Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (April 2, 2025)
Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, April 2, 2025 -- SEVEN Heppner/Ione Baseball 2-1 in Spring Break Tournaments Mason Orem waiting on a pitch. -Photo by Brian Bunch By Brian Bunch Stanfield Tournament The Mustangs split a doubleheader against Uma- tilla and Kennedy on March 25 at the Umatilla Sports Complex in two 10-run rule games in the Stanfield Tournament. On the hottest day of the year so far, the Mustang base runners came out hot against Umatilla, racking up 17 runs on 12 hits to invoke the 10-run rule against the Vikings after the sixth inning. Caleb George led off for the Mustangs, getting on base due to a Viking error at third base. However, he was the only Mustang base runner in the inning and was stranded on third after the next three batters were retired in order. Keaton Coiner made an impressive catch in foul territory for the Mustangs’ second out in the bot- tom half, but the Vikings’ Younger-Morris reached base with a hit-by-pitch and gave them a 1-0 lead going into the second after a pair of singles by their four- and five-hole hitters. The second inning was productive for the Mus- tangs, as they scored six runs on five walks and three hits. Karver Wilkins had a very productive game, gaining momentum in the second when he hit a single to score Mason Orem and Shad Greenup, opening the scoring for the Mustangs. Jace Wilson walked, along with George, to load the bases and send Caylan Proudfoot back to the plate after striking out in the first inning. Proudfoot hit an RBI single and went on to score the sixth run for the Mustangs in the inning. The Vikings changed pitchers in the inning; start- er Raymond took the loss, going only 1.1 innings and giving up six earned runs on three hits. After starting for the Mustangs and pitching one inning, giving up two hits and one earned run, George was replaced on the mound by Proudfoot in the second inning. Proudfoot retired the Vikings in order, re- cording two strikeouts after Andrew Lindsay fired a ball in from left field to catch Raymond trying to stretch a double into a triple for the first out. The Mustangs stretched their lead to 7-1 in the top of the third inning when Lindsay hit a leadoff single, which later scored when Alakae Rodriguez received the gift of an RBI via a hit-by-pitch after the bases were loaded with walks. Proudfoot, still pitching for the Mustangs, allowed three runs on three hits, bringing the Vikings within three; 7-4 Mustangs. After batting around the order in the second inning with 11 at-bats, the Mustangs started the fourth inning with Orem leading off again, this time batting 10 in the inning, scoring six runs, and forcing another pitching change for the Vikings. Morris finished his outing, giving up seven runs (five earned) on five hits through 2.0 innings of work, and was replaced by Garcia. The Mustangs finished the fourth up 13-4, just shy of the 10 runs needed to end the game. The fifth inning was scoreless for both teams, as the defens- es stepped up, with each pitcher recording only one strikeout. The Mustangs sealed the game in the sixth after Rodriguez reached base with a leadoff hit-by-pitch, leaving him with a sec- ond bruise from a Viking pitcher; another fun gift for him. Rodriguez scored to put the Mustangs up 14-4 on a fielder’s choice by Greenup. Lindsay hit a sacrifice fly to second base to score Ryan Haugen and bring Wilkins to the plate with Greenup on first. Wilkins, who had the RBI single to open the scoring in the second inning for the Mus- tangs, smashed a 2-1 count pitch to center field…and beyond. The crowd erupted as Greenup and Wilkins scored, giving the Mustangs a 17-4 lead and their first homerun of the season. Proudfoot finished the sixth inning and the game with 5.0 innings pitched, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and earning the win. Lindsay, Proudfoot, Wilkins and Wilson led the Mustangs with two hits each, joined by George, R. Haugen, Orem and Rodriguez with one hit each. While not get- ting a hit, Greenup led the team with three runs on four at-bats and a walk, striking out only once. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the only thing hotter than the afternoon heat was Kennedy pitcher Henry Beyer. The Trojan pitched a complete game, allowing only one hit and one walk while facing more than the minimum number of batters only once. Av- eraging 1.5 strikeouts per inning, his defense was more than up to the task of backing him up as well. R. Haugen walked on four straight pitches to lead off the second inning before H. Beyer found the zone again and struck out Orem on three straight pitches. R. Haugen was the second out on a pick-off attempt that resulted in an out call that appeared to be questioned. George hit a leadoff single in the fourth and stole sec- ond, the only other action on base for the Mustangs in the game. Meanwhile, on defense, the Mustangs made the Tro- jans work for it. Wilson at second base recorded two outs in the first, including some nice glovework in a 4-3 play, to keep the game scoreless after one. R. Haugen started on the mound and looked com- fortable with five strikeouts in the first three innings; he had allowed only one score, a leadoff walk in the third that was batted in by a sacrifice fly. He also recorded a strong strikeout looking to end the third and keep it 1-0 going into the fourth. Things changed in the fourth; every ball the Tro- jans hit found a gap in the field. If there was green grass, they found it; big fly balls and timely sacrifices filled the next three innings. R. Haugen finished with 4.0 innings pitched, giving up five earned runs on eight hits. Rodriguez replaced him to pitch 1.1 in- nings, giving up one earned run and zero hits with one strikeout and one walk. Orem came in to get the last two outs of the sixth, getting the first on a sacrifice fly that scored the leadoff walk. He loaded the bases with a hit-by-pitch and two walks with two outs. With the bases loaded, Kody Graves swung at strike one, then squared up the second pitch, sending it over the center field fence for a grand slam and a 10-0 lead. Orem took it on the chin but found the zone, getting the final out with three straight strikeouts, ending the game with 0.2 innings pitched and four earned runs on one hit. The game ended 10-0 Trojans. Greater Columbia Basin Tournament The Heppner/Ione Mus- tangs defeated the Crosshill Christian Eagles 7-3 on Wednesday, March 26, at Riverside High School in the Greater Columbia Basin Tournament. The Mustangs’ offense was strong, racking up 10 hits. Caylan Proudfoot led the team with three hits, including a double, while Alakae Rodriguez con- tributed two hits. Mason Orem earned the win on the mound, pitching three innings and allowing one run while striking out five. Orem and Proudfoot also each stole a base. Mustangs Prep for 2A/1A-Special District 7 League Play Their final non-league match-up will be at home on April 1 at 4 p.m. against Joseph/Enterprise/Wal- lowa. They kick off league play against Irrigon at home on April 4 in a double head- er with the first pitch at 1 p.m. The first midweek league game will come on April 8 at home against Stanfield/Echo at 4 p.m. WCCC Sunday Men’s Play The opening day of Sunday Men’s play at Wil- low Creek Country Club will be April 6. The men’s club board is hosting the event. Breakfast will be served between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. with a tee off time at 9 a.m. The play for the day will be a blind-draw scram- ble. The cost for the event will be $10. ALL NEWS AND ADVERTISEMENT DEADLINE: MONDAYS AT 5:00 P.M. Fourth-Inning Spurt Leads Lady Mustangs Past Knappa Loggers Lady Mustangs Defeat Knappa Loggers on Multi- ple Hit Performance by Olivia Ogden By GameChanger Media The Lady Mustangs de- feated the Knappa Loggers 9-3 on Wednesday thanks in part to five runs in the fourth inning. Maya Payne grounded out, scoring one run, Ava Gerry singled, scoring one run, Isabel Payne doubled, scoring one run, Keeley Nairns singled, scoring one run, and Olivia Ogden singled, scoring one run. Heppner Varsity Mus- tangs got on the board in the bottom of the first inning after Gerry doubled down the right field line, Kadie Henrichs doubled down the right field line, Payne singled down the left field line, and Ogden doubled down the left field line, each scoring one run. Payne started in the circle for Heppner Varsity Mustangs. The pitcher gave up six hits and three runs (two earned) over seven in- nings, striking out nine and walking two. Taylor Pass stepped in the circle first for Knappa. The starting pitcher gave up 18 hits and nine runs over six innings, striking out none and walk- ing one. Heppner collected 18 hits in the game. Henrichs, Nairns and Delaney Stefani each collected three hits for the Lady Mustangs. Payne, Gerry and Ogden each drove in two runs for Heppner. Kiya Roe went 2-for- 4 at the plate to lead the Knappa Loggers in hits. In the second game of Wednesday’s double-head- er, Olivia Ogden collected three hits in three at bats, as Heppner defeated Knappa 15-9. Ogden hit a home run to left field in the fifth in- ning, singled in the second inning and singled in the fourth inning. Heppner collected 21 hits and Knappa had 11 in the high-scoring affair. The Loggers got on the board in the top of the first inning after the Lady Mus- tangs committed an error, and Kate Maher singled down the right field line, each scoring one run. Knappa added one run in the second. Kiya Roe singled to center field on a 0-2 count, making the score 3-0. Heppner tied the game in the bottom of the second thanks to a double by Isabel Payne, a single by Keeley Nairns and a single by D. Stefani. In the top of the third, Knappa broke up the tie when Maddy Bailey drew a walk, scoring one run. Then a ground out by Mylie Lempea followed to extend Knappa’s lead to 5-3. The Mustangs flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the fifth, scoring seven runs on eight hits to take the lead, 10-6. The biggest blow in the inning was a home run to left field by Ogden, which drove in three. Heppner scored five runs on six hits in the bot- tom of the sixth inning. Avree Lathrop singled, scoring one run, Stefani singled, scoring one run, and Ciciley Stefani singled, scoring three runs. Maya Payne earned the win for Heppner. The pitcher surrendered 11 hits and nine runs (five earned) over seven innings, strik- ing out four and walking five. Taylor Pass started in the circle for Knappa. The starter gave up 21 hits and 15 runs over six innings, striking out two and walk- ing one. Heppner accumulated 21 hits in the game. Payne, Stefani, Ogden and Stefani each collected three hits for Heppner. C. Stefani went 3-for-5 at the plate and led the team with five runs batted in. Ava Gerry, Kadie Henrichs, Nairns and Lath- rop each collected multiple hits for Heppner. The Loggers collected 11 hits in the game. Roe went 3-for-3 at the plate to lead Knappa in hits. Bailey, Lily Simpson, Maher and Roe each drove in one run for Knappa. Pass collected two hits for the Loggers in four at bats. Saphira Pi- etilla led Knappa with two walks. Overall, the team had a strong eye at the plate, collecting five walks for the game. Roe stole two bases. Knappa turned one double play in the game. Copyright © 2025 Ga- meChanger Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Any reuse or republication of this story must include the preceding attribution and is subject to the Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc. Terms of Use, License Agreement, and Privacy Policy. Lady Mustangs dominate Oakland in Tuesday double-header It was a beautiful, sun- ny day when the Lady Mus- tang softball team started a winning week, dominating the Oakland Oakers in both games of a double-header on Tuesday, March 25. In game one, Delaney Stefani collected four hits in four at bats, as Heppner defeated Oakland 17-2. Stefani doubled in the third inning, singled in the first inning and singled in the second inning. The Lady Mustangs scored 10 runs in the first inning, capitalizing on Oak- land errors. Maya Payne doubled, scoring two runs. Isabel Payne doubled, scor- ing one run, and Avree Lathrop had an RBI. Stefani singled, scoring one run, Ava Gerry singled, scoring one run, and Kadie Henrichs singled, scoring one run. The Oakers got on the board in the first inning af- ter Maddie Dalberti singled, scoring two runs. Heppner Mustangs scored six runs on five hits in the bottom of the second inning. Stefani singled, scoring one run, Isabel Payne doubled, scoring two runs, and Keeley Nairns singled, scoring one run. A double by D. Stefani extended the Heppner lead to 17-2 in the bottom of the third inning. Payne led things off in the circle for the Mustangs. The starting pitcher gave up one hit and two runs (one earned) over three innings, striking out four and walk- ing three. Heppner accumulated 13 hits in the game. Payne provided pop in the middle of the lineup and led Hep- pner with four runs batted in. The pitcher went 2-for-3 on the day. Lathrop collect- ed two hits for the Mustangs in three at bats. The Lady Mustangs didn’t commit a single error in the field. In game two, D. Stefani collected three hits in five at bats, as the Mustang soft- ball team defeated the Oak- ers 13-6. Stefani doubled in the first inning, singled in the third inning, and singled in the sixth inning. The Oakers opened the scoring in the first. Heppner took the lead, 4-1, in the bottom of the first when an error scored three runs, and Kadie Henrichs doubled, scoring one run. The Mustangs extend- ed their lead with two runs in the bottom of the second thanks to RBI doubles by Maya Payne and Isabel Payne. The Mustangs added runs in the bottom of the third inning after M. Payne was hit by a pitch, and Ava Gerry singled to left field, each scoring. In the circle, Maya Payne gave up five hits and six runs (five earned) over seven innings, striking out four and walking four. Maddie Dalberti stepped in the circle first for Oakland. The righty allowed 15 hits and 13 runs (five earned) over six innings, striking out three and walking three. The Mustangs piled up 15 hits in the game. Gerry drove the middle of the lineup, leading Heppner with four runs batted in. Gerry went 2-for-5 in the night cap. Henrichs, Avree Lathrop and Olivia Ogden each collected multiple hits for the Mustangs. Print & Mailing Services *Design *Print Sykes Publishing *Mail 541-676-9228 WWW.HEPPNER.NET Submit News, Advertising & Announcements Letters To The Editor Send Us Photos Start A New Subscription
