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Final exam time
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| H&N photo by Todd E. Swenson Getting the extra base: Henley’s Megan Driessen slides safely into third base under the tag from Scappoose third baseman Katie Cook Wednesday. The Hornets beat the Indians, 12-2, to advance to the 4A state title game. |
12-2 win propels Hornets to state title game
By Josh Petrie
H&N Sports Writer
MEDFORD — Henley expected to play its Class 4A state softball semifinal Tuesday in Klamath Falls, but rain forced the Hornets and Scappoose Indians to move west to U.S. Cellular Community Park Wednesday.
For Henley, it was worth both the trip and the wait.
Senior second baseman Sierra Patzke hit 3-for-3 with four RBI, sophomore pitcher Autumn Wedan tossed a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts, and Henley cruised to a 12-2 victory in six innings to advance to Saturday’s state title game in Corvallis.
“We’ve been waiting for this for four years,” Patzke said of the seniors. “To go out like this is awesome.”
The wait will be over at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Oregon State University softball complex. The Hornets will face Marist, which defeated Gladstone, 1-0, in the other semifinal Tuesday.
The one-day wait, as well as the move off their home field, could have had an impact on the Hornets. However, they took it all in stride and had a dominant performance in front of a sizable, pro-Henley crowd.
“At first, I think people were kind of disappointed, but then they realized it’s really not that big of a deal,” senior catcher Dakota Doke said. “At least we got to play it here instead of Scappoose.”
Wet and wild
The field-turf facility was playable, unlike the natural grass fields in Klamath Falls, but the wet weather was the same on either side of the mountains. The soggy conditions made for some sloppy play, especially as pitchers from both teams tried to adjust early.
“The first inning, I couldn’t get it to the plate, and even in warm-ups I couldn’t hold the ball long enough for it to get all the way there,” Wedan said. “It would go straight into the backstop.”
Wedan adjusted quickly after a walk, two passed balls and a wild pitch allowed Scappoose leadoff hitter Amanda Krueger to score. She struck out the next three batters in the first, and the first 10 Indian outs all came on strikes.
Wedan walked six and had four wild pitches. Scappoose’s three hurlers combined for eight walks and 11 wild pitches.
Striking quickly
While Scappoose starter Cassidy Klippel had her own control issues, the Hornet bats took advantage with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first.
Patzke scored the tying run when Wedan reached on an error, then the ensuing six batters all reached base. Three reached on walks, designated player Tia Sellars and catcher Dakota Doke hit singles. Patzke capped the spurt with a two-run triple to right field.
Henley led, 7-1, after the first, and the Hornets cruised from there.
“It gave us lots of momentum, coming in and getting all those runs in the first inning,” Patzke said. “Autumn was able to relax and hit the glove, and once we get run support like that, everyone else is able to relax and just do what they can do.”
Patzke was a single short of the cycle, adding a two-run home run in the fourth and a ground-rule double in the sixth, and shortstop Brittany Grant finished 2-for-4, including a walkoff RBI single with nobody out in the sixth.
For Henley, it was worth both the trip and the wait.
Senior second baseman Sierra Patzke hit 3-for-3 with four RBI, sophomore pitcher Autumn Wedan tossed a one-hitter with 14 strikeouts, and Henley cruised to a 12-2 victory in six innings to advance to Saturday’s state title game in Corvallis.
“We’ve been waiting for this for four years,” Patzke said of the seniors. “To go out like this is awesome.”
The wait will be over at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Oregon State University softball complex. The Hornets will face Marist, which defeated Gladstone, 1-0, in the other semifinal Tuesday.
The one-day wait, as well as the move off their home field, could have had an impact on the Hornets. However, they took it all in stride and had a dominant performance in front of a sizable, pro-Henley crowd.
“At first, I think people were kind of disappointed, but then they realized it’s really not that big of a deal,” senior catcher Dakota Doke said. “At least we got to play it here instead of Scappoose.”
Wet and wild
The field-turf facility was playable, unlike the natural grass fields in Klamath Falls, but the wet weather was the same on either side of the mountains. The soggy conditions made for some sloppy play, especially as pitchers from both teams tried to adjust early.
“The first inning, I couldn’t get it to the plate, and even in warm-ups I couldn’t hold the ball long enough for it to get all the way there,” Wedan said. “It would go straight into the backstop.”
Wedan adjusted quickly after a walk, two passed balls and a wild pitch allowed Scappoose leadoff hitter Amanda Krueger to score. She struck out the next three batters in the first, and the first 10 Indian outs all came on strikes.
Wedan walked six and had four wild pitches. Scappoose’s three hurlers combined for eight walks and 11 wild pitches.
Striking quickly
While Scappoose starter Cassidy Klippel had her own control issues, the Hornet bats took advantage with a two-out rally in the bottom of the first.
Patzke scored the tying run when Wedan reached on an error, then the ensuing six batters all reached base. Three reached on walks, designated player Tia Sellars and catcher Dakota Doke hit singles. Patzke capped the spurt with a two-run triple to right field.
Henley led, 7-1, after the first, and the Hornets cruised from there.
“It gave us lots of momentum, coming in and getting all those runs in the first inning,” Patzke said. “Autumn was able to relax and hit the glove, and once we get run support like that, everyone else is able to relax and just do what they can do.”
Patzke was a single short of the cycle, adding a two-run home run in the fourth and a ground-rule double in the sixth, and shortstop Brittany Grant finished 2-for-4, including a walkoff RBI single with nobody out in the sixth.
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