moony 2, Tuck. 2B: War, Blodgett. 3B: War, Duncan; Wil, Tuck. HBP: Wil, Mes- tos. LOB: Warrenton 7, Willamina 8. DP: Warrenton 2. Game 2 Warrenton 11, Willamina 6 Warrenton 211 013 3—11 23 4 Willamina 012 001 2—6 11 2 W: Niqui Blodgett (11 Ks, 1 walk). L: Gravaly (2 Ks, 3 walks). RBI: War, Blodgett 3, Duncan 2, Bus- sert, Ramsey, Thomas; Wil, Moony 2, Hunt, Rust. 2B: War, Blodgett 3, Duncan; Wil, Moony. HR: War, Blodgett. HBP: War, Duncan. LOB: Warrenton 12, Willamina 6. MarShon Brooks, who had 21 points against the Blazers in a 108-103 victory in Memphis on Wednesday, was out with a left ankle injury. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff also sat JaMychal Green (knee soreness), Can- dler Parsons (rest) and Andrew Harrison, who missed this third game with a right wrist/ left shoulder injury. Portland’s loss to the Griz- zlies earlier this week spoiled a three-game road trip. But the Blazers were without Lillard, who didn’t play because he was back in Portland awaiting the birth of his son. Damian Lillard Jr. was born Thursday morning. The Blazers were with- out backup center Ed Davis, who rolled his ankle during the Blazers’ 105-96 victory over the Clippers on Friday night. Portland said X-rays and an MRI on the ankle were both negative. Davis is expected to miss up to 14 days. The Blazers led by 15 points in the first quarter, but Memphis closed the gap in the second. WILLAMINA — The Willamina softball team will compete in the Coastal Range League next school year, against the likes of Clatskanie, Rainier, Taft and Warrenton. And the Warriors gave the Lady Bulldogs an idea of how tough it will be, as War- renton swept Willamina in a Saturday doubleheader, 11-6 and 11-6. Warrenton finished the day with 35 total hits and 24 stolen bases, while pitcher Niqui Blodgett threw 255 pitches and struck out 21 bat- ters in two complete games. Blodgett struck out 10 in Game 1, with eight walks and a hit batter. Offensively, the War- riors collected 12 hits in the opener, including a 3-for-4 effort from leadoff batter Melia Kapua, who scored twice. Blodgett had a double and Natalie Duncan added a triple and drove in three runs. In her first action of the season, Warrenton’s Claire Bussert had four hits in Game 2, part of a 23-hit attack for the Warriors. Dani Bue and Blodgett also had four hits apiece, with Bue scoring three runs and Blodgett driving in three. Blodgett helped her cause with three doubles and a home run. The Warriors had 15 steals in Game 2, and Blodgett struck out 11 with just one walk. Warrenton hosts a non- league game Wednesday with Dayton. Gordon, Haniger homer in Mariners’ 5-4 win over Indians Associated Press SEATTLE — Dee Gor- don isn’t known for hitting home runs, and before this year he’d never played the outfield. But on Sunday, his power and his glove in cen- ter field led the Seattle Mari- ners to a 5-4 win against the Cleveland Indians. Gordon, who has never hit more than four homers in a season, led off the sev- enth inning with a tiebreak- ing shot to right off Dan Otero (0-1). Gordon clearly knew he’d hit it well — after making contact, he watched the ball and walked out of the batter’s box. “It was a 2-2 game in the bottom of the seventh inning and it put us ahead, so I was excited,” he said. After he rounded the bases, Gordon leapt high for a celebratory high-five with teammate Jean Segura in the on-deck circle.