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
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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
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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.
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