South Medford scores sweep, while North Medford and Eagle Point split on Day 1 of softball tournament

After suffering a narrow loss to open the North Medford Spring Break Invitational on Monday afternoon, the host Black Tornado responded in a big way later that night with an emphatic win over the leading softball team at the Class 5A level to split opening-day play at Lithia & Driveway Fields.

The day began with exactly the type of game for which the tournament was intended, with a talented crew from Foothill High in California coming to town to earn a 3-1 victory over eighth-ranked North Medford in a tight contest throughout.

Sofia Nichols supplied a second-inning home run to give Foothill the advantage, but the Black Tornado battled back to tie the contest in the fourth when Maleyah Thoele reached on a bunt single and was later brought home by Becca Tuivana.

A bases-loaded groundout by Addyson Cheney put the visitors ahead for good in the sixth inning, and Elisea Wiegand added the final touch with a solo home run in the seventh.

Wiegand was also the driving force behind a slower day at the plate than usual for North Medford, with the pitcher striking out 15 and allowing only three hits with two walks in a stellar outing.

In the second game of the day, however, the Black Tornado was back to its bat-wielding ways against Lebanon for a 20-3 win in six innings. The Warriors are ranked No. 1 in the preseason 5A coaches poll.

North Medford carried a comfortable lead through five innings before breaking the game wide open with an 11-run surge in the top of the sixth inning.

Thoele and Tuivana each collected three hits to lead a 17-hit effort by the Black Tornado, with both scoring twice while Thoele had two RBIs and Tuivana drove in one.

Maili Hamlin went 2-for-3 with three runs and one RBI, Natalie Tlascala was 2-for-5 with two runs and three RBIs and Carmen Lozano came off the bench to go 2-for-2 with a career-high five RBIs.

Lozano supplied a two-run single in her first at-bat in the sixth inning, then when her turn came around again in the frame, the junior smacked a three-run double.

Julia Edwards also had two hits and scored twice, and Caileigh Raines went 2-for-3 with one run scored.

Malia Baker scattered eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk to slow Lebanon.

SOUTH MEDFORD SWEEPS: South Medford senior pitcher Jordan Knutson combined for 25 strikeouts to help power the Panthers to a Day 1 sweep at the North Medford Spring Break Invitational, posting a 16-8 win over Nelson before shutting down Century for a 6-0 triumph.

Knutson also went 4-for-5 and hit for the cycle against Nelson, then later added a double and an RBI against Century in a complete effort for the Panthers (3-0).

Shelby Hillyer drove in three runs in the first game and was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Hanna Turpin went 4-for-5 with four runs and three RBIs and Jayden Cote went 2-for-4 with one run in each game.

Danni Ostvik was 3-for-3 with a triple and one run, and Addi Kaufman went 2-for-3 with one run and one RBI.

EAGLE POINT SPLITS: Eagle Point won the hitting battle in both games Monday but had only victory to show for it when La Salle Prep topped the Eagles 8-4 in the opener and before EP returned for an 11-4 win over Del Norte.

The Eagles (1-3) held a 10-9 advantage in hits over La Salle Prep, and outhit Del Norte 11-8 in the tournament openers at L&D Fields.

Sarah Estes combined to go 5-for-8 with five runs and one RBI, and Kady Ledbetter gave Eagle Point a boost by going 2-for-3 with one run and four RBIs against Del Norte.

Allison Martin was 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs in the nightcap after supplying an RBI hit in the opener.

Baseball

LA SALLE PREP 6, SOUTH MEDFORD 5: At Eagle Point, South Medford’s comeback bid fell short in the Crater Spring Break Tournament, with the Panthers scoring three runs in the sixth inning to pull within a run but unable to keep it going at Eagle Point High.

Jedi Robertson struck out six with one walk and 11 hits allowed in a complete-game pitching effort for South Medford (1-2).

Tristan Mallari, Jake Lewis and Evan Rhoden each went 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Owen Leavens went 3-for-3 with one run. Rhoden joined Easton Douglas and Leavens with RBI efforts for the Panthers, who trailed 6-2 through four innings.

NORTH MEDFORD 3, CENTURY 1: At Beaverton, Colton Miller went 3-for-4 with one run and North Medford used RBI efforts from Ben Morgan and Austin Warren to prevail in the Mountainside Tournament opener.

Macen Baker allowed three hits and one unearned runs in five innings pitched for the Black Tornado (2-0), striking out seven with three walks before giving way to scoreless relief innings by Merrick Jonasson and Calvin Rayburn.

Reach sports editor Kris Henry at khenry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035