WEDNESDAY
May 30, 2018
SOFTBALL
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union Prospector Cody Jo Madden pitches in the quarterfinal matchup against the Clatskanie Tigers Friday, May 25, in John Day.
Season of success
ends at quarterfinal
One run decides two-day game
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
T
he Grant Union Prospector girls met their
match in the Clatskanie Tigers.
The Prospectors ended the two-day OSAA
Softball State Championship quarterfinal matchup in
John Day with a heartbreaking 7-6 loss.
A lightning delay in the top of the seventh inning
caused a break in the drama of a close game with a
closely matched team Friday afternoon, and the action
continued Saturday morning.
“They played well, they played hard, they never
gave up,” said Grant Union head coach Zach Williams.
“I told them there was more adversity in this game than
I’ve ever experienced in my coaching and playing ca-
reer.”
The Grant Union players left an indelible impression
on their supportive fans during the two-day game, with
exciting moments, including two homers from Prospec-
tor senior Brianna Zweygardt for 3 RBIs, plus anoth-
er RBI off a single, and a double play when short stop
junior Madi McKrola threw to second baseman senior
Whitney McClellan for an out, who threw to junior
Macy Strong at first for a second out to close the top of
the sixth inning.
Grant Union pitcher senior Cody Jo Madden start-
ed in the circle for the Prospectors, and senior Ma-
riah Moulton relieved in the bottom half of the third.
Zweygardt pitched the fifth through the seventh innings
on Friday, and Madden returned on Saturday morning.
Clatskanie, led by head coach Kevin Sprague, had
Tiger freshman Shelby Blodgett pitching a full game.
Grant Union entered the game with a 22-2 overall
record, while Clatskanie had a 21-3 record.
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Grant Union Prospector Shaine Madden gets in
on the action in the state playoff game versus
Riverside/Arlington May 23 in John Day.
Girls grind out 6-0
victory over Pirates
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
The Prospectors were first on the scoreboard after
junior Hailie Wright hit a double, then scored a run off
Zweygardt’s single in the bottom of the first.
The Tigers scored in the third inning.
Grant Union’s Mariah Moulton fired up the Prospec-
tors with a 2-run homer in the first inning of the OSAA 3A
state playoff game May 23 in John Day, the Prospectors
defeating Riverside/Arlington 6-0.
Moulton batted in Whitney McClellan who, at the top
of the order, tripled in her first at-bat of the game.
It was the first time Grant Union advanced to the state
quarterfinals in at least five years, said Prospector head
coach Zach Williams.
Prospector starting pitcher Cody Jo Madden was cool
in the circle, pitching the first four innings. Moulton
See SEASON, Page B10
See WIN, Page B10
The Eagle/Angel Carpenter
Prospector Brianna Zweygardt pitches in Grant
Union’s quarterfinal game against Clatskanie,
second baseman Whitney McClellan in back.
Grant Union boys end baseball season at state playoffs
Prospectors
I
fall to No. 2
Reedsport
By Angel Carpenter
Blue Mountain Eagle
Contributed photo/Kimberly Neault
Grant Union Prospector Logan McCluskey takes the
mound in the quarterfinal game against Reedsport, with
third baseman Peyton Neault in back.
The 2A/1A Grant Union
Prospector boys ended their
season May 23 in a state play-
off round, falling 15-0 to The
Brave of Reedsport.
“They’re a good team,”
Grant Union head coach Dusty
Williams said of their oppo-
nents. “They’ve been back and
forth with Knappa for first and
second (in state).”
Reedsport had only one loss
on the season to a 4A school.
The Brave, coached by Ja-
son Lavigne, racked up 9 runs
early in the first inning off
Prospector pitcher senior Zack
Deiter.
Prospector Warner Rob-
ertson, a sophomore, relieved
was impressed with their dedication
and work ethic. They were just
always working hard to get better.
It’s been a great bunch of kids to
work with.’
Deiter in the bottom of the
first, and freshman Logan Mc-
Cluskey came in at the bottom
of the sixth. Reedsport added
their final runs in the last three
innings.
“We hit the ball a little bit,
and had opportunities to score,
but with their pitching veloc-
ity, we were just rolling over
and popping up,” Williams
said.
The Prospectors had a few
hits, including seniors Wade
Reimers and Ty McDaniel
each hitting a double and Rob-
ertson hitting a single.
Grant Union hosted the
Elgin Huskies Thursday, May
17, winning the league playoff
game 8-1 for the shot in the
state playoffs.
“It was a great opportunity
for our kids to make it to the
state level and see another lev-
el of competition,” Williams
said. “We’re losing three great
seniors, and they’re going to be
missed. Maybe Grant Union
can have a good run here in the
next year or two.”
He said he was happy with
his team this season.
“I was impressed with their
dedication and work ethic,” he
said. “They were just always
working hard to get better. It’s
been a great bunch of kids to
work with.”
He added, “I want to thank
Russ Reimers and Doug Sharp
and my wife, Stephanie, for
always being dedicated to the
program.”
Williams said, due to his
busy schedule working at the
Grant County Fairgrounds,
he turned in his resignation as
coach after the game against
Union.
“I’d like to thank Grant
School District 3 for the op-
portunity to coach the past
two years,” he said. “It’s been
a great experience, and I wish
the program the best.”
Deiter and Reimers both
said they appreciated the un-
derclassmen stepping up this
year.
“It was a fun season,” De-
iter said. “We ended up with a
positive record.”
“I had fun this year,” Re-
imers said. “It was a good
group of kids, and I got along
with everyone. I’m proud of
the younger players who had
to step up in tough situations.”