Bentz Insurance provides premier coverage for farm, ranch, business, home, and auto.
Serving clients throughout the western Treasure Valley including Ontario, Burns, Vale, Nyssa, Jordan Valley, Baker, John Day, as well as western Idaho. Give us a call at 541-473-4210
EUGENE – The Lakeview Honkers softball team entered the 2A/1A championship game versus the top ranked Grant Union/Prairie City Prospectors as the seventh ranked team according to the OSAA. The Honkers had never won a state softball title and earlier in the season had dropped both games of a double header to the Prospectors on April 20.
None of that mattered as the Lady Honkers claimed their first state softball championship with a 5-3 victory on Friday, June 3 at Jane Sanders Stadium on the campus of University of Oregon in Eugene.
The Prospectors grabbed the first run of the game, scoring in the first inning when Riley Robertson singled to right field, driving in Addy Northway.
Lakeview waited until the top of the third inning to get on the board, scoring two runs. The first came Annikah Tacchini put up a sacrifice fly to push in Eliane Hansen. The second run of the inning occurred as on a throwing error and Shullanberger scored from third base.
The Honkers added an additional run in the fifth inning when Jaila Jackson doubled to center field, driving in pinch runner Skyla Samples.
Grant Union/Prairie City tightened the game up in the bottom of the sixth after Savannah Waterston tripled to start off the inning. A single to center by Robertson gave her credit for the RBI as Waterston easily crossed home plate.
The seventh proved to be the lockdown for the Honkers. After a Prospector error and a wild pitche, Lakeview’s Tyler McNeley scored from third base off a sacrifice fly by Jackson. The Honkers added an insurance score Raven McLain’s bunt allowed a score by Tacchini.
The bottom of the seventh found the Prospectors add one run, but come up short after a strikeout for the third out.
Tyler McNeley pitched the entire game for Lakeview, striking out 10 Prospectors and allowing only a single walk. For Grant Union/Prairie City, Drew Williams struck out 15 Lakeview batters, adding only a single walk but did put three Honkers on base by hit pitches. For her actions, Williams picked up Player of the Game for Grant Union/Prairie City.
A major difference in the game was errors with the Honkers committing only one while the Prospectors combined for six errors in the game.
For Lakeview, Jackson was named Player of the Game after picking up two RBIs.
Although this is the first state softball title for Lakeview, 2A/1A teams should take notice only a single senior, Emily Philibert, will depart the team. The remainder of the Honker squad is back on the field next spring to defend their state title.
The Prospectors end the season with a 26-2 record and runners up to a state title. Five Grant Union/Prairie City players were on the field for the final time on Thursday as seniors.
Lakeview 002 010 2 – 5 8 1
Grant Union 100 001 1 – 3 9 6
Before you go! If you would like to support continuing and expanded high school sports coverage in eastern Oregon for as little as $1 a month click below! Thank you!
