Elmira head baseball coach Wolgamott told me that he hoped his team could finish .500 after a disastrous 0-10 league mark last year. A bus accident at the beginning of the year which injured two vital players for the season did nothing to instill hope for that possibility. However, something strange happened on the way to predictions and prognostications. After sweeping Siuslaw 5-2 and 10-0, the unlikely cellar dwellers of the previous season see themselves in first place in the 4A Sky-Em league, and ranked 8th overall in 4A with a sparkling 11-2 record and an unblemished 5-0 mark in the league approaching the half way point.
Bryson Estrella and Hunter Stockinger combined to hold down the Vikings to two runs on three hits in the opener. Elmira offense was aided by 5 Siuslaw error which allowed the Falcons to muscle out to a 4-0 lead before the Vikings could even muster an offense against Estrella and Stockinger who combined for 11 strikeouts in the game.
It was not a one man show in the nightcap but the Falcons only needed one pitcher.
Ayden Wolgamott took the hill for Elmira and twirled a masterful, 2 hit, shortened shut out of the Vikings. Wolgamott's stat line boasted a gaudy 13 strikeouts in 5 innings pitched against a single walk.
Only leading 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth, the Falcons decided they wanted to give Wolgamott the rest of the night off for his performance. Elmira brokered 5 hits, 4 walks, an error and a hit batter to ring up an 8 spot in the bottom of the fifth to end a shortened game. Wolgamott helped his own cause scoring three times on the day. Elmira hitting was led by Cobyn Herbert who got two hits and an RBI sacrifice fly.
Now begins the time to measure Elmira sudden thrust into 4A relevance. Because of weather schedule changes in the first half of the league schedule, the Falcons must play the next 8 games on the road including 3 double headers including the crucial meeting with Junction City which could conceivably be for the Sky-Em Championship. They finish with a home double header with Marist. A victory this Tuesday April 23 at Marist will go a long way towards any playoff aspirations the Falcons are nurturing right now.
Tuesday, April 23, 2019
Gabica Rolls to First Win of Doubleheader; Falcons Almost Stumble in Nightcap
Imari Gabica was splendid as an off the bench starter scattering 2 hits and striking out 7 as Elmira's softball team cruised to an easy 13-1 victory over lowly Siuslaw, Thursday April 11 at Elmira High School. Gabica received more than enough help as Carly Grossmiller, from her 9 spot in the order, rang up 4 hits and 4 RBI's as the Lady Falcons raised their record to 10-4 on the season
The second game however was a completely different story as star pitcher Maranda Hanson found herself in jam after jam to the Lady Vikings as Siuslaw was spotted a 5-run lead after 3 and half innings. However, Siuslaw pitching found the going no smoother than Hanson did. Vikings' pitcher Nina Aaron was blistered by Falcon hitters as they rocked the junior hurler for 17 hits including Ashley Feltz's fifth home run of the season. Feltz was 3 for 5 in the game with 3 RBIs. It spelled a raucous and unlikely 11-10 squeaker over Siuslaw to sweep the double header.
Despite rallying for 6 runs in the fourth and fifth innings, Siuslaw took the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Hanson walked the lead off batter, the pitcher's nemesis. Pinch runner Angela Bartlett advanced to third on a fielder's choice and an error by Feltz. Lita Figueroa cashed in the walk and error by slapping a single into center field to tie the game at 10.
The Lady Falcons rallied again in the bottom of the inning. Sarah Stout crushed a double into the center field alley, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Deja Rhodes singled into center. Hanson then retired the side in order to set all things right again.
Still it was the Elmira bats that carried the day. The 24 runs scored in the double header made the Lady Falcons the sixth highest scoring team in 4A so far this season. The road ahead does not get easier. Up next for 11-4 Elmira is a road test against sixth ranked Marist Catholic. A victory would thrust Elmira into the playoff conversation in a visceral way with a 4 more games with Marist and league leader Junction city; two double headers that will be played here at Elmira High School. That is if the Lady Falcons can avoid stubbing their toes against the lower tiered teams in the second half of league play.
The second game however was a completely different story as star pitcher Maranda Hanson found herself in jam after jam to the Lady Vikings as Siuslaw was spotted a 5-run lead after 3 and half innings. However, Siuslaw pitching found the going no smoother than Hanson did. Vikings' pitcher Nina Aaron was blistered by Falcon hitters as they rocked the junior hurler for 17 hits including Ashley Feltz's fifth home run of the season. Feltz was 3 for 5 in the game with 3 RBIs. It spelled a raucous and unlikely 11-10 squeaker over Siuslaw to sweep the double header.
Despite rallying for 6 runs in the fourth and fifth innings, Siuslaw took the lead in the top of the sixth inning when Hanson walked the lead off batter, the pitcher's nemesis. Pinch runner Angela Bartlett advanced to third on a fielder's choice and an error by Feltz. Lita Figueroa cashed in the walk and error by slapping a single into center field to tie the game at 10.
The Lady Falcons rallied again in the bottom of the inning. Sarah Stout crushed a double into the center field alley, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored when Deja Rhodes singled into center. Hanson then retired the side in order to set all things right again.
Still it was the Elmira bats that carried the day. The 24 runs scored in the double header made the Lady Falcons the sixth highest scoring team in 4A so far this season. The road ahead does not get easier. Up next for 11-4 Elmira is a road test against sixth ranked Marist Catholic. A victory would thrust Elmira into the playoff conversation in a visceral way with a 4 more games with Marist and league leader Junction city; two double headers that will be played here at Elmira High School. That is if the Lady Falcons can avoid stubbing their toes against the lower tiered teams in the second half of league play.
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Walk Off Win Over Marshfield is Something to Admire
Jacob Admire hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth inning scoring Cobyn Herbert with the winning run and the Falcons baseball team came up with a dramatic walk off 3-2 victory over Marshfield Tuesday April 16 at Elmira High School.
Admire's dramatics were set up after Herbert crushed a screaming double into right center field and then took third on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Feltz.
It was a challenging game for Falcon pitchers who always seemed to be pitching out of some sort of jam. The Pirates had base runners in every inning except the second and fifth.
At the plate, the game seemed just as precarious. Gavin Parker staked the Falcons to an early lead, taking advantage of a Pirate error to single in Ayden Wolgamott for a 1-0 lead. Elmira pushed the lead to 2-0 when Wolgamott doubled in Admire, who had singled in front of him.
Tyler Feltz walk on the tight-rope finally gave way in the sixth inning when the Pirates strung together a walk and 2 singles to score to in the stanza. Both teams... seemingly exhausted... were able to muster any offense against the other until Admire's heroics in the bottom of the ninth.
The win was Elmira's sixth straight, raising their record to 9-2 (3-0) in the 4A Sky-Em going into a double header with Siuslaw on Thursday.
Admire's dramatics were set up after Herbert crushed a screaming double into right center field and then took third on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Feltz.
It was a challenging game for Falcon pitchers who always seemed to be pitching out of some sort of jam. The Pirates had base runners in every inning except the second and fifth.
At the plate, the game seemed just as precarious. Gavin Parker staked the Falcons to an early lead, taking advantage of a Pirate error to single in Ayden Wolgamott for a 1-0 lead. Elmira pushed the lead to 2-0 when Wolgamott doubled in Admire, who had singled in front of him.
Tyler Feltz walk on the tight-rope finally gave way in the sixth inning when the Pirates strung together a walk and 2 singles to score to in the stanza. Both teams... seemingly exhausted... were able to muster any offense against the other until Admire's heroics in the bottom of the ninth.
The win was Elmira's sixth straight, raising their record to 9-2 (3-0) in the 4A Sky-Em going into a double header with Siuslaw on Thursday.
Boys Lead the Way at the Elmira Relays
The Falcons boys Dominated 4 relay events and placed first or second 8 times in field events as they won the overall team competition at the Elmira Relays Saturday, April 13 at Elmira High School.
Meanwhile the Falcons girls team finished a distant second behind meet winner Philomath Despite placing first in four events. Kennady Lainge led the girls, winning the triple jump with a mark of
32-06.5 as well as being a part of the first place 4x120 shuttle hurdles team, with Claire Head, Page Reichenberger and Lexie Geiger. The Falcons won the relay with at time of 1:17.42. Geiger also placed first in the High Jump with a leap of 4-10. Sydney Green won the long jump competition with a leap of 13-10.5.
The Falcon boys were peerless hosts in the relays. With Brady Nagel anchoring the 4x100 and the 4x200 runs and Riley Chambers Anchoring the Varsity DMR and 4x100 Shuttle Hurdle Relays, Elmira swept 4 relays events. Desmond Wilson, Colton Zsiga, Brady Scroggins, Everett Greenwood, Derek Anderson, Brandon Foote, Tyler Henderson, Alex Head, and Josiah Lorenze filled out the winning relay teams.
Lorenze had a spectacular and productive afternoon for the Falcons, not only a part of the winning 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay, but also placed 2nd in the pole vault with a jump of 11-6; second in the high jump and 3rd in the 110m hurdles.
Other winners were Cobyn Herbert in the discus; Maisen Heide in the high jump; Ethan Yost in the long jump and Carlson Fix in the triple jump.
Meanwhile the Falcons girls team finished a distant second behind meet winner Philomath Despite placing first in four events. Kennady Lainge led the girls, winning the triple jump with a mark of
32-06.5 as well as being a part of the first place 4x120 shuttle hurdles team, with Claire Head, Page Reichenberger and Lexie Geiger. The Falcons won the relay with at time of 1:17.42. Geiger also placed first in the High Jump with a leap of 4-10. Sydney Green won the long jump competition with a leap of 13-10.5.
The Falcon boys were peerless hosts in the relays. With Brady Nagel anchoring the 4x100 and the 4x200 runs and Riley Chambers Anchoring the Varsity DMR and 4x100 Shuttle Hurdle Relays, Elmira swept 4 relays events. Desmond Wilson, Colton Zsiga, Brady Scroggins, Everett Greenwood, Derek Anderson, Brandon Foote, Tyler Henderson, Alex Head, and Josiah Lorenze filled out the winning relay teams.
Lorenze had a spectacular and productive afternoon for the Falcons, not only a part of the winning 4x100 shuttle hurdle relay, but also placed 2nd in the pole vault with a jump of 11-6; second in the high jump and 3rd in the 110m hurdles.
Other winners were Cobyn Herbert in the discus; Maisen Heide in the high jump; Ethan Yost in the long jump and Carlson Fix in the triple jump.
Lady Falcons Maul Marshfield then Get Thumped by 6th Ranked Sweet Home
Elmira's softball team extended their win streak to three games with a third consecutive 5 inning decision, this one a workmanlike 12-2 victory over visiting Marshfield. Unlike the previous two games, this wasn't decided until a rally in the fifth garnered the 10 run advantage to end the game. Ashley Feltz continued to have the hot bat, hitting a laser beam line drive home run in the first inning and having a sparkling 4 for 4 afternoon with 4 RBIs. Maranda Hanson picked up the victory going the shortened distance giving up 2 runs on 3 hits including a home run to Marshfield's Sterling Williams. The win was Elmira's third straight. In that span the Lady Falcons outscored their opponents 64-4.
However, the quality of opponent stepped up as the Lady Falcons played a make up road game at 6th ranked Sweet Home, Wednesday April 17 at Sweet Home High School. The game, sloppy at times, took on the air of a prize fight, with each team taking turns laying hay makers to each other. There were 7 errors in the game. An additional nuance to the game was a seemingly moving strike zone by the home plate umpire that took pitchers out of their game. Hanson and Sweet Home's Ashtyn Walker, normally strong, strike out pitchers, both found their control inexplicably absent during the game. Both teams pitching combined for nine walks.
Leading 2-1 after one and a half, the Lady Huskies batted around in the bottom of the inning, scoring 5 runs, aided by 2 walks, 2 errors and three singles. Hanson got through the third undamaged which led to the Elmira retaliation in the fourth inning where the Lady Falcons tallied a six spot to tie the game at 7. The big hit was a deep fly ball to center by Hanson who reached on an error by the Sweet Home center fielder scoring two runs. Again, the huge rally was helped by 2 walks and 2 errors.
The Falcons couldn't hold the game however. In the fifth inning, a Hanson mistake cost her. A hit batter came around to score, along with a second run after three singles in the inning to make the score 9-7. Elmira tried to rally in the sixth getting Carly Grossmiller and Ashley Feltz aboard but were shut down when Sarah Stroud went down swinging for the third out. Three more singles in the bottom of the inning for the Lady Huskies added two runs to make it 11-7 and Elmira went quietly in the 7th inning to end the game.
Siuslaw comes to town Thursday April 18 for a double header at Elmira High School.
Monday, April 15, 2019
Falcon's Baseball now 2-0 in League; #10 in 4A
Gone are the dismal memories of a 3-12 season last year. Gone are the recollections of a hopeless 0-10 league record in the 4A Sky-Em Conference in 2018. Even as the Falcons were battling from behind twice during their contest with Cottage Grove, there was never that sense that the game was lost. Rallying twice from deficits as both Bryson Estrella and Koble Peterson found themselves in pitching jams throughout, the Falcons bats erupted in the bottom of the fifth inning. Elmira parlayed 6 hits, a walk and a Cottage Grove error into 7 runs, coming away with a 12-7 Sky-Em league victory over the Lions, Friday April 12 at Elmira High School.
What the game lacked in superlatives, it balanced with grit and determination. Ayden Wolgamott walked 4 times and got a bases clearing double as an example. No home runs, just basic opportunistic baseball, sound hitting as 4 of the 6 hits in the bottom of the fifth were doubles. And while Falcons pitching showed chinks in the armor, Cottage Grove was never able to get out of reach.
Elmira played add on in the bottom of the sixth when Peterson scored on a wild pitch to seal the victory for the Falcons.
The victory moved Elmira to 8-2 (2-0 in league) and a sparkling #10 ranking in 4A. Marshfield and Siuslaw come to Elmira High School this week, Tuesday and Friday respectively. The weather adjustments mean that the Falcons second half of the season will be played almost entirely on the road in the second half of league play.
"I think the kids are starting to realize they can beat anybody in the league if we play the game the right way and limit our mistakes, said Elmira head baseball coach Ryan Wolgamott in an email. "I came into the season hoping we could be a .500 team in league. I believe we can surpass that, even with injuries to Bryce Sawyer and Manny Massengil and Mikey Weaver leaving the team for the remainder of the year for a planned family trip. We’re much younger now than when we started the season, but we’re getting some valuable experience in difficult situations."
What the game lacked in superlatives, it balanced with grit and determination. Ayden Wolgamott walked 4 times and got a bases clearing double as an example. No home runs, just basic opportunistic baseball, sound hitting as 4 of the 6 hits in the bottom of the fifth were doubles. And while Falcons pitching showed chinks in the armor, Cottage Grove was never able to get out of reach.
Elmira played add on in the bottom of the sixth when Peterson scored on a wild pitch to seal the victory for the Falcons.
The victory moved Elmira to 8-2 (2-0 in league) and a sparkling #10 ranking in 4A. Marshfield and Siuslaw come to Elmira High School this week, Tuesday and Friday respectively. The weather adjustments mean that the Falcons second half of the season will be played almost entirely on the road in the second half of league play.
"I think the kids are starting to realize they can beat anybody in the league if we play the game the right way and limit our mistakes, said Elmira head baseball coach Ryan Wolgamott in an email. "I came into the season hoping we could be a .500 team in league. I believe we can surpass that, even with injuries to Bryce Sawyer and Manny Massengil and Mikey Weaver leaving the team for the remainder of the year for a planned family trip. We’re much younger now than when we started the season, but we’re getting some valuable experience in difficult situations."
Falcons Softball Rights the Ship: Cruises against Cottage Grove
They will not be remembered as crucial games the farther they slip into memory, but Elmira's double header victories over Cottage Grove did help put the taste of a two game losing streak to bed. Unleashing 44 hits in two games the Lady Falcon's punished lowly Cottage Grove 26-0 and 26-1 Friday, April 12 at Harrison Middle School in Cottage Grove.
The first game was in hand before the bottom of the first as Elmira scored 12 in the top of the first and 10 in the top of the second. Pitcher Maranda Hanson would not need even 2 of those runs as she mowed through the Lady Lions with a sparkling 10 K, shut out win.
Courtney Haffner was nearly as flawless, pitching the nightcap, as she held Cottage Grove to 1 run on 2 hits. The Lady Falcons scored in every inning of the rout, with Haffner picking up 4 hits and 4 RBIs in support of her pitching. The star of the day at the plate for both games however was Cheyenne White who was a perfect 8 for 8 at the plate with 8 RBIs and homering in both games.
I was pleased with our performance against Cottage Grove," said Elmira Head Softball coach Jamie Boytz in an email. "We have had a tendency to play down to the level of our competition, and Friday we played to our potential. It was good to see the girls getting more confident in the batters box."
The victories raised Elmira's record to 8-3 (2-1 in the 4A Sky-Em Conference). With three home games against winnable opponents, the Lady Falcons can firmly ensconce themselves as a contender in the league moving into contests against highly ranked Marist and Junction City. First up though is 4-7 Marshfield Tuesday afternoon here at Elmira High School.
The first game was in hand before the bottom of the first as Elmira scored 12 in the top of the first and 10 in the top of the second. Pitcher Maranda Hanson would not need even 2 of those runs as she mowed through the Lady Lions with a sparkling 10 K, shut out win.
Courtney Haffner was nearly as flawless, pitching the nightcap, as she held Cottage Grove to 1 run on 2 hits. The Lady Falcons scored in every inning of the rout, with Haffner picking up 4 hits and 4 RBIs in support of her pitching. The star of the day at the plate for both games however was Cheyenne White who was a perfect 8 for 8 at the plate with 8 RBIs and homering in both games.
I was pleased with our performance against Cottage Grove," said Elmira Head Softball coach Jamie Boytz in an email. "We have had a tendency to play down to the level of our competition, and Friday we played to our potential. It was good to see the girls getting more confident in the batters box."
The victories raised Elmira's record to 8-3 (2-1 in the 4A Sky-Em Conference). With three home games against winnable opponents, the Lady Falcons can firmly ensconce themselves as a contender in the league moving into contests against highly ranked Marist and Junction City. First up though is 4-7 Marshfield Tuesday afternoon here at Elmira High School.
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