Cascade Christian's C.J. Bonner, shown last year waiting for a tagout at second base, went 4-for-5 with three runs and six RBIs against LaPine Thursday in Medford. (RVT file)

North Medford scores another dramatic win at Mountainside tourney; Phoenix sweeps at Stangs Stampede

C.J. Bonner waited until the late-night hours and certainly put on a show Thursday night at Lithia & Driveway Fields, with Bonner collecting six RBIs as Cascade Christian opened the Challenger Classic with a 17-3 romp over LaPine.

One of only three seniors on the roster this spring for Cascade Christian, Bonner wasted little time in setting the tone for his team, following a leadoff double by sophomore Bryson Walker with an RBI double of his own.

Bonner added another RBI double in the second inning, laced a three-run triple in the third inning and came up with an RBI single in the fifth to account for a 4-for-5 outing that included three runs scored of his own.

Sophomore Wyatt Hurley later added a two-run single to highlight a seven-run fifth inning that essentially sealed the win for the Challengers (2-1), ranked No. 9 in the 3A preseason baseball coaches poll.

Hurley finished with three RBIs, while Walker scored four times after also drawing three walks. Grady Sickler went 1-for-3 with one run and two RBIs, and freshman Andy Alvarez helped turn over the lineup by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk in the No. 7 spot of the lineup.

All of this offensive firepower was plenty enough for Sickler, who pitched all five innings and struck out 11 with four walks and no hits allowed.

LaPine (3-1), which was in the receiving votes portion of the 3A poll, hindered its own cause with six errors to drop its first game of the season.

Next up for Cascade Christian in its own tournament will be a showdown at 6 p.m. Friday against Banks, which is ranked No. 3 at the 3A level. The Braves lost in the state semifinals last season after topping the Challengers in the 2023 state championship game.

NORTH MEDFORD 4, GLENCOE 3: At Beaverton, North Medford kept up its dramatic — and successful — play at the Mountainside Tournament, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh inning during the Tornado’s final at-bat to edge Glencoe.

Senior Austin Warren got things going from the No. 9 hole with a leadoff walk in the seventh, and then a sacrifice bunt by Easton Curtis led to a two-base error to put runners and second and third base. Dominic Daffron followed with a single up the middle on an 0-2 pitch to plate the go-ahead and winning runs for North Medford (4-1).

Daffron finished 2-for-4 and Brady Patterson was 2-for-2 in the Tornado’s six-hit attack.

Sophomore Merrick Jonasson came on in the final two innings to close out Glencoe with a pair of scoreless innings in relief to earn the win. Jonasson didn’t allow a hit but did walk three with one strikeout.

PHOENIX 3, NORTH VALLEY 1: At Murphy, Sam Shilts went the distance on the mound, striking out six with one walk and five hits allowed in a 97-pitch effort for Phoenix in the Stangs Stampede at Hidden Valley.

Luke Jennings and Lucca Petrone each went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and a run scored for Phoenix (1-2), which built a 3-0 lead through three innings. Petrone later made a diving catch in left-center field in the fifth inning to deny a scoring opportunity for North Valley.

Softball

REED 12, CRATER 2, 5 inn.: At Sparks, Nev., Crater’s introduction to the Reed Tournament was not a welcoming one against the host team, with the Comets (0-3) suffering their first loss of the three-day event in the mercy rule affair.

PHOENIX 3, COTTAGE GROVE 2: At Murphy, Carsyn Sousa went 3-for-4 and plated the winning run in the seventh inning on a walk-off hit to spur Phoenix in the Stangs Stampede at Hidden Valley.

Freshman Rylei Rivero pitched four innings after earning the start for the Pirates (1-0), allowing one earned run without walking a batter. Keelie Woodside pitched three scoreless innings to earn the win in relief with no walks.

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