Lady Outlaws forced to play-in game

Sisters High School's varsity softball team swept La Pine, but didn't get enough help from other teams and finished second in the Sky-Em League. They will host a play-in game on Thursday against an opponent yet to be determined.

In order to win the league title, the Outlaws needed for Cottage Grove (2-13 in league and 4-18 overall) to win one of two final season games against Elmira last week, but the Falcons won twice (9-1, 7-2) to capture league with a 12-3 record, one game ahead of SHS (11-4, 17-5 overall).

The Outlaws did get some help from Sweet Home, which split with Junction City, assuring a second-place finish for Sisters. Had Junction City swept Sweet Home, SHS would have finished third in league and likely would have been on the road for the Thursday play-in game.

Ironically, despite their second-place finish in league, the Oregon Schools Activities Association ranked the 17-5 Outlaws 13th - behind 11th-rated Junction City (14-11) and 16-8 Sweet Home (12). Elmira (16-6 overall) was rated No. 10.

In the most recent 4A Coaches Poll, SHS was ranked 12th, one spot behind Elmira. Topping the state poll was Banks (24-2), McLoughlin of Milton-Freewater (21-5), Gladstone (23-3), Molalla (18-5), Newport (22-3), Yamhill-Carlton (17-7), Henley (15-8), Phoenix (17-5), Mazama (15-6) and 15-11 Madras - a team the Outlaws split with this season - at No. 10.

Should the Outlaws win the play-in game, they would advance to the 16-team 4A State Tournament, which begins on Tuesday, May 22.

But to even make the playoffs, the Outlaws needed to sweep La Pine, and that they did in impressive fashion, winning 11-0 and 6-1.

In the 11-0 game, senior Cassidy Edwards pitched a five-inning perfect game, striking out 13. She also doubled and singled as the Outlaws clubbed 13 base hits. Ashley Smith, who drove in three runs, had three hits and was joined by Boston Moore and Chayla Curtis with two hits each. Emily Hartford had two RBI, as did Lauren Cantwell.

In the 6-1 win over La Pine (2-20 overall and 0-15 in league), Edwards and Harley Rowe combined on a three-hitter and struck out nine. Edwards again led the hitting as she singled and homered. Cantwell also collected a pair of hits.

The 6-1 win took place at SHS's Volunteer Field and on Senior Day where Edwards, Row, Cantwell, Taylor Nieri and Tiffani Milliman were recognized. The seniors finished their regular season with some impressive statistics, led by Edwards at .566. Cantwell and Nieri batted .338, Rowe .306 and Milliman .232. Sophomore Ashley Smith finished regular season with a .340 average.

Edwards also topped 200 strikeouts on the year and will enter post-season play with a 17-5 won-loss record and a microscopic 0.83 ERA.

On Monday, the Outlaws played 15-8 Ridgeview of Redmond in a playoff tune-up game.