Spring Break Invitational sweep has South Medford racing into SWC play
Published 6:39 pm Wednesday, March 26, 2025
South Medford senior Shelby Hillyer rounds first base for a double against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford senior pitcher Jordan Knutson delivers a strike against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford senior shortstop Hanna Turpin makes a play for an inning-ending out against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford junior Aubree Joe connects for a single against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
South Medford freshman third baseman Addison Kaufman makes a play for an out against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
Undefeated Panthers show mettle in narrow win over Barlow, open league with another test Tuesday at North Medford
Seeing her team pushed to the limit and respond in positive fashion, South Medford softball coach Miranda Gillaspie couldn’t help but be fired up Tuesday at Lithia & Driveway Fields.
Then again, when it comes to competitive softball, Gillaspie’s engines seem to always be revved up.
And she has plenty to be positive about considering the way the Panthers have started this spring off, sweeping all four contests in the North Medford Spring Break Invitational after a strong road win at Glencoe.
The best win may have come under the Tuesday afternoon sun, with South Medford using one clutch inning at the plate and a host of steady defense — anchored by senior pitcher Jordan Knutson — to secure a 2-1 victory over Barlow in a well-played contest by both sides.
South Medford senior pitcher Jordan Knutson delivers a strike against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
“We have five seniors, and if we can just kind of follow that leadership and get after it — knowing it’s just one game at a time — you just look around at each other at some point and you’ve got to believe, hey, we can do this,” said Gillaspie in looking ahead to the 2025 campaign. “So it’s exciting. I mean, I’ve got goosebumps. I’m ready, this is awesome.”
South Medford (5-0) opens the Southwest Conference season at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at North Medford (3-2) in what should be another big test, as well as the introduction to what stands to be a tight race for the conference crown.
Being able to work the kinks out in the annual Spring Break tournament, which routinely brings in some of the top teams throughout the state, brought nothing but positives for Gillaspie and company.
“This is what you asked for; this is why we stay home and play here,” Gillaspie said after edging Barlow. “And, again, it leads up to league play because this is what it’s about. To get the momentum going and get a little bit of confidence at the plate — be in certain situations and see some things that we need to see — is important. We have some young kids, so to see some of the teaching moments that we have to see, I’d rather see it now than Tuesday or next Saturday, just to be able to have those conversations now.”
Knutson entered Tuesday’s matchup with Barlow having posted 35 strikeouts in the first three games, and did nothing to slow that momentum. Knutson struck out 11 and walked three, scattering five hits to keep the Bruins at bay.
“Their team was really good,” said the senior right-hander. “It was a really intense game.”
Barlow (4-2) put up its lone run in the top of the seventh inning, getting a leadoff double from Evie West on a ball that fell just out of the grasp of diving sophomore left fielder Luna Burns to create the scoring opportunity.
South Medford senior shortstop Hanna Turpin makes a play for an inning-ending out against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
Knutson followed with a strikeout and found some bad luck moments later when she handcuffed Lyla Ostrowski into a spinning comebacker, but saw the ball continue to escape the pitcher as she closed in on it.
With runners on the corners, Knutson recorded another strikeout before Pehtyn Hart brought home West with an RBI single to left field on a 2-2 pitch.
Whatever drama there may have been was shrugged off by Knutson, who coolly froze Sydney Trapp for a called third strike to end the game.
After not being able to pitch much last year, the fourth-year varsity performer later struck out 12 with one walk and three hits allowed in a 6-0 win over West Albany.
The Panthers enter league play having outscored their opponents 34-10, with Knutson deserving a lot of that credit.
“Jordan has been on her game and, I mean, it’s not a surprise,” said Gillaspie. “This kid deserves to have a solid season. I know it’s early, but nobody’s going to outwork that kid — and that’s what I love — and then she’s just come out on fire.”
“I couldn’t say enough great things about her,” added the coach. “She’s hitting the ball, and she’s just a flat-out competitor. You know she’s going to compete to the very last pitch. Even though they have a run, whatever, you know that she’s out there and she’s grinding, so I love that kid. Just to see her come out and excel, she’s been waiting for this moment.”
For her part, Knutson said there’s no real mystery on why she’s been able to enjoy such early success.
South Medford freshman third baseman Addison Kaufman makes a play for an out against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
“I just think putting in the time is the biggest factor for me,” she said. “And I think that just having my team as a backup and having such a supportive group has made me feel more confident in myself. I just love these girls. Everyone’s so supportive of each other, and I think everyone worked as a group to win this game (against Barlow).”
Knutson was quick to point out her defensive support, as well, with senior shortstop Hanna Turpin ending a Bruins threat with a smooth inning-ending delivery in the second frame and senior second baseman Sydney Butterfield ranging to her right to snag a liner to squash another jam in the sixth.
“I’m very thankful for my defense, they made some amazing plays and amazing catches,” said Knutson. “I wouldn’t be here without them.”
All the offensive support the Panthers would need came in the bottom of the second inning, when junior Aubree Joe drove a pitch into left field for a one-out single and senior Shelby Hillyer smoked a ball to the left-center fence for a double.
“Shelby’s been on fire,” said Gillaspie. “She just got on top of that thing and just got all over it.”
“Overall, we have been swinging the bats pretty well,” she added. “We had to adjust a little bit on (Barlow senior Charliann Renner) and strike zone-wise because she threw it a little bit more up than we’ve seen, but it’s good to see the variety right now.”
Even better to see for South was, one batter later with two outs, freshman Addison Kaufman ripped a two-run single to right field for a 2-0 advantage.
South Medford junior Aubree Joe connects for a single against Barlow at Lithia & Driveway Fields Tuesday in Medford. (Andy Atkinson / for the Rogue Valley Times)
“For her to step up like that in that position, it’s exciting to see,” said Gillaspie. “Those are the ones that we have to have right there. You need to be able to go one through nine, you can’t just rely on your top couple kids every single time. You need to know that if you need someone to step up and you need to get some kids on, they’ll battle to get on. In the game of softball, sometimes all it takes is one hit, and then you’ve got to hold them.”
However it happens, Knutson said she hopes this early stretch is just the start of something special for the Panthers, who lost in the second round of the state playoffs last year following a run to the semifinals in 2023 and SWC championship in 2022
“We want to win,” said Knutson. “I think we are such a good group, and we’re working so well together, I can see a chance at a conference (title) in our future, and I also see us getting pretty far in state. I think if we just keep our bats consistent, we’ll stay in the games.”
Reach sports editor Kris Henry at khenry@rv-times.com or 458-488-2035
