Gazette-Times

High school notes

PHILOMATH — An appointment in the postseason awaits the winner of today’s Val-Co League baseball game between Central High and Philomath.

While the visiting Panthers have already won the season series, Philomath can snare the Val-Co’s No. 2 seed in the 4A state playoffs with a victory.

The Warriors (16-7, 7-4) are the only team in the league to defeat champion Newport. They also hold a 3-0 advantage over both Taft and Sweet Home.

Central lost on April 1 to Sweet Home and never defeated Newport in three games, leaving the Panthers with the same league record as PHS entering the season finale.

As a result, the winner of today’s game, which starts at 4:30 p.m. at PHS, punches its ticket to Eastern Oregon for the second-round of the 4A playoffs next Tuesday.

Ontario (19-7, 8-4), the second-place team in the Greater Oregon League behind La Grande, will host the contest.

Field dedication

Philomath’s baseball field will be renamed Stephenson Field before today’s game with Central.

A ceremony will be held around 4 p.m. to honor outgoing coach Terry Stephenson, who is retiring from the dugout after 21 seasons guiding the Warriors.

Stephenson coached the Warriors to the state championship game in 2000 and Philomath won nine Val-Co League titles, including seven straight.

Waiting to play

Crescent Valley will play at Mountain View in the first-round of the 5A baseball playoffs on Friday.

The No. 4 seed from the Mid-Willamette Conference, the Raiders visit the third-place team from the Intermountain Conference. The winner will advance to Portland Interscholastic League champion Cleveland in the second round on May 20.

Two-time MWC champion Corvallis, ranked third in the state, remains idle until the second-round, when the Spartans will host Midwestern League runner-up North Eugene.

The Highlanders finished second to Thurston in the MWL.

Corvallis has not lost a MWC series in the conference’s two years in existence.

In 3A, third-ranked Santiam Christian must wait until May 20 to face the No. 4 seed from the West Valley League.

Alsea, the second-place team from 2A/1A Special District 3, will play at Salem Academy in the second round on May 20.

Softball playoffs

Crescent Valley will host Sherwood on Friday in the first-round of the 5A playoffs.

The Raiders (17-9, 15-6) finished third in the MWC and lost the final game of the regular season to Lebanon, which secured the No. 4 seed with that win.

Sherwood (12-14, 10-11) scored a 4-2 victory over St. Helens on Friday to claim fourth in the Northwest Oregon Conference.

PacWest Conference champion Santiam Christian (17-4, 11-1) is idle until hosting the West Valley No. 4 team on May 20 in the first round.

The Eagles won the conference title on the last day of the season when Regis upset Harrisburg 4-0 and SC defeated Toledo 10-0.

Santiam Christian finished the season on a 13-game win streak. The Eagles’ last loss was 2-1 to Harrisburg on April 2.