Page 6
SOFTBALL
East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald
5A COLUMBIA RIVER CONFERENCE
2016 Final Standings
Projected Finish
T
he CRC has belonged to the Pendleton Buckaroos
for each of the past five seasons and it doesn’t
appear that things will change in 2017. The
Buckaroos return six all-league players from one season
ago, including Pitcher of the Year Lauren Richards and
have some talented newcomers stepping in to fill some
gaps. Hood River is expected to take a big step this season
as it returns four all-league players, while Hermiston has a
chance to make some noise with four all-league returners
led by infielder Ellery Jones and pitcher Julissa Almaguer.
The Dalles lost four all-league players to graduation,
including ace pitcher Kathryn Bradford and are expected
to take a step back in 2017.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Pendleton Buckaroos
Hood River Eagles
Hermiston Bulldogs
The Dalles Riverhawks
(Rankings based on coach and media voes)
Pendleton Buckaroos
Returning all-league
CRC
Conf. Ovr.
Pendleton
10-2 24-5
The Dalles
6-6
19-10
Hermiston
5-7
14-13
Hood River
3-9
10-15
Pendleton — Lauren Richards,
jr.; Kalan McGlothan, jr.; Maddie
Parker, sr.; Rylee Gentner, jr.; Pay-
ton Hergert, sr.; Tatum Fell, sr.
Hermiston — Ellery Jones, sr.;
Julissa Almaguer, jr.; Sydney Ste-
fani, soph.; Amanda Barron, jr.
Hood River — Hannah McNer-
ney, jr.; Zoe Munn, jr.; Haylee
Baker, soph.; Janessa Castenada.
The Dalles — Kailin Hoylman, sr.;
Sierra Watson, sr.; Kathryn Brad-
ford, jr.; Emma Weir, jr.
Hermiston Bulldogs
The Buckaroos have
made it to at least the state
semifinals for the last three
seasons and will
have a shot to
go even further
in 2017 as they
return an ace in
the circle and
several key pieces
of their batting order and
defense.
HEAD COACH: Tim Cary,
13th year
ASSISTANT COACHES: Jeff
Hamilton, Jim Newland, John
Fowler, Josh Grass, Kristan
Garton, Randy Crawford
RETURNING STARTERS:
Madison Parker, sr., LF; Tatum
Fell, sr., CF; Payton Hergert,
sr., SS; Lauren Richards, jr.,
P/1B; Rylee Gentner, jr., 2B;
Kalan McGlothan, jr., 3B; Kila
Solomon, so., C
OTHER RETURNERS:
Alexi Brehaut, jr., P/1B; Kirah
McGlothan, so., UT; Aspen
Garton, so.,
IMPACT NEWCOMER: Elli
Nirschl, so., UT
SEASON GOALS:
Continuing to understand the
value of great work ethic, a
great attitude, and the value
of being a good teammate
are the foundation for another
successful season.
CARY’S KEY TO THE
SEASON: “The key to our
season is a willingness to be
unselfish and work together
as a team. We expect to go
out and compete with our
best effort in every game.
We feel that we are talented
enough to win every game,
but we also understand that it
takes great work ethic, great
attitude, and a willingness to
be an unselfish teammate.”
BIGGEST STRENGTHS:
Experienced pitching and lots
of returners in the field gives
the Bucks a chance to be one
of the better defensive teams
in the state, but Cary said the
team’s biggest strength is its
desire to compete and win.
In this 2016
file photo,
Hermiston’s
Ellery Jones
awaits a
throw as a
Pendleton
base runner
approaches
during a 2016
game. Jones
will anchor
Hermiston’s
lineup in 2017
as one of two
returning reg-
ulars.
Staff photo by Kathy
Aney
HEAD COACH: Kate Greenough,
2nd year
ASSISTANT COACHES: Kristen
Dunten, Sarah Rood.
RETURNING STARTERS: INF
Ellery Jones, sr.; OF Amanda Barron,
jr.; P Julissa Almaguer, jr.
OTHER RETURNERS: OF Sydney
Stefani, soph.
IMPACT NEWCOMERS: P Janelle
Almaguer, fr.; INF Ashley Cameron;
INF Kalei Smith; OF Daisy Maddox;
OF Baylee Metcalf; C Bailee Noland.
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Pendleton’s Lauren Richards throws during a 2016
game. Richards heads into her junior season as Pend-
leton’s ace in the pitching circle.
2017 Schedule
2017 Schedule
March 14
March 17
March 18
March 21
March 23
March 25
March 27-28
March 29
April 6
April 11
April 15
April 18
April 22
April 24
April 28
May 2
May 5
May 9
May 12
vs Hanford
4 p.m.
vs Hillsboro
4 p.m.
vs St. Helens
Noon
vs La Grande
4:30 p.m.
vs Southridge (WA)
4 p.m.
vs Walla Walla (WA) (2) Noon/1:30 p.m.
at Putman Tourney
TBA
at Milwaukie
Noon
at La Grande
4 p.m.
at Mac-Hi
6 p.m.
vs The Dalles (2)*
Noon/2 p.m.
at The Dalles*
4 p.m.
vs Hood River (2)*
Noon/1:30 p.m.
at Hood River*
4 p.m.
at Hermiston (2)*
3/4:30 p.m.
vs Hermiston*
4:30 p.m.
at The Dalles*
4 p.m.
at Hood River*
4:30 p.m.
vs Hermiston*
4:30 p.m.
Staff photo by Eric Singer
Hermiston’s Julissa Almaguer pitch-
es during the Bulldogs’ home open-
er against St. Helens on Mar. 17, 2017.
Almaguer will be Hermiston’s ace in
the circle this season in her third
year on the varsity team.
*-denotes league game
#-denotes Spring Break Challenge at Happy
Valley.
*-denotes league game
Mac-Hi Pioneers
The Pioneers have
appeared in the last
four straight 4A state
championships, winning
two, and have no intention
of ending that streak this
season.
HEAD COACH: Nicole Christian, 8th
year
ASSISTANT COACHES: Bob
Christian, Kathryn Rodighiero, Baily
Bennett, Andrea Roeder, Kortnie Walter.
RETURNING STARTERS: Mallory
Copeland, sr., P/C; Sydney Richwine,
sr., 1B; Micha Fortune, sr., 3B; Kaitlyn
Slusarenko, sr., OF; Rachael Lyon, jr., SS;
Sydney Earls, so., P
OTHER RETURNERS: Brooke Smiley,
sr., DH
IMPACT NEWCOMERS: Brittany
Potts, jr., 2B; Faith Kelley, jr., 2B: Becca
Jones, jr., OF: McKenna Yensen, jr., OF;
Britney Wells, so., OF; Graci Bullock, fr., P/
OF; Ashlyn Marly, fr., C/OF
SEASON GOALS: The Pioneers know
there are teams ready to write them off,
but aren’t buying into any rebuilding talk
and are set on returning to another state
championship.
CHRISTIAN’S KEY TO THE SEASON:
“I have a lot of talent and puzzle pieces
I need to fit together to get us back to
the state title game. I expect it to be a
little rocky at first as we are getting used
to filling in spots of key players lost and
new players battling for starting roles.
I’m excited to see who steps up and rises
to the challenge.”
BIGGEST STRENGTHS: A strong
youth system continues to supply the
Pioneers with capable athletes, and a
strong sense of community keeps the
Pioneers grounded. Speed, hitting and
strong player leadership will guide them
on the field.
2017 Schedule
Mar. 16
Mar. 25
Mar. 25
Mar. 27
Mar. 27
Mar. 28
Mar. 28
Mar. 31
Mar. 31
April 1
April 8
April 11
April 15
April 18
April 20
April 29
May 6
May 12
at Weston-McEwen W 20-17
vs (at Yamhill-Carlton)
TBD
at Yamhill-Carlton
TBD
vs Gladstone#
Noon
vs Elmira #
4 p.m.
vs Milwaukie #
Noon
vs South Salem #
4 p.m.
vs Stayton
4 p.m.
vs Junction City
6 p.m.
vs Estacada
4 p.m.
at Ontario (2)*
Noon
vs Pendleton
6 p.m.
vs La Grande (2)*
Noon
vs Walla Walla (WA)
TBD
at Baker (2)*
3/5 p.m.
vs Ontario (2)*
Noon
at La Grande (2)*
Noon
vs Baker (2)*
3/5 p.m.
*-denotes league game
#-denotes Spring Break Tournament at Canby
Mar. 14
at Ridgeview
L 14-3
Mar. 17
vs St. Helens
W 16-2
Mar. 18
vs Hillsboro
L 4-2
Mar. 22
vs Bend
4 p.m.
Mar. 24
at Pasco (WA)
4 p.m.
Mar. 27
vs Gresham#
4 p.m.
Mar. 28
vs. TBD#
TBD
Apr. 5
at Sherwood
5 p.m.
Apr. 8
vs Central Cath. (2)
1 p.m.
Apr. 11
vs La Grande (2) 3/5 p.m.
Apr. 15 at Hood River (2)*
Noon
Apr. 18
vs Hood River* 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 22 at The Dalles (2)*
Noon
April 25
vs The Dalles* 4:30 p.m.
April 28 vs Pendleton (2)*
3 p.m.
May 2
at Pendleton*
4:30 p.m.
May 5
vs Hood River* 4:30 p.m.
4A GREATER OREGON LEAGUE
2017 Projected Finish
Mac-Hi Pioneers
Returning All-League Players
Mac-Hi — Mallory Copeland, sr.
(POY); Micha Fortune, sr.; Rachael
Lyon, soph.; Sydney Richwine, sr.;
Kaitlyn Slusarenko, sr.
Ontario — Alexis Navarette,
soph.; Erin Turner, sr.; Abby Turner,
sr.; Sydney Sather, sr.
La Grande — Lexee Gomes,
soph.; Breann Givens, sr.; Mady Bell,
jr.; Delaney Lester, jr.; Alaina Carson,
soph.; Kara Gooderham, soph.
Baker — Jordan Rudolph, sr.;
Morgan Plumbtree, sr.; Gussie Cook,
soph.
Ontario Tigers
La Grande Tigers
Baker/Powder Valley Bulldogs
2016 Final Standings
GOL
Conf.
Ovr.
Mac-Hi
12-0
25-6
Ontario
5-7
16-11
La Grande
5-7
9-14
Baker
2-10 11-14
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