Photo by Sean Patterson

Ryan Gilmour, pictured following through on an approach shot earlier this season, is expected to help get the Canby High School boys golf team back to the Class 4A state tournament. The team was second in league to Tualatin heading into this week's district tourney.

By Sean Patterson
of the Herald

In what was essentially a showdown for the Pacific-8 Conference softball championship, Tigard outlasted Canby 1-0 in yet another extra-inning thriller between the two schools.

Much like their April 17 matchup - a game the Cougars won 1-0 in 15 innings - runs were hard to come by Friday at Canby High School.

This time, though, it was the Tigers who finally broke through, scoring a single run in the ninth inning to end the duel between pitchers Joanna Barstad of Canby and Nicole Webb of Tigard.

"Obviously, the kids are disappointed we couldn't get it done, but at the same time we realize we played well and did our best," CHS head coach Greg Herman said. "It was just one of those classic games. They happened to get a run and we didn't. You just accept it and move on."

The loss was Canby's first since an April 7 setback in Tualatin. Still, the girls figure to finish second or third in the conference, behind Tigard. At 11-3, the team is in a virtual tie with Forest Grove for the second spot.

Those two schools were scheduled to meet on Monday, but rain threatened to postpone the game. The Cougars are also scheduled to host Newberg on Wednesday before wrapping up the regular season at Tualatin on May 12.

Friday, Tigard scored the only run of the game on a double to right center, but centerfielder Shelly Steinke made sure a second runner wouldn't cross when she fired a pinpoint throw to catcher Lindsay Burke.

Unfortunately, Canby didn't have an answer in the last of the ninth. "We actually did better this time around in terms of hitting the ball," Herman said. "We made better contact, with only eight strikeouts compared to 21 the last time we played them."

Steinke led the hitting attack by going 2 for 4 and collecting the team's only two hits of the game.

On defense, Megan Rock was kept busy at second base, assisting with five outs, and Toni Herman had a solid performance at third base, also assisting with five putouts while making a good grab of a popped-up bunt.

On the mound, Barstad struck out 10 Tigers, walked two and gave up four hits. The only run she allowed was earned.

Ironically, runs came in bunches in Canby's other three games last week, as the girls scored 34 times in games against Dallas, McMinnville and Silverton.

On Wednesday, senior pitcher Barstad struck out 10, scattered four hits and walked one in a 9-1 defeat of the Dragons in Dallas.

After getting out of a second-inning jam, the Cougars awoke to score when Lisa Erwert belted an RBI single in the third. They added another two runs an inning later, ignited by consecutive singles by Barstad, Lisa Ash and Burke, then blew things open with a six-run sixth.

Burke wound up 3 for 4 with three RBIs on the day, and Rock and Barstad each contributed two hits.

Dallas' only score came in the sixth inning, when the Dragons put together a single and triple to account for two of their four hits.

It was the same story on Tuesday, as Canby scored five times in the first inning and never looked back, beating McMinnville 13-0 on the road.

Ash started the big inning with a walk. After Erwert singled, a hit by Rock scored both runners. Lisa Allen then reached first on an error, Barstad singled to score Rock, and Tara Cullington reached with a single of her own.

Herman, who would finish 3 for 4 with two RBIs, then delivered yet another hit to score two more.

The Cougar defense was flawless, backing up a combined three-hit performance by sisters Joanna and Sophie Barstad. Together, the siblings combined to strike out 11 batters.

Offensively, Erwert was 2 for 5, Allen 3 for 5 and Cullington 2 for 3 The Cougars also showed no mercy on the bases, stealing eight bases on the afternoon.

Finally, Canby turned the same trick on Silverton on May 1, scoring five times in the opening inning en route to a 12-0 shutout.

Ironically, the Cougars only scored in two innings - they added seven runs in the third - and it was more than enough for the Barstads, who again combined for the victory.

Allen was the big stick at the plate, going 3 for 3 and starting the third-inning rally with a double. Rock also banged a key double in the inning.

All told, the Cougars blasted 12 hits in just five innings of play. And, as a bonus, the CHS defense was nearly flawless, committing only one error. The miscue was actually the result of the team going after the lead runner on a play rather than getting the easy out at first.

Also on defense, Ash started off the game by leaping for a line drive and catching it for the first out. She later made a running catch of a foul ball for the second out, keeping her perfect defensive season intact.

The good news is, the Canby High School boys golf team matched its lowest score of the season. The bad news is, it was only good for a tie for third place.

Taking on the rest of the Pacific-8 Conference last Tuesday at the par-71 Evergreen Golf Course in Silverton, the Cougars fired a 305 total to tie Newberg for third and finish behind both Tualatin (294) and Dallas (302) in the race for a team title.

Fortunately, Canby's placing did little to hurt the team's position in the Pac-8 race.

Heading into this week's district tournament, set for May 8-9 at the OGA Members Course at Tukwila in Woodburn, the Cougars were comfortably in second with 78 points - 14 points better than third-place Dallas.

Only Tualatin, with 92 points, was better off. "We had all five players shoot under 80 and we ended up tied for third," Canby head coach Matt Sprague said of Tuesday's match.

"This just shows how tough our league is. I'm real pleased with how the boys are playing.

As well as they shot this week, they all felt they let some strokes get away and could have done better. That's a good sign that they are not satisfied yet."

Leading the way for the Cougars was Shane Greig, who carded a 75 to edge teammate Colin Tucker by a stroke. Jon Warren and Aaron Smith both finished at 77, and Ryan Gilmour came through with a 78.

Now Canby has turned its attention to the district tournament, where the league's top two state representatives will be determined.

"We are playing well and have as good a chance at districts as any team in the league," Sprague said. "We will have to play our best to get to state, but these kids are capable, and if we can keep the mistakes down to a minimum, we'll be in the hunt."

To add to the importance of district, Gilmour is in position for a first-team all-league selection, and Warren, Greig and Tucker are all competing for second-team all-league spots.

"The competition is very close, and their performance at districts will determine who is chosen. It should be an interesting two days," Sprague said.

Canby's jayvee team also enjoyed a successful season, winning the points race 78-76 over Tualatin despite a fifth-place finish last Monday.

CANBY GIRLS FINISH STRONG: The Canby girls tuned up for district with their strongest showing to date, firing a 382 team score in a par-72 competition Tuesday at Quail Valley Golf Course in Forest Grove.

Led by Emily Reif's 91, the girls beat out Tigard by 16 strokes in the race for second place. Tualatin continued its mastery of the conference by shooting a lowly 373 total.

"Everyone was consistent for us," Canby head coach Joe Morelock said. "This is the way we need to shoot if we want to get to state as a team. The way I see it, it's possible."

To make the cut, the Cougars will have to finish first or second at the Pac-8 district competition, contested Monday and Tuesday at McNary Golf Club in Keizer.

Tualatin is the heavy favorite to repeat as district champion. Canby has consistently finished third this season behind the Timberwolves and Tigard.

Tuesday, Amber Kallstrom (92), Adrienne Giger (98), Angela Carroll (101) and Jean-Marie Peterson (101) all had decent days to help the Cougars beat out the Tigers. Results of the district match will be featured in next week's issue.

Two more school records took a fall on Wednesday, but it wasn't quite enough to carry the Canby High School track and field teams to victory.

McMinnville's boys picked up a win in the meet's final event, the 1,600-meter relay, to edge Canby 76-69 and drop the Cougars to 2-4 in Pacific-8 Conference duals with one to go.

The Grizzly girls, meanwhile, got a four-win performance from Chelsi Williamson en route to a 94-51 victory that also put the CHS girls at 2-4.

On the bright side, the Cougars' Bethanie Evans bettered her own school mark in the pole vault when she cleared 10 feet, 1 inch in placing second.

The boys also established a record - one that was in the books for 15 years - as Todd Wagner soared 43 feet, 5 1/2 inches in the triple jump, exceeding the 1985 standard of Scott Delmore by an inch-and-a-half.

"It was nice to get those marks, and overall the kids performed well under the circumstances," Canby head coach Tom Millbrooke said.

"Our focus of late has been on getting ready for district. Not that we're conceding meets, but our main emphasis is on being in the best possible shape for district.

''For that reason, we had a few kids sit out with minor injuries. The previous two weeks we'd had two meets a week, so some of the kids had come up with shin splints and so forth.''

Canby has one more dual - at Silverton on May 9 - before district unfolds at Tualatin High School May 18-19.

Despite coming up short in the final tally last week, several individuals came through big for the Cougars, most notably in the field events.

To wit: Canby took the top two places in the boys pole vault, as Devin Deller and Richard Walker both cleared 11 feet, and the trio of Kevin Downing (162-4), Kevin Adams (152-6) and Brian Sauvain (146-3) swept the javelin.

Canby was also one-two in the long jump, with Erik Martinez (20-4 1/2) and Wagner (20-3) doing the honors, and teammate Joe Snyder picked up a win in the shot (42-1).

On the track, personal bests were set by Kurt Sommer, winner of the 1,500 (4:12.6), and Eric Logsdon, tops in the 800 (1:58.4). A win also came from John Zagyva in the high hurdles (15.3).

Second-place points came from Wagner in the 100 (11.4), Rob Bolton in the high hurdles (16.2), Aaron Johnson in the discus (120-4), Spencer Porter in the intermediate hurdles (43.8) and Buck Stone in the 3,000 (9:29.5).

Ultimately, with the score 71-69 in McMinnville's favor, the meet came down to the long relay - a race the Grizzlies won relatively easily, 3:39.3 to 3:44.1.

The girls' meet wasn't nearly as close, but a number of CHS athletes picked up wins and/or set personal bests.

Among them were Janeece Blunck, who ran to victory in the 1,500 (5:16.4) while also setting a personal best in taking second in the 3,000 (11:29.2).

Winning the 3,000 race was Jessica Johnston, who also established a PR with a time of 11:17.8.

Canby picked up eight of its points when Chris Beck (2:38.3) and Julie Garcia (2:40.0) finished a respective first and second in the 800.

And while wins didn't come easy, the girls got runner-up placements from Desa Swaim in the long jump (15-11 1/2), Morgan Moody in the javelin (108-10), Kelsey Kraft in the high jump (4-6), Kacy Goettel in the shot put (32-1) and Shannon Woodhead in the discus (93-8).

In addition to this week's meet with Silverton, the Cougars will participate in the novice district meet May 12 in Tigard. It begins at 4 p.m.

IN J.V. ACTION: Canby's boys dominated McMinnville 96-42 while the Grizzly girls edged CHS 60-56.

By Sean Patterson
of the Herald

Canby played what coach Marty Hunter called its best baseball game to date Friday, handing Tigard an 8-1 defeat in a Pacific-8 Conference matchup at Tigard High School.

Pitcher Josh Cushing went the distance on the mound for the visitors, allowing just three hits and striking out six while walking one batter.

Cushing also helped himself at the plate, delivering an RBI double in a three-run third inning that set the tone for the rest of the day.

"We needed a game like this, especially with the playoffs coming up," Canby head coach Marty Hunter said. "It was probably our best all-around game of the year. Josh was dominant on the mound and our defense had just the one error.

''We're definitely coming around as a team. The kids are aware of the fact we're getting down to the end here pretty quick.''

In fact, Canby only had three more games on its schedule going into this week. The Cougars were home for Forest Grove on Monday, they visit Newberg on Wednesday and are home again for Tualatin this Friday.

At 9-5 in league, Canby figures to finish in third place, behind unbeaten Forest Grove (14-0) and second-place Tualatin (10-4). There is a chance Canby can overtake the Timberwolves for second, but the team would have to get some help from either Newberg or McMinnville.

Should they finish third, the Cougars would open the Class 4A playoffs May 23 at the Intermountain League's No. 2 school.

The boys geared up for the stretch run by blasting the Tigers Friday, as Cushing shut down the opposition's bats and Canby exploded for two big innings.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first, the Cougars broke it open two innings later. Garret Miyake singled to open the inning, then Ross Crooks and Cushing laced back-to-back doubles.

An error on the shortstop allowed another run to score, and after Nate Dawson singled, Dustin Peregrin doubled in the final tally.

Canby tacked on four more runs in the seventh on Jake Norquist's two-run single and a couple of costly errors, the first of which allowed Peregrin to score all the way from first on Norquist's hit and the second of which came on a Marcos Quintero ball past the third baseman.

The win came two days after Canby ran into a determined Dallas squad, which scored an 11-3 victory at CHS.

Canby was actually up 3-1 going to the fourth when the Dragons rallied for five runs on six hits and an error, making it 6-3 Dallas.

Canby never threatened after that, while Dallas added a single run in the fifth and four more in the sixth.

Crooks and Fuge each had two hits, and one of Fuge's was a solo home run, but it wasn't enough.

"That was just a case of running into a buzzsaw," Hunter said. "They played very well and we didn't look sharp. We got guys on base every inning - we just couldn't get the clutch hits to score them."

The Cougars opened the week with a 10-3 blowout of Silverton, as Cushing and Fuge each had three hits and Drew Bayless had a pair.

Cushing's two-run double off the wall highlighted a four-run third inning, turning a close game into a 7-2 affair. It was all the support pitcher Sean Criss needed, as he went four innings for the win.