OSAA baseball and softball: Kennedy, Dallas, Central, Dayton play for state championships

Pete Martini
Statesman Journal
Kennedy head coach Walt Simmons talks to his team on the mound in the Santiam vs. Kennedy softball game at Kennedy High School in Mt. Angel on May 8, 2019. Kennedy won the game 15-5 in five innings.

Friday will be a big day for Kennedy High School athletics.

The Trojans’ softball team will be in Eugene competing for its second consecutive state championship, while the baseball team will be 70 miles north in Keizer attempting to win its second state title in eight seasons.

“It is pretty amazing to have both of them going, will be a fun day for the community of Mt. Angel,” said Kevin Moffatt, who is both the athletic director and baseball coach at Kennedy. “The best part is that both teams have great kids on them, true student-athletes that also volunteer in the community.”

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Kennedy’s baseball team faces Umpqua Valley Christian/Melrose Christian at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Volcanoes Stadium in the OSAA Class 2A/1A state championship game.

The Trojans are 28-2 overall this season, including a current 15-game winning streak. In this postseason, Kennedy beat St. Paul, 13-6; Grant Union/Prairie City, 12-3; and North Douglas, 1-0.

Kennedy's Ellie Cantu (7) pitches in the Santiam vs. Kennedy softball game at Kennedy High School in Mt. Angel on May 8, 2019. Kennedy won the game 15-5 in five innings.

Umpqua Valley enters the title game with a 26-3 record, including a current seven-game winning streak. In this postseason, they beat Culver, 13-0; Reedsport, 8-1; and Knappa 12-10.

Kennedy’s softball team faces North Douglas at 5 p.m. Friday at Jane Sanders Stadium on the University of Oregon campus in the OSAA Class 2A/1A state title game.

The Trojans enter the softball final with a 22-4 overall record, including a current eight-game winning streak. In the playoffs, they beat Oakland, 12-2; Glide, 13-1; and Toledo, 7-1.

North Douglas is 27-3 this season, with two losses in its past seven games. In the playoffs, they have wins against Bonanza, 12-7; Grant Union/Prairie City, 5-0; and Lakeview, 2-0.

“Great kids and amazing community support for our programs,” Moffatt said. “A ton of parents helping with youth programs and all the things that go into having solid high school teams.”

Other Mid-Valley teams in title games

5A BASEBALL: CENTRAL VS. PENDLETON

Riding a 14-game winning streak, Central’s baseball team made it to the state championship game for the first time since winning the title in 1958.

The Panthers face Pendleton at 5 p.m. Saturday at Volcanoes Stadium in the OSAA Class 5A state championship game.

Central enters the game as the state’s top seed at 24-4 overall. This postseason, the Panthers have wins against Hillsboro, 2-0; La Salle, 6-4; and Thurston, 1-0.

Pendleton is 18-8 this season, and they have won 11 of their past 12 games to reach the title game. In the playoffs, they have wins against Wilsonville, 4-3; Crescent Valley, 6-0; and West Albany, 4-3.

Central has allowed just 53 runs this season, which is the best in 5A.

Central's Hunter Chase (8) bats during a Central High School vs. North Salem High School 5A baseball game  in Independence on May 10, 2019.

5A SOFTBALL: DALLAS VS. RIDGEVIEW

The Dallas softball team is rolling right now, and the Dragons are one win from a state championship.

Riding a 15-game winning streak, Dallas will face Ridgeview at 2 p.m. Saturday in the OSAA Class 5A state championship game at Jane Sanders Stadium.

This is the second time in three seasons Dallas will play in the softball state title game — the Dragons lost, 12-7, to Marist in 2017.

Dallas enters the game with a 23-5 record, including playoff wins against Putnam, 1-0; Hood River Valley, 5-3; and Hillsboro, 7-4.

Ridgeview is 23-2 this season, with playoff wins against North Bend, 11-0; Central, 3-2; and West Albany, 5-3.

3A SOFTBALL: DAYTON VS. CLATSKANIE

Dayton’s softball team is back in the state championship game for the sixth time in seven seasons, seeking its third title during that stretch.

The Pirates will face Clatskanie at 2 p.m. Friday at Jane Sanders Stadium in the OSAA Class 3A state championship game.

Dayton is 19-5 this season, including playoff wins against Creswell, 12-2; Yamhill-Carlton, 10-1; and Cascade Christian, 5-4.

Clatskanie is 26-0, with postseason wins against Brookings-Harbor, 15-0; Scio, 12-2; and South Umpqua, 10-4.

Kaelynn Simmons, Dallas High School

OSAA baseball and softball pairings

BASEBALL — VOLCANOES STADIUM (KEIZER)

6A title game: Central Catholic vs. Jesuit, 1:30 p.m. Saturday

5A title game: Pendleton vs. Central, 5 p.m. Saturday

4A title game: Henley vs. Banks, 10 a.m. Saturday

3A title game: Warrenton vs. La Pine, 5 p.m. Friday

2A/1A title game: Umpqua Valley Christian vs. Kennedy, 1:30 p.m. Friday

SOFTBALL — JANE SANDERS STADIUM (EUGENE)

6A title game: Tualatin vs. Sheldon, 11 a.m. Saturday

5A title game: Dallas vs. Ridgeview, 2 p.m. Saturday

4A title game: Henley vs. La Grande, 5 p.m. Saturday

3A title game: Dayton vs. Clatskanie, 2 p.m. Friday

2A/1A title game: North Douglas vs. Kennedy, 5 p.m. Friday

Pete Martini covers high school and college sports for the Statesman Journal. Consider supporting his work by subscribing. You can contact Pete at pmartini@StatesmanJournal.com, 503-399-6730 and follow @PeteMartiniSJ

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