During the second to last week of the regular season, senior Gracie Barstad helped carry the Canby softball team to three crucial victories, which included a walk-off three-run home run in Friday’s 4-2 victory over Tualatin at Canby High School.

After a leadoff single by Courtney Reid and a walk by Kattie Hoffman, Barstad laced a home run over the left-field fence as her teammates waited to mob her at home plate.

“I knew (the Tualatin pitcher) was going to give me a good pitch,” Barstad said. “It was two balls so I was expecting it and I don’t know. I was just going for the base hit.”

It capped a huge week for Barstad, who signed on to play at Western Michigan University next season. Last week, Barstad compiled six hits, including three home runs, and 10 RBIs. She belted a home run in the Cougars’ 6-1 win over Newberg on April 30 and a grand slam in a 6-4 win over defending 6A state champion Forest Grove on April 28.

“Gracie’s just been stellar,” Canby coach Clare Burnum said. “She’s been hot. She’s had six hits this week, three of them were home runs, and one or two were a double. Her slugging percentage this week just has been ridiculous, and her leadership defensively is playing a huge role in our success.”

Burnum said three home runs in one week is so rare in high school softball.

“That speaks for the kind of player that Gracie is,” she said. “The kind of ability she has is a huge impact player for any program.”

Canby junior pitcher Jen McDonnell picked up the victory, going seven innings with eight strikeouts.

More importantly for Canby (14-8 overall, 7-5 Pacific), its state-playoff fate remains in its hands this week for the final three games of the regular season. Canby can clinch a state playoff berth with either one win or a loss by Tigard this week.

With McMinnville (21-1, 12-0) having sewn up the conference title, Canby can earn the conference’s No. 2 seed if it wins all three games this week.

The Cougars already hold the tiebreaker over Tualatin (9-12, 6-6), and can hold the tiebreaker over Forest Grove with a win over the Vikings on Friday at home at 5 p.m.

The difference between a No. 2 and No. 3 seed means either hosting a first-round state-playoff game or going on the road starting May 16.

“(Last week) has been real big for us with the wins,” Burnum said. “It was important that we got the wins, that way we can control our own fate instead of hoping someone beats someone then loses to someone to hope to get into the playoffs. The girls understand it.

“I feel like the two (seed) is very attainable, and I think it’s a good seed. I’m just going to be happy to make it in. I feel like our league has prepared us for state.”

On Monday, Canby hosts McMinnville before traveling to Tigard on Wednesday. Game times are 5 p.m.