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Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, May 21, 2025 -- SEVEN Mustangs Sweep TigerScots By Brian Bunch Friday, May 16, the Heppner/Ione Mustangs traveled to Athena to take on the Weston-McEwen/ Griswold TigerScots in a double-header to close out the 2A/1A-SD7 regular season. The Mustangs came into the series hoping to finish the regular season on a strong note and that’s just what they did. Ryan Haugen got the start on the mound in game one; the ace pitched a six-inning complete game, allowing just one unearned run on two hits and two walks with eight strikeouts on the way to a 13-1 win. R. Haugen had a hot start to the game, earning six of his eight Ks in the first two frames, including a 1-2-3 first inning to set the tone. Pitching fell apart for the TigerScots in the second inning as the first four Mus- tangs up to bat were walked to give Alakae Rodriguez his first of two runs in the game. The Mustangs would send 10 batters to the plate in the second inning and come out of it with a 6-0 lead. The Mustangs would build on the lead throughout the game, adding two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth before working five walks in the sixth inning for four runs, to put them up 13-0. The TigerScots were backed into a corner and had to score at least three in the bottom of the sixth frame to stay alive; they managed one run, with the help of some Mustang errors. Caleb George led the team hitting with two hits and a walk, earning two RBIs and scoring two runs. Five Mustangs followed George with one hit a piece, led by Shad Greenup who joined George with two RBIs on his one hit plus a walk. Caylan Proudfoot would join George and Rodriguez as the only Mus- tangs to score multiple runs, with two each. Pitching his last regular season game of the year, R. Haugen earned his sixth win of the year for a 6-1 record in 13 starts, finishing the regular season with a 2.639 ERA and batters hit- ting .236 against him. Game two was a group effort on the mound for the Mustangs, with Karver Wilkins getting the start and pitching 1.0 scoreless in- nings, giving up one hit and two walks. Keaton Coiner relieved him and pitched 4.0 scoreless innings, al- lowing just two hits and one walk while earning four strikeouts. Proudfoot would close out the game, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits and earning one strikeout. Runs were a little hard- er to come by in the second game, as it remained score- less until the third inning. Greenup would follow his own advice and “wear one” as he would get hit by the pitch and give the Mustangs a lead-off runner. Two other Mustangs would wear one in the inning, all three going on to score runs on the way to a 5-0 Mustang lead after three innings. Jace Wilson would hit a lead-off single in the fifth and then go on to steal home for a 6-0 lead after five. George hit a two-out RBI double with Coiner in scoring position in the sixth inning to make it 7-0. A de- fensive error and a pitcher’s balk, combined with a cou- ple singles in the bottom of the seventh inning allowed the TigerScots to put up one run for the 7-1 final score. Wilson led the team hitting with two hits for two RBIs and two runs. Mason Orem led all other hitters with two RBIs on one hit; Proudfoot and George were the only other Mustangs to tally a hit, George also adding an RBI and a run. With the final game of the regular season scored, Proudfoot (.333/.424/.403) leads the team with 24 hits, 24 runs, 20 RBIs and 11 BBs. George (.315/.457/.466) is right behind him with 23 hits, 27 runs, 18 RBIs and 12 BBs. Rodriguez (.308/.444/.369) and Wil- son (.303/.405/.333) both added 20 hits; Rodriguez with 27 runs, 14 RBIs and 9 BBs, Wilson with 20 runs, 12 RBIs and 11 BBs. Mustangs Stumble After Strong Start The Heppner/Ione Mustangs traveled to Grant Union High School for part two of the series with the Grant Union/Prairie City/ Monument Prospectors on Tuesday, May 13. A five- hit, seven-run first inning for the Mustangs that led to a 7-2 lead after one inning would be the highlight of the game for the Mustangs, but not enough. The Pros- pectors would prove that slow and steady (and de- fense) can win the race, as they wouldn’t put up more than three runs in any sin- gle inning on the way to a 11-9 win. Caleb George and Cay- lan Proudfoot would lead the Mustangs with two hits apiece, each with one RBI, one run and one walk as well. Keaton Coiner would lead all other hitters with three RBIs and one run on one hit, followed closely by Karver Wilkins with two runs and one RBI on one hit. Ryan Haugen got the only other Mustang hit of the game, and the start on the mound, pitching 3.0 innings, giving up four runs (four earned) on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Alakae Rodriguez would pitch 0.2 innings in relief giving up three runs (zero earned) on one hit and four walks with two strikeouts. Proudfoot would replace him on the mound and go 2.1 innings, giving up four runs (four earned) on four hits with two walks. 2A/1A-SD7 League Play Wraps-Up On Tuesday, May 13, news spread that the Irri- gon Knights (13-3 League, 16-7 Overall) had secured the District Championship with a 10-0 win over Sher- man. The Knights have completed their scheduled games and are awaiting the OSAA ranking freeze, which will happen at 10 p.m. on May 22. Sitting in the number two seed are the Union/ Cove Bobcats (12-4, 18-4) with the Grant Union/Prai- rie City/Monument Pros- pectors (12-4, 13-11) sitting right behind them. While they are done with league play, they do both have non-league contests on the schedule before the rank- ings freeze, although with their overall records being so far apart it shouldn’t make much of a difference in league seeding. The Heppner/Ione Mustangs (11-5, 15-7) are sitting alone in the four seed with the next closest team two wins behind. The Mustangs join the Knights on the sidelines watching the action and waiting for the ranking freeze. An im- portant note: the Mustangs do hold wins over all three teams seeded above them. There will be 18 auto- matic qualifiers for the state tournament, including four from 2A/1A-SD7. After those 18 are selected, the next four highest ranking teams in the state will be selected for at-large bids. The bracket will be built out of these 22 teams. Round 1 games will be played on May 26 with the top 10 seeds getting a bye into Round 2 on May 28. Big week for Heppner at WM and Grant Union invites Riley Archer (M) went the dis- tance at Grant Union, placing first in the 3000m. -Photo by Susan Hisler Healy Hisler takes her mark. She placed first in the 400m at Weston with a season record of 1:01.28. -Photo by Susan Hisler Chris Humphreys placed first in discus at both Weston and Grant Union. -Photo by Susan Hisler Heppner athletes shine at WM Invite Heppner High School track and field athletes de- livered strong performances at the WM Invite held on Tuesday, May 13, at Weston McEwen track, with both boys and girls bringing home top finishes across sprint, distance, and field events. The Heppner girls’ team had a standout day, led by Hallee Hisler, who won both the 100 meters (13.00) and 200 meters (26.87). Her younger sister, Healy His- ler, also impressed, taking first in the 400 meters with a season record of 1:01.28, and placing third in the 200 meters. In the 3000 meters, Lily Nichols broke the 11-min- ute barrier with a personal record of 10:58.58 for first place, while Brooklyn Hen- dricks followed in second. The girls’ 4x400m relay team of Healy and Hallee Hisler, Riley Archer, and Lily Nichols claimed gold with a 4:19.50 finish. Other top finishes in- cluded Natalie Piper win- ning the high jump (4’6”), and Laia Puelles taking third in the 100m hurdles and setting a personal re- cord in the 300m hurdles. On the boys’ side, Chris Humphreys led the field squad with a victory in the discus (129’3”), second in shot put (40’9” PR), and second in javelin (164’0”). Teammate Landon McMa- hon also achieved personal records in both shot put and discus. Joseph Albitre won the high jump (5’10”), placed third in the 110m hurdles with a personal best of 19.19, and took third in the long jump. In the relays, the boys’ 4x100m team (Medina, Ramos, Wenberg, McMahon) finished second in 47.63. Marty Medina deliv- ered strong results in mid- dle-distance events, fin- ishing second in the 1500 meters (4:36.20) and third in the 800 meters (2:15.05). Heppner athletes con- tinue dominant season at GU Invitational Heppner High School track and field athletes made another strong show- ing at the Grant Union Invitational on Friday, May 16, at 3 Flags Field, earning multiple event wins and setting numerous personal and season records. Senior Hallee Hisler continued her dominant sprinting season, winning the 100m (12.86 PR), 200m (26.25), and 400m (59.90). Her sister, Healy Hisler, wasn’t far behind, taking second in the 400m (1:01.91 SR) and third in the 100m and 200m. The distance squad kept the momentum going. Lily Nichols captured gold in the 1500m (5:04.59) and placed second in the 800m (2:30.16). Riley Archer won the 3000m (11:44.86) and placed fourth in the 1500m, while Brooklyn Hendricks followed closely behind in both. Nichols also shined in hurdles, claiming first in the 300m hurdles (49.73 SR). Laia Puelles earned third in the 100m hurdles and set a new personal record in the 300m hurdles. The girls’ 4x400m re- lay team (Hallee Hisler, Healy Hisler, Riley Archer, Lily Nichols) once again took top honors with a 4:20.05 finish. In the field, Natalie Piper hit a PR of 4’8” for fourth in the high jump, while Claire Lindsay threw 96’4” for fourth in the jav- elin. Avia Boutefuhr, just a freshman, placed fifth in the shot put (28’1.5” PR) and added solid marks in discus and javelin. Junior Chris Hum- phreys led the boys with a triple crown performance, winning the shot put (40’2.75”), discus (131’0” PR), and javelin (167’11”), adding to his growing list of podium finishes this season. Marty Medina also im- pressed in distance events, taking first in the 1500m (4:30.98) and fourth in the 800m (2:12.54). Nick Wenberg notched a PR in the 3000m (11:59.40) for second, and also earned sec- ond in long jump (18’2.5”). Joseph Albitre showed versatility by finishing second in the high jump (5’10”), first in long jump with a PR (18’10”), and eighth in the 300m hurdles, where he set a new personal best (48.23). In the throwing ring, Heppner’s depth was on full display, with multiple PRs from Gage Heideman, Lu- cas King, and Austin Willis in shot put, discus, and jav- elin. Heideman placed third in the shot put (37’7.5” PR) and seventh in the javelin. Next Stop: District Championships Heppner ’s athletes now set their sights on the 2A-SD4 Special District 4 Championships, sched- uled for Friday, May 23, at Ward Rhoden Stadium. With strong momentum and standout performanc- es across the board, the Mustangs are poised for a powerful showing. Mustangs shine at MS Meet of Champions Sixth grader Hadlie Duncan qualified for the state meet in three events, setting personal records and placing in the top 10 in two of them. -Photo by Andrea Di Salvo Catherine Lindsay takes the baton in the 4x400 relay in Ir- rigon May 9. She qualified for state in the 400m, in which she ran a personal best of 1:02.20. -Photo by Andrea Di Salvo Brodie Ogden, pictured here in the 400m in Irrigon, quali- fied for state in the javelin. He threw a personal-record 147 feet last Friday in Corvallis, earning sixth in the state. -Photo by Andrea Di Salvo Aidden Ramos Lopez (L) leads his heat in the 400m in Irrigon. He qualified for state in the 400m, where he placed 20 th with a personal best 56.30. -Photo by Andrea Di Salvo Four Mustang junior high athletes delivered strong performances at the Oregon Middle School Meet of Champions, held Friday, May 16, at Corvallis High School. The Heppner track and field representa- tives faced off against top athletes from more than 60 schools around the state. In the 400 meters, sev- enth grader Aidden Ramos Lopez placed 20 th with a personal record time of 56.30 seconds. In the javelin (450g AeroJav), eighth grader Brodie Ogden earned a sixth-place finish with a throw of 147 feet, setting a new personal best. For the girls, eighth grader Catherine Lind- say ran a personal best of 1:02.20 in the 400 meters, placing 18 th overall. Sixth grader Hadlie Duncan had an impres- sive day across multiple events. She placed 10 th in the 800 meters with a time of 2:29.18, and sixth in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:59.96—both personal re- cords. Duncan also compet- ed in the 200-meter hurdles, finishing 31 st with a time of 34.59 (-2.0) seconds. The Mustang junior high track and field team had a strong season overall, with several athletes mak- ing their mark in various events. Ogden and Lindsay will be worth watching as they continue their ca- reers in high school. The remaining middle school team members also showed great promise, gaining valu- able experience and laying the groundwork for future success. With a solid foundation and growing talent, the fu- ture of Heppner track and field looks bright. Please call to schedule an appointment at 541-922-6420. We are located in the Morrow County Government Center at 215 NE Main Avenue in Irrigon. Heppner appointments are available.
