Canby's Kelsey Cutsforth slides home safely without a play during the Cougars' defeat of Gladstone last Thursday.

By Sean Patterson

As if one Barstad wasn't enough for teams to handle.

Backed by the dynamic duo of sisters Joanna and Sophie Barstad, the Canby High School softball team won its only two games last week, handling West Linn 3-2 in Tuesday's season opener and shutting down Gladstone 4-0 Thursday at CHS.

As it turned out, senior Joanna and freshman Sophie each won a game, with the former allowing only one hit while striking out eight in a dominating win over the Gladiators on a brisk afternoon.

Two days before, freshman Sophie Barstad got credit for the win when her older sister scored the winning run on an RBI single by Toni Herman in the sixth inning.

Coming into the season, teams were well aware of the older Barstad - she's already signed a Division I letter of intent with the University of Virginia - but few know much about her younger sister.

"We're hitting the ball well as a team, and it was nice to see our two pitchers get the job done," Canby head coach Charlie Tropp said. "It was a good start to the season for us. Our defense looked good and the kids seem to be having a lot of fun out there."

Canby (2-0) should have its share of fun this week, traveling to Arizona for the first time to take part in a couple of doubleheaders against teams from the Tuscon, Ariz., area.

As preparation, Canby came alive at the plate against the Gladiators, scoring single runs in the fourth and fifth before putting the game away with a two-run sixth.

Catcher Lyndsay Burke went a perfect 3 for 3 and scored a run, and Joanna Barstad helped her cause by driving in a pair of runs. Both Lisa Erwert and Megan Rock had two hits and crossed the plate once, and Kelsey Cutsforth also scored.

Brea Makin also had a hit, going 1 for 3, as Canby collected 10 safeties as a team. As a bonus, the girls didn't commit an error in the field.

The Cougars had to work a bit harder for Tuesday's win, needing a late run to win it, but Joanna Barstad was equally effective on the mound, scattering three hits and striking out 10.

As it turned out, the elder Barstad left with the game tied, and when Canby took the lead in the sixth, Sophie Barstad got credited with the victory.

Herman had two hits in two trips to the plate, and teammates Joanna Barstad, Meghan Boeckman, Burke, Lisa Ash, Erwert and Kate Allen each had a hit.

When Canby gets back from Arizona, the girls are scheduled to visit Centennial on March 28 and play Gresham at home two days later. The game with the Gophers was originally scheduled for March 13, but rain forced its postponement.

Though Thursday's invitational at David Douglas High School wasn't scored, it was evident the Canby High School track and field team is prepared for the start of a new season.

The Cougars unofficially won several events in the three-way competition with David Douglas and South Eugene, giving head coach Tom Millbrooke a reason to be pleased heading into spring break.

As expected, distance star Eric Logsdon won his two events, running the 1,500 meters in 4:05.9 and the 3,000 in a 1999-2000 state-best 8:47, while teammate John Zagyva cleaned up in the 110 high hurdles, crossing in 16.2 seconds.

In the field, pole vaulters Devin Deller and Richard Walker both established personal bests, clearing 11 feet, 9 inches and 11-6, respectively, and Todd Wagner bested all in the triple jump with an effort of 40-1/2.

"This more or less gave the kids a chance to work out some kinks before the break," head coach Tom Millbrooke said. "It wasn't scored, so there's no telling how we did as a team, but it's safe to say we had some solid performances."

For the CHS girls, both Jessica Johnston and Janeece Blunck eclipsed personal marks in the 3,000, going 11:29.7 and 11:42.5, respectively, and Chris Beck led the way in the sprints with her winning run in the 200 (28.09) and her third-place finish in the 100 (13.6).

Not to be outdone, Julia Hill bested all in the javelin with a toss of 73 feet, 3 inches.

Other strong efforts came from Desa Swaim, Canby's top long jumper (15-7) and the meet's second-best 300 hurdler (53.2); Bethanie Evans, who cleared 7-6 in the pole vault while also running the 100 hurdles in 18.6 seconds; and Lexi Newman, third in the 800 (2:37.7).

In the 1,500, the pair of Blunck and Johnston finished a respective third (5:20.2) and fifth (5:25.0).

Coach Millbrooke also pointed out the efforts of Lindsey Morgan (who cleared 8 feet in the pole vault), Michelle Boeckman (a 4-6 high jumper) and Corinna Marcotte (who triple jumped 28-6 1/2) as highlights.

Canby also got a win from Julie Garcia in the 400 (64.2) and a strong shot throw from Caitlin O'Connor (31-8 3/4).

For the boys, Kevin Downing threw the javelin 145 feet, Aaron Johnson threw the shot 37-11 1/2 and Wagner went 19-6 in the long jump.

Canby also got a few solid outings from Doug Burnett, who went 18-11 in the long jump, cleared 5-8 in the high jump and clocked a 11.93 in the 100.

Top-three finishes also came from Spencer Porter in the high hurdles (17.4) and low hurdles (44.1), Jaycob Padron in the 400 (54.14) and 200 (24.5), Wagner in the 100 (11.86), Kurt Sommer in the 800 (2:07.44) and Eric Wiesehan in the 200 (24.5).

Canby will play host to an all-comers invitational Wednesday, March 22, beginning at 1 p.m. All ages are welcome to participate and there is no charge to attend.

Next week, the Cougars open their Pacific-8 Conference season with a home meet against Dallas on March 30.

If the first two tournaments of the season are any indication, the Canby High School boys golf program can expect great things from freshman Ryan Gilmore.

The varsity newcomer not only led his team in both a Jesuit invite March 13 and a league tournament the following afternoon, he also came within one shot of gaining medalist honors at Monday's 12-team event at the Portland Golf Club.

Gilmore fired a 75 on the par-72 Portland course to finish just one shot off the pace and lead his team to a respectable 330-stroke team total.

That put Canby eighth among the 12 participants, however only six shots separated second place (Dallas, at 324) from eighth place.

"What was most encouraging was the fact we were only one shot behind league rival Tualatin and six back of Dallas," head coach Matt Sprague said. "That shows that we're right with them. We're not quite there, but we're awfully close."

The defending Pacific-8 Conference champion Cougars also got decent outings from Jon Warren (84), Aaron Smith (85), Robbie Fisher (86) and freshman Kyle Greer (94).

Jesuit, with a 310 total, easily won the competition.

The following day, competing in the Pac-8's first league match at the par-71 McNary Golf Course in Keizer, Canby finished third behind Gilmore's 76.

Once again, the Cougars were right with the front-runners, trailing Dallas by just two shots and first-place Tualatin by "six or eight shots," Sprague said. The coach did not have the Timberwolves' final tally available.

Canby fired a 325 as a team, with Colin Tucker (81), Warren (83), Shane Greig (85) and Smith (86) backing Gilmore.

The boys are now off until after the spring break holiday, returning to action March 27 with a league match at Tualatin Valley Golf Club.

CANBY GIRLS: Led by its No. 4 player, the Canby girls wound up second to Wilsonville in a four-team tournament at Charbonneau Golf Course last Thursday.

Emily Reif's nine-hole 45 total proved to be the low among the CHS girls, who finished with a 191 score. The Wildcats, paced by medalist Deanna Doty (41), won the competition with a 185 team score.

Canby's No. 1 player, Amber Kallstrom, finished one shot behind Reif with a 46, and No. 2 player Angela Carroll came in with a 48. Rounding out the Cougar scorers was Adrienne Giger, who had a 52.

"Emily has gotten more and more consistent," Canby head coach Joe Morelock said. "This was a good outing for her, and the team as a whole did well considering this was our first match of the season."

Canby beat out Woodburn (258) and Sherwood (298) in the four-way match.

The girls begin their Pac-8 league season with a visit to McNary Golf Club this Monday, where they will take on each of the league's schools.

By Sean Patterson

Sometimes, the final score doesn't tell the whole story. Such was the case of the North Marion High School softball team last week, as the Huskies gave perennial state powers St. Helens and Scappoose a battle before ultimately coming up short.

Thursday in St. Helens, pitchers Kelley Carpenter and freshman Stacey Anderson kept North Marion in the game but didn't get any offensive support in a 4-0 loss.

It was the same story the day before at home against Scappoose - a contest the Huskies dropped 3-0 despite a stellar outing by Carpenter.

"I tell you what, those are a couple of quality teams and we were right there with them," Husky head coach Gary Hunt said. "We didn't win, but I like the fact we competed. We had our chances (to score). We just couldn't get the timely hits."

As a result, the Huskies head into spring break 1-2 on the season. The girls opened the spring with a 6-2 defeat of Wilsonville in their season opener March 14 at home.

So far, Hunt has been pleased with what he's seen in Carpenter, who got a late start to softball because of the success of the North Marion girls basketball team. She consistently threw strikes in all three games last week, and she's proven she can be a workhorse.

In fact, Carpenter threw every frame last week save for the final three innings of the St. Helens game.

Offensively, North Marion failed to generate any runs in the two defeats, although the squad is getting a boost from newcomer Amber Wrinkle, who is hitting close to .500 so far, Hunt said.

The coach also pointed to the slugging of Sarah Camp, who is at .300, as a highlight.

"We've lost a couple of key people from last year, so it's important that our new kids step up for us," Hunt said. "Amber has been a nice surprise for us at shortstop. She's showing some real promise. And I honestly believe Kelley (Carpenter) can be a serious force for us on the mound."

The coach did not have specifics available on last week's games, although he didn't need his scorebook to know the Huskies need to step things up at the plate.

"We're showing some real potential, but the bottom line is you need to hit," he said. "Hopefully, we'll start getting those timely hits to support our pitchers."

The girls are back in action this Thursday and Friday, first hosting Colton for a doubleheader, then traveling to Estacada for a twin bill on Friday. Thursday's home games begin at noon.