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About Hermiston herald. (Hermiston, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (March 16, 2016)
PENDLETON East Oregonian/Hermiston Herald Page 4 Wednesday, March 16, 2016 Buckaroos look to continue title trend P ENDLETON S OFTBALL 2016 SCHEDULE Mar. 15 vs. Hanford 4 p.m. Mar. 18 vs. Kamiakin (DH) 3 p.m. Mar. 21 vs. Century (at Putnam) Noon Mar. 21 vs. Oregon City (at Putnam) 4 p.m. Mar. 22 vs. Central Cath. (at Putnam) Noon Mar. 22 at Rex Putnam 2 p.m. Mar. 23 at Sandy TBD Mar. 29 vs. La Grande 4:30 p.m. Apr. 4 vs. Walla Walla (DH) 3 p.m. Apr. 7 at La Grande 4:30 p.m. Apr. 12 vs. Mac-Hi 4:30 p.m. Apr. 16 at Hood River* (DH) Noon Apr. 19 vs. Hood River* 4:30 p.m. Apr. 23 at The Dalles* (DH) Noon Apr. 26 vs. The Dalles* 4:30 p.m. Apr. 29 vs. Hermiston* (DH) 3 p.m. May 3 at Hermiston* 4:30 p.m. May 6 vs. Hood River* 4:30 p.m. May 10 vs. The Dalles* 4:30 p.m. May 13 at Hermiston* 4:30 p.m. May 16 vs. Baker 4:30 p.m. COACH: Tim Cary, 12th year 2015 season: 22-8, 12-0 CRC (1st) POSTSEASON STORY: The No. 2 seed Bucks ¿nished as the 5A runners-up after losing to Putnam 3-2 in the state title game. LOSSES: INF Darian Lindsey, OF Tiah Grass, C Mykal Weissen- Àuh, OF Shelby Harris, INF Shelby Spriet KEY RETURNERS: OF Alexis Morrison, sr.; INF Ellie Richards, sr.; P Kiersten Murphy, sr.; OF Peyton Hergert, jr.; INF Lauren Richards, soph. By ERIC SINGER East Oregonian T he Pendleton Buckaroos have been one of the best teams in 5A over the last several seasons, appearing in the state title game four times in the last ¿ve years and winning titles in 2013 and 2014. But this year’s team has a long road to travel if it wants to reach that level again. The Bucks must replace ¿ve seniors, including three big ones in Tiah Grass (11 home runs, 3 5B,, Mykal WeissenÀuh (.329 avg., 15 RBI), and Darian Lindsey — who was the 5A Player of the Year in 2015 after hitting .606 with 13 home runs. Bucks coach Tim Cary said the team is shaping slowly but surely with several spots on the ¿eld *league game Staff photo by Kathy Aney Ellie Richards eyes a pitch last season in the irduring a game at at Steve Cary Field. up for grabs. Sophomores Kalan McGlothan and Rylee Gentner are getting long looks to replace Lindsey at third base (“I don’t know if you truly can replace someone like Darian,” Cary said), and freshman Kila Solomon is e[pected to ¿ll the catcher spot vacated by WeissenÀuh. In those state ¿nalist teams, the Buckaroos calling card was their tremendous power on offense and the ability to hit home runs with ease. In Dylan Clemons long jumps Wednes- day at the Columbia River Con- ference dis- trict track and ield meet in The Dalles. 2015, the Buckaroos averaged more than nine runs per game and won games by an average of almost six runs apiece. While Cary expects the power to still be a strength in 2015, he believes it won’t be as prevalent as in those past teams. “Hitting will be our strength, no doubt, but it will probably be more doubles and extra base hits rather than home runs,” he said. Pendleton returns two Division I signees and all-state players in senior shortstop Ellie Richards and senior out¿elder Alexis Morrison who will likely carry the offensive load in 2016. Richards hit .487 with 13 doubles, 35 RBI and 52 runs scored, while out¿elder Morrison hit .453 with nine home runs. Another strength for Pendleton will be on the pitching rubber, as senior Kiersten Murphy returns after a 2015 season that landed her on the third team all-state and ¿rst team all-CRC rosters. She led the P ENDLETON T RACK & F IELD COACH: Larry Brizendine and Dustin Breshears, 1st year POSTSEASON STORY: The Buckaroos ¿nished the season in the middle of the pack at the state meet, with the boys ¿nishing 15th and the girls 16th. RETURNERS: (BOYS) Nolan Bylenga, sr.; Andrew Porter, sr.; Johnny Stuvland jr.; Dylan Clemons, sr.; (GIRLS) Delaney Clem, sr.; Keegan Utter, sr.; Kiara Glover, jr.; Taryn Sokoloski, jr.; Jackie Talbot, jr. Staff photo by Kathy Aney the pack. Stuvland is not expected to join competiton until close to districts, as he is still recovering from a knee injury suffered in early February during basketball. The coaches are also excited for the ¿rst meet, when they host the Buck Track Classic on Mar. 17. “I’m excited to see how they do in competition,” Brizendine said. “It’ll be fun to see who steps up and see who’s hard work paid off the most.” T he Pendleton Buckaroos have a big group of runners, throwers and jumpers for the 2016 season with 113 athletes participating so far. Those numbers excite co-coaches Dustin Breshears and Larry Brizendine on the potential of this years’ team. “We’re hoping with as many as we have out this year we can have a strong shot at a district crown,” Brizendine said. “We have 34 seniors, too, so we’re hoping that experience helps lead the way.” The Buckaroos return several participants from state competition from one year ago, with Nolan Bylenga (2nd place, 800M), Johnny Stuvland (2nd place, high jump), Taryn Sokoloski (9th place, 800M), and Kiara Glover (4th, high jump) leading P ENDLETON G OLF BOYS COACH: Nels Nelson, 33rd year POSTSEASON STORY: Pendleton ¿nished fourth in the new 5A Special District 2 tournament to qualify for the state tournament, where they ¿nished seventh out of 10 teams. RETURNERS: Reilly Hegarty, sr.; Brayden Pulver, jr.; Nathan Som, jr; Jared Geier, soph. W ith one year under their belts in the OSAA’s new district format, the Pendleton Buckaroos believe they can make some noise in year two. “It’s such a different format,” said coach Nels Nelson. “Having so many teams in your district now, it really forces you to turn it on at the end.” Pendleton returns four state quali¿ers from the varsity roster last season, led by senior Reilly Hegarty and junior Brayden Pulver. Hegarty ¿nished tied for 13th at the state tournament last season, while Pulver ¿nished tied for 30th. Both Nathan Som and Jared Geier ¿nished tied for 38th. The Buckaroos kick off the season at the nine-hole The Dalles Country Club course, which coach Nels Nelson said can be a tough course to start the season off on. “It can be a real dif¿cult if the conditions are right,” he said. “I’d like to see the guys play well there and at Eagle Ridge before we come home where we can hopefully display our talents well at Wildhorse.” 2016 SCHEDULE Mar. 18 Apr. 1 Apr. 4 Apr. 6 Apr. 11 Apr. 14 Apr. 18 Apr. 21 Apr. 25 Apr. 27 May 6 May 7 May 16 May 17 team with a 14-4 record, 2.17 ERA and struck out 67 batters. Cary said he is trying to keep the team’s focus off of continuing the trend of state title appearances and instead focus on improving every day of the season. “I think the key will be, as cliche as it is, to take it one day at a time and keep our focus clear,” he said. “They will realize it takes hard work to get to that point, it’s not just handed out.” at The Dalles CC 10 a.m. at Eagle Ridge GC 8 a.m. at Wildhorse Resort Noon at Indian Creek GC 10 a.m. at Bend CC 10:40 a.m. at Pendleton CC Noon at Tetherow GC 10 a.m. at Big River GC 9 a.m. at Meadowlakes GC 11 a.m. at Trysting Tree GC TBA at Eagle Ridge GC 11 a.m. at Eagle Ridge GC 10 a.m. at Trysting Tree GC TBA at Trysting Tree GC TBA GIRLS COACH: Teri Prouse, 21st year POSTSEASON STORY: The Buckaroos ¿nished in fourth place at the 5A Special District 2 tournament to qualify for the state tournament, where they also turned in a fourth place ¿nish. RETURNERS: Haley Greb, jr.; Shelby Greb, sr.; McKenna Pratt, sr. J ust like their boys counterparts, the Buckaroos girls golf team returns three out of ¿ve varsity starters from the state qualifying team from 2015. The team is headed by sisters Haley and Shelby Greb, who each turned in top-10 ¿nishes at the state tournament a year ago. Haley, a junior, ¿nished third in the 5A state tournamnet last season after shooting a two-round total of 147 to sit just three shots above par and seven shots out of ¿rst place, which has led to some high expectations from Prouse for the coming season. Pendleton also returns senior McKenna Pratt who ¿nished 38th at the state tourna- ment. The team will have to replace starters Whitney and Britney Bahrns, and Prouse has several players competing for their spots with two seniors, two juniors, one sophomore and three freshmen competing against each other. Prouse also stated that she’s intrigued to see how the team performs at Indian Creek Golf Course on Apr. 6, which is the same course where the district tournaments will be held on May 9-10. 2016 SCHEDULE Mar. 15 Apr. 1 Apr. 4 Apr. 6 Apr. 12 Apr. 18 Apr. 26 Apr. 28 May 9 May 10 May 16 May 17 at The Dalles CC 10 a.m. at Eagle Ridge GC 1:30 p.m. at Wildhorse Resort Noon at Indian Creek GC 10 a.m. at Awbrey Glen GC TBA at Bend CC TBA at Pendleton CC Noon at Quail Valley GC TBA Districts (at Indian Creek) TBA Districts (at Indian Creek) TBA State (at Quail Valley GC) TBA State (at Quail Valley GC) TBA 2016 SCHEDULE Mar. 17 Apr. 1 Apr. 8 Apr. 9 Apr. 15 Apr. 16 Apr. 23 Apr. 30 May 6 May 11 May 12 Buck Track Classic Mac-Hi Carnival of Speed at River’s Edge (Umatilla) at Oregon City Green and Gold Invite at Pasco Invite at Hermiston Invite at Ontario Invite at Hood River Districts (at Hermiston) Districts (at Hermiston) Noon Noon TBD 10 a.m. 3 p.m. 9:30 a.m. TBD 11 a.m. 4 p.m. TBD TBD P ENDLETON T ENNIS mode Buckaroos is rebuild BOYS COACH: Chris Holdman, 6th year POSTSEASON STORY: The Buck- aroos did not advance past the district tournament. RETURNERS: Henry Holdman, sr., Lincoln Johnson, jr. B uckaroos coach Chris Holdman said that 2016 could be a ‘learning season’ for his team as he tries to replace four seniors with years of experience under their belts with a several inexperienced underclassmen. Pendleton’s returning players are senior Henry Holdman and junior Lincoln Johnson who should be the Buckaroos’ top two singles players. On the doubles side, Peter Wallace and Silas Johnson are expected to be the top pair for the team as well. GIRLS COACH: Rocky Dillenburg, 12th year POSTSEASON STORY: The Bucka- roos lone representative at the state tourna- ment was Matilde Cittadini, who lost both of her matches. RETURNERS: Anna James, sr.; Julia Livingston, sr.; Jenna Senter, jr. T he Pendleton Buckaroos lineup is wide open heading into the 2016 season as the team tries to ¿ll the holes left by ¿ve top players from 2015. Seniors Anna James and Julia Livingston move up into the teams’ top doubles pair this season, and junior Jenna Senter moves up from the No. 3 doubles team into the No. 1 singles player to start the season. Hannah Flanagan was expected to move into the No. 1 singles spot, but she is expected to miss the entire the season with a knee injury. 2016 SCHEDULE Mar. 29 vs. Baker Apr. 1 at Mac-Hi Apr. 4 vs. La Grande Apr. 6 vs. Hood River Apr. 8 at Baker Apr. 12 vs. Hermiston Apr. 14 at The Dalles Apr. 18 vs. Mac-Hi Apr. 20 at Hood River Apr. 22 at La Grande May 3 vs. The Dalles May 5 at Hermiston May 10 vs. Umatilla May 13Districts (at Hermiston) 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. TBD Mar. 29 Apr. 1 Apr. 4 Apr. 6 Apr. 8 Apr. 12 Apr. 14 Apr. 18 Apr. 20 Apr. 22 May 3 May 5 May 10 May 13 2016 SCHEDULE vs. Baker vs. Mac-Hi vs. La Grande at Hood River at Baker at Hermiston vs. The Dalles at Mac-Hi vs. Hood River at La Grande at The Dalles vs. Hermiston vs. Umatilla Districts (at Bend) 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. 4 p.m. H AMLEY S TEAK H ouse & S aloon We are proud to offer affordable, traditional Ranch Cookin’ ~ something for everyone, including USDA PRIME STEAKS • BUNKHOUSE PASTA • POP’S POT ROAST •FIRE ROASTED SALMON • COUNTRY FRIED STEAK HAMLEY SALOON open at 4 PM • DINNER in STEAKHOUSE at 5 PM HAMLEY CAFÉ - Open 8 AM -4 PM Breakfast 8-11 AM , Lunch 11 AM -3 PM COURT & MAIN, PENDLETON • 541.278.1100