Spring Playoffs: South Umpqua teams moving on, UVC ends the year

The baseball and softball state playoffs continued on Tuesday with semifinal matchups. The South Umpqua Lancers had both baseball and softball earn a berth in this year’s state title games, while the Umpqua Valley Christian Monarchs fell short of reaching a third consecutive state championship game.

SOUTH UMPQUA 5, YAMHILL-CARLTON 0

The 2nd-seeded South Umpqua softball team shutout 3-seed Yamhill-Carlton in a 5-0 semifinal victory Tuesday night in Tri-City. The Lancers advance to face top-seed Vale in the title game at 3 p.m. Friday at Jane Sanders Stadium in Eugene.

Both pitchers put up a strong challenge to hitters. Yamhill-Carlton’s Taylor Bradfield struck out 13, but the Lancers were able to scratch together seven hits and drew four walks.

Regan Ireland hit a home run and drove in a pair of runs. Danika Richardson was 2-for-2 with a triple, double and a RBI. Jasmine Morales and Kylee Pachao also had doubles for South Umpqua.

Morales was nearly untouchable in the circle for SU. The senior allowed just one hit and two walks, while striking out 17 batters. Addison Tuning had a double for Yamhill-Carlton’s lone hit.

Yamhill-Carlton;000;000;0;—;0;1;0

South Umpqua;201;020;x;—;5;7;1

Bradfield and Tuning; Morales and D. Richardson. W — Morales. L — Bradfield. 2B— Tuning (YC), Morales (SU), D. Richardson (SU), Pachao (SU). 3B — D. Richardson (SU). HR — Ireland (SU).

SOUTH UMPQUA/DAYS CREEK 4, CRESWELL 1

The 7th-seeded South Umpqua/Days Creek baseball team continued its revenge tour with a 4-1 semifinal win over 3rd-seeded Creswell on Tuesday at Creswell High School. The Lancers will face top-seed Taft in the state title game at 5 p.m. Saturday at PK Park in Eugene.

The victory was South Umpqua’s second consecutive playoff win against a team that they lost to earlier in the season.

Trace Esterbrook and Crew Donner gave the Lancers a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning. Esterbrook drove in a run with a double and Donner singled in a run to put SU in front. The Lancers added two runs in the fifth thanks to errors by the Bulldogs.

South Umpqua;000;220;0;—;4;5;0

Creswell;010;000;0;—;1;6;2

Schwerdt, Vasquez (5) and Donner; Pelham, Jenkins (7) and Winn. W — Schwerdt. L — Pelham. SV — Vasquez. 2B — Black (SU), Esterbrook (SU), C. Clark (C), Crowl (C), Roberts (C). 3B — Crowl (C).

CROSSHILL CHRISTIAN 7, UMPQUA VALLEY CHRISTIAN 6

The season came to an end for the Umpqua Valley Christian Monarchs with a 7-6 loss to Crosshill Christian on Tuesday in Turner.

UVC fell behind 6-1, but rallied to get within a run late in the ballgame. The Monarchs scored three runs in the sixth to draw within a run, but left the game-tying run at first base. UVC’s Cade Downie had a base hit in the seventh inning but was tagged out trying to stretch it into a double.

Teagan Sprague hit a home run and drove in three for the Monarchs, but five errors put UVC in catch-up mode from the get go. Only three of Crosshill Christians’ seven runs were earned.

The loss ends UVC’s chase for a third consecutive state championship.

Umpqua Valley Christian;001;023;0;—;6;7;5

Crosshill Christian;121;210;x;—;7;6;3

Sprague, York (3), Shaver (6) and Blankenship; Lute, Williams (5), Phillips (6), Hinderks (6) and Phillips. W — Lute. L — Sprague. SV — Hinderks. 2B — Blankenship (UVC), Bendele (UVC), Chrisenbery (UVC). HR — Sprague (UVC).