Crater, Eagle Point dominate doubleheaders to hold steady in tight Midwestern League title chase

With a goal within sight, North Medford’s softball team seized its opportunity Friday night and got the job done in securing the program’s first Southwest Conference championship since 2021.

The fourth-ranked Black Tornado opened their final SWC doubleheader of the season with an 11-5 victory over Willamette in Eugene, then picked up a pivotal 6-3 win in Game 2 to clinch the conference title outright.

The outcome of Game 1 was hanging in the balance until North Medford used an eight-run eruption in the top of the sixth inning to rally and create an 11-4 cushion.

Double trouble created chaos for the Wolverines, as Julia Edwards opened the sixth with a double for North Medford (20-5, 15-3 SWC). After a sacrifice by Sadie Hall, Nos. 8-9 hitters Kaelynn Russell-Tyler and Jaycee Russell-Tyler, respectively, collected doubles of their own to turn the lineup over.

After a single by Maili Hamlin, the floodgates began to open as Maleyah Thoele followed with a two-run triple and Natalie Tlascala had an RBI single.

Becca Tuivanu and Riley Smalley eventually came around to score as well, with Hall picking up an RBI single in her second time to the plate in the sixth.

Malia Baker, who came on to pitch for Edwards in the bottom of the fifth inning, held Willamette down with two hits and one run allowed in the final 2 ⅓ innings to pick up the pitching victory.

Baker came back in Game 2 to also earn the win, allowing six hits and two earned runs with six strikeouts and three walks in a complete-game effort.

Thoele enjoyed a big evening as she combined to go 3-for-7 with three runs and three RBIs in the twin bill for the Black Tornado, and Hamlin went 5-for-8 with four runs and one RBI.

Tlascala, Edwards and Caileigh Raines each had two hits and one RBI in Game 2, with North outscoring Willamette by a 4-1 margin over the final three innings to complete the sweep.

CRATER 13-15, ASHLAND 1-6: At Ashland, Crater collected 24 hits in 12 innings played as the Comets rolled to a Midwestern League sweep and maintained a one-game lead on Thurston for the conference crown entering a final three-game series this week against Springfield.

The No. 4-ranked Comets (16-8, 13-2 MWL) combined for five home runs and 11 extra-base hits overall against Ashland (8-13, 6-9), with Gracey Thomas clearing the fence twice in Game 2 to highlight a 3-for-3 outing that included five RBIs and two runs scored.

Khloe Cochran went 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in the opener, while Amanda Hammer was 2-for-3 with two runs and one RBI.

Abbey Canfield and Tianna Kazakoff combined to allow three hits by Ashland, although two were doubles by Bella Cureno and Meah Montgomery.

Hayden Kenyon went 2-for-2 with a double and a solo home run in Game 2 for Crater, while Ady Thayer hit a home run to finish 2-for-4 with three runs and three RBIs.

Martina Moral homered in the nightcap for the Grizzlies.

EAGLE POINT 13-12, CHURCHILL 6-1: At Eagle Point, seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning helped propel Eagle Point to victory in the opening game of a Midwestern League doubleheader sweep.

Kady Ledbetter and Reese Zirkle each plated a pair of runs in the pivotal frame, and the Eagles (14-9, 11-4 MWL) got RBI efforts from Kady Lindstrom, Allison Martin and Emalee Logan.

Logan finished 2-for-3 with one run and four RBIs, while Martin was 2-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs.

In Game 2, Logan pitched a three-hitter and got plenty of offensive support after Sarah Estes was 2-for-3 with one run and three RBIs and EP got a pair of RBIs apiece from Lindstrom and Ledbetter.

The Eagles stand third in the MWL standings, two games behind Crater and one back of Thurston, entering their final series against North Eugene.

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