ASTORIA PASSES PLAYOFF TEST

With little competition of late coming from the Cowapa League, the Astoria Fishermen took advantage of a rare sunny Saturday to take on a state championship contender from Washington, knocking off the previously unbeaten Mark Morris Monarchs 4-3 to extend their winning streak to 14 games.

Mark Morris was riding a 17-game win streak heading into Saturday's game at Aiken Field, but a game the night before against crosstown rival R.A. Long, three missing starters and a very ineffective outing from star pitcher Matt Argyropoulos added up to the first loss of the season for the 2A Monarchs.

Argyropoulos, who has already signed a letter of intent to Washington State, was handed a 2-0 lead before he ever threw a pitch, but couldn't hold it as the Fishermen used two first-inning home runs to score all of the runs they would need.

Brent Culver sent the second pitch of the game over the wall in left-center field, Matt Brause hit a laser off the wall in left for a long single, missing a home run by four feet and Jordan Poyer drew a 2-out walk, setting up Adam Koehnke for the key blow of the game. The senior leftfielder, Astoria's RBI leader despite hitting sixth in the order, connected with an Argyropoulos breaking pitch and pulled it well over the fence in straightaway left field, giving Astoria a 4-2 lead.

Argyropoulos, complaining of arm tightness, did not return to the mound in the second inning, spending the rest of the day at first base instead of shortstop, where he earned first team All-State honors for last year's Monarch playoff team. Tony Polis came on in relief, presenting a completely different look on the mound, holding Astoria at bay the rest of the way, as Mark Morris threatened several times, putting the leadoff runner on base in all but two innings.

Polis, a diminutive lefthanded breaking ball pitcher as opposed to the hard-throwing, 6-3 righthanded Argyropoulos, kept Astoria in the yard and off the scoreboard with a little assist from the home plate umpire.

After Polis ripped a double to the wall in the fifth inning and scored on an Argyropoulos ground out to pull the Monarchs within one, Astoria's starting pitcher Jordan Poyer appeared to extend the lead in the bottom of the inning, when he blasted a Polis offering high in the air and way out of the park to left field for an apparent 2-run homer. Initially, left fielder Spencer Roland reacted as if it were a home run, but the heady senior recognized that there had been no signal from the umpire and began pointing into foul territory. The dumbfounded Poyer had already rounded the bases and was halfway home before the foul signal was given. Poyer was eventually retired on a routine fly ball to right and Koehnke struck out to end the inning.

"That ball was at least ten feet fair," said Astoria head coach Dave Gasser. "He hit that thing over the cyclone fence back there. It had to have gone about 400 feet."

Those runs were looking mighty important, as the Monarchs had runners on base all day, including the sixth inning, when Kyle McCrady singled, stole second and advanced to third on a fly ball to right field by Jesse Rice. The previous batter Spencer Roland flew out to fairly deep center field, McCrady went a few steps toward third before retreating as Culver made a strong throw to third base on the fly that would have nailed him for sure.

With All-State pitcher Matt Brause having warmed up in the bullpen during Astoria's previous at bat, Gasser made the change with two outs and the tying run 90 feet away and the Monarchs' leadoff batter due up. Brause, who threw just 50 pitches in a five-inning victory over Banks the previous Wednesday, retired Rusty Beam looking on a 2-2 curveball to end the threat and preserve the lead.

The Monarchs went down in order in their final at bat, with Brandon Strange experiencing a deja vu moment as he froze on a wicked 2-2 curve from Brause on the final pitch of the game.

"That curveball was just sick," said Gasser. "Unhittable."

Poyer overcame a shaky start to post a solid outing against the Monarchs, who came into the contest batting .356 as a team with 14 home runs. The sophomore righthander allowed five hits and just one earned run with four strikeouts and four bases on balls. Poyer minimized what could have been a damaging first inning after the Monarchs loaded the bases with one out on a leadoff walk and a pair of errors. Matt Minium's sacrifice fly to center field scored Beam with the first run of the game. Catcher Jake Carpenter followed with an RBI single to score Polis, who had reached base after a wild throw by Poyer on a sacrifice bunt. Poyer struck out McCrady to end the inning.

The Monarchs were without cleanup hitter Ian Dahl (preparing for state golf tournament), leadoff batter Alex Peters (state choir event) and starting centerfielder Dillon Talley (attending funeral), however head coach Joe Bair wasn't about to use any excuses other than a lack of execution.

"I felt like we were one hit away," said Bair, whose team had already clinched the 2A Greater St. Helens League championship earlier in the week. "We left a lot of runners in scoring position. One hit was the difference in this game."

The Monarchs left seven runners on base, but six in scoring position. Astoria stranded six runners with three left on second or third base.

Poyer repeatedly worked out of trouble after putting the leadoff runners on. In the second inning, he fanned Polis with a runner on third base, then retired three straight batters in the third after a leadoff walk to Argyropolous, who finished a forgettable day 0-for-3 at the plate.

In the fourth inning, Spencer Roland singled with one out, but Jesse Rice grounded into a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play.

In the fifth inning, Poyer helped his own cause with an outstanding defensive play. The Monarchs had runners at second and third with nobody out after a leadoff walk to Beam and Polis' double to the deepest part of the park. The little lefty had to hold at second when Argyropoulos grounded out to shortstop Tom Jawarski, with Beam scoring on the play. After a base on balls to Brandon Strange, Minium hit a ground ball to the left of the mound. Poyer made the play diving to his right, then threw to Dursse just in time to force out Polis at third base for the second out of the inning. Jake Carpenter followed with a harmless ground ball that drew Jawarski to the bag at second for the final out of the inning.

The Fishermen also got some standout defensive play from Culver in center field and Hans Lund at second base, who made a number of tough plays with runners on base.

"He has just developed into a very good all-around ballplayer," said Gasser of the junior second baseman, who won a close training camp battle with fellow junior Jared Rummell for the starting position. Rummell has since become Astoria's starting first baseman when Brause is on the mound. "We have found a great combination on the field with those guys. We are solid all the way around the diamond defensively."

The Fishermen improved their season record to 14-3 heading into their biggest league games of the season, a home and away series against Yamhill-Carlton. The Tigers (5-3 Cowapa League, 7-12 overall) are tied with Scappoose in second place, having split their two games against the Indians and the fourth place Seaside Seagulls (4-4 league). Astoria hosts Yamhill-Carlton on Monday, then travels to Yamhill on Wednesday with a road game at Seaside scheduled for Friday. All games start at 5:00 p.m.

MARK MORRIS 2-0-0-0-1-0-0 3-5-1
ASTORIA 4-0-0-0-0-0-x 4-7-2
W-Poyer (5.2ip, 5h, 3r, er, 4k, 4bb)
L-Argyropolous (ip, 3h, 4er, 2k, bb)
S-Brause (1.1ip, 0h, 0r, 2k)
E-Minium, Poyer, Dursse. LOB-Mark Morris 7, Astoria 6. 2B-Polis. HR-Culver (1), Koehnke (2). SB-McCrady, Johnson. S-Polis, Rice, Lund. SF-Minium. DP-Astoria 1. PB-Carpenter.

WARRIORS WHACK LOGGERS

The Warrenton Warriors felt like their 2-1 loss to Clatskanie was one that got away. Their near-perfect execution in every game since indicates they aren't about to let another win slip through their fingertips.

The Warriors played two error-free games on Friday, sweeping a home doubleheader from the Vernonia Loggers 9-1 in game one and 19-0 in a 5-inning game two to improve to 6-1 in the Lewis & Clark League, keeping pace with the first-place Tigers a game back in the standings.

Eric Gantenbein went the distance on the mound in game one and went 4-for-4 with a home run and five runs batted in to hasten the mercy-rule shortended second game. Billy Sturgell launched his second home run of the season, a 3-run shot to key a 6-run Warrior second inning after Vernonia scored the first run of game one.

Nathan Massey went 2-for-3 at the plate in game one and doubled in game two, catching both games of the doubleheader. Dan Wolfe allowed just one hit and no walks, throwing only 63 pitches to notch the win in game two, working on a single day's rest.

"I was very pleased with our hitting and our small ball execution," said head coach Lennie Wolfe. "We did a good job of running the bases. I was very pleased with our pitching and we were rock solid on defense."

"Our infielders did a super job all day."

Dan Wolfe went 2-for-2 at the plate with four runs scored in game two and Kevin Moore was 2-for-4 with a double and four runs batted in.

The Warriors, now 12-2 overall with their only other loss coming to 2A #1-ranked Nestucca, travel to Neah-Kah-Nie for a doubleheader Tuesday, then to Clatskanie for a doubleheader rematch against the first place Tigers on Friday. Clatskanie dominated its doubleheader with Neah-Kah-Nie on Friday, winning game one 38-0 and game two 16-0. Rainier defeated Catlin Gabel 18-0 and 11-0 in a pair of five inning games.

Game One
VERNONIA 1-0-0-0-0-0-0 1-4-5
WARRENTON 0-6-0-3-0-0-x 9-7-0
W-Gantenbein (7ip, 4h, er, 6k, 3bb, 2hp)
L-Davis
2B-Lende. HR-Sturgell (2)

Game 2
VERNONIA 0-0-0-0-0 0-1-1
WARRENTON 3-4-7-5-x 19-13-0
W-Wolfe (5ip, h, 0r, 4k, 0bb, hp)
L-Schorzman
2B-Davis, Massey, K. Moore. HR-Gantenbein (4).

WEEKEND ROUNDUP

BASEBALL
Knappa at Country Christian...no scores reported
Kalama 4-7, Ilwaco 1-0... Nick Peacock outduelled Ilwaco's Anthony Wirkkala, limiting the Fishermen to one hit in a complete game performance in game one of Friday's doubleheader. Sophomore standout Robby Sanders gave the Chinooks the lead with a sixth inning RBI double, the first hit of the game off Wirkkala. The Fishermen went down meekly in game two as they dropped their 12th game in 13 decisions

SOFTBALL
Yamhill-Carlton 12-4, Astoria 4-3...After a rocky game one, Astoria led the Cowapa League leading Tigers 3-2 going into the seventh inning before Yamhill fashioned the game winning runs out of two walks, a hit batter, two passed balls, a wild pitch and finally the game winning hit by Bree Larson. The Tigers improved to 9-0 in Cowapa League play and 15-4 overall, escaping an Astoria upset bid for the second time this season. The teams combined for 14 errors in the first game. Freshman Shelby Haskell continues to produce at the plate as she went 2-for-4 with a run scored in game one and drove in one of Astoria's three runs in game two with an RBI single. The Tigers outhit the Fishermen 8-to-4 in the second game. Astoria travels to Seaside on Tuesday.
Vernonia 5-11, Warrenton 0-8...details not reported.
Knappa 14-28, Country Christian 2-5... The Loggers racked up 32 hits on the way to a pair of 5-inning victories over the Cougars at Molalla Friday. The road game was played despite the closure of school at Knappa Thursday and Friday due to bomb threats. Freshman Cassie West had a huge day at the plate for Knappa with eight hits in ten at bats and six runs batted in. Kate Shear drove in eight runs on the day, going 5-for-8 at the plate with a double. The surprising Loggers improved to 10-7 on the season and 5-5 in league. Next game is at Gaston Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Kalama 11-12, Ilwaco 1-2 (Game Two, 5 innings)...details not reported
Scappoose 16-2, Seaside 2-0...details not reported

TRACK AND FIELD
Meet of Champions at Willamette University in Salem...Astoria's Laura Bobek won both the shot and the discus at this annual event, featuring many of the top small school track athletes in the Willamette Valley and coastal regions. Bobek, who already had the season's longest 4A discus throw, added a season-best shot put as well with a throw of 40-11-1/2. Bobek's discus mark of 136-8 was a couple feet short of her best, but still good enough to beat second place finisher Kayla Burrus of Scappoose by 16 feet. Astoria's Jamie Coggins place fourth in the shot (38-2) and sixth in the disc (107-2). Alex Whittaker took second place in the boys shot put (49-2). Dufur's Kasey McCullough was the only boy to clear 50-feet (50-5). There were several fine marks by local athletes this weekend as Astoria's Kyle McMullen finished second to Nick West of Imbler in the 300 hurdles (41.72) and third in the high hurdles (15.89). McMullen also took seventh in the long jump, clearing the 20-foot mark by 2-and-a-quarter inches. Seaside's Dennis Olstedt, the Cowapa League's top hurlder, did not compete at this event. On the girls side, Astoria's Charlene Harber finished second in the long jump (17-2-1/2) and third in the triple jump (34-11). Just two inches behind Harber in the triple jump was Warrenton freshman Jordyn Holt, who finished fourth, adding a second place finish in the high jump (5-1). Toledo junior Beth Stam, also a basketball standout, took first place in all three jumps, beating Holt by an inch in the high jump, while sailing 18-feet in the long jump to dominate the field. Warrenton's Dallas Moses finished second to Zach Massari for the second time this month, running the 800 meters in 2:00.09, just a quarter second behind the Scio senior. Michael O'Casey placed sixth. Moses added a seventh place finish in the intermediate hurdles and placed sixth in the long jump. Astoria hosts Seaside for a dual meet Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and Warrenton heads to Rainier on Thursday.
Shelton Invitational...Ilwaco senior Bonnie Perez placed fourth in the javelin with a throw of 111-4 and participated in Ilwaco's school-record setting distance medley relay team Saturday at a meet featuring more than 800 athletes. The team of Perez, Kelly Freese, Cameo Ulbricht and Annika Wolters ran a combined 4000 meters in 13:58.19 to place fifth. Matt Kaino's 400 meter time of 51.13 was good enough for a third place finish for the Fisherman junior. The star of the meet was Hockinson sophomore Colton Dunn, who won the 100, 200, 400 and 4-by-100 relay. Ilwaco heads to Forks on Thursday.
No results reported by Astoria or Seaside from Lower Columbia Invitational or Gladstone Invitational

FISHERMEN DEFEAT WASHINGTON'S BEST

Brent Culver led off the game with a home run and Adam Koehnke hit a 3-run homer to left as Astoria scored all of its runs in the first inning in a 4-3 victory over previously unbeaten Mark Morris of Longview, Washington. The Fishermen extended their winning streak to 14 heading into a pair of key Cowapa League games against Yamhill Carlton at home Monday and at Yamhill Wednesday. The Monarchs, who have already clinched the Greater St. Helens 2A League championship, had their 17-game winning streak snapped as Washington State-bound pitcher Matt Argyropoulos absorbed the loss. Sophomore Jordan Poyer picked up the win for Astoria and Matt Brause retired all four batters he faced for his first save of the season.

Check back later this weekend for a full game story on The Last Dam Blog.

FISHERMEN ROLL TO 13TH STRAIGHT WIN

One pretty good team is going to have a long winning streak end on Saturday.

The Astoria Fishermen picked up their 13th straight win Thursday with another 5-inning bloodbath, defeating Banks 16-1 on the road to sweep the first round series against their fourth straight Cowapa League opponent. On Saturday, the top-ranked Mark Morris Monarchs will likely carry a 16-game win streak and unbeaten season record to Aiken Field for a baseball border war like no other seen in this area before.

"The best two teams we played, we played very early," said Astoria head coach Dave Gasser. "Our pitching really wasn't in a position to hang in there at the end. I'm looking forward to see to what extent, against really good competition, we've gotten better on the defensive and the pitching end. Hopefully, we'll be able to swing it, although the pitching will be better."

Mark Morris is one of two 2A classification schools in Longview, although a larger school than Astoria by about 200 students. The Monarchs have a rich athletic history in a number of sports. The last time a highly ranked Monarchs team met a highly ranked Fishermen team was December 21, 2001 when the schools' boys basketball teams met at Ted Natt Court in Longview. Astoria Hall of Fame head coach Mike Goin took that year's team, the last of his career, to the state semifinals and a third place finish, but December 21 was a night he'd rather forget, as the Monarchs, despite missing their star point guard, destroyed a shorthanded Fishermen squad 84-58 in a game that wasn't even as close as the score might indicate. Astoria played without star player Matt Johnson, who separated his shoulder prior to the contest, which ended with one of the most lopsided losses of Goin's long, successful tenure.

The Banks Braves know how it feels to be whupped by a very good team because it happened twice in two days, with the Fishermen outscoring the Braves 29-1 and outhitting Banks 21-5 to dominate the home-and-away series this week.

One day after his 16th birthday, Astoria sophomore Jordan Poyer celebrated with a 3-for-3 day that included his third home run and first triple of the season. Poyer scored three runs to up his team leading total to 27 and also drove in three. Matt Brause didn't let "The Chef" own the team lead in jacks for long, as he went deep over the wall in left field for his third home run of the season in the third inning, adding an RBI double in the first, which kickstarted a 6-run scoring rally in the opening frame. Brause finished with two hits in three at bats with three RBI's and two runs.

"Just with his upper body alone he can just mash it," said Astoria head coach Dave Gasser of Brause, who homered for the eighth time in his career to lead the squad. "Then when he puts upper and lower body together it just goes into a different dimension."

"He hit a couple today that, I mean, usually you don't see that in high school. We swung it pretty good about six or seven times. We just hit lasers."

Brause in particular seems to love hitting at the Braves' field, hitting home runs in both ends of a doubleheader last season.

Brendan Landwehr reached base all three times at bat, going 2-for-2 on the day, while his courtesy runner, Sam Johnson, capitalized with three runs scored.

Adam Koehnke and Joey Dursse had two hits each, with Dursse driving in two runs and scoring twice, nearly coming all the way around the bases on a gift triple in the second inning. Dursse's catchable fly ball to right field dropped in safely and Dursse pushed for third base, then home after the relay throw got past Braves' third baseman Jacob Tijerina. Banks pitcher Clayton Edwards retrieved the ball and fired home to nail Dursse at the plate for the final out of the inning, but not before two runs scored on the play, giving Astoria a 9-0 lead.

"We hit the ball well enough that different people can have big days every game," said Astoria head coach Dave Gasser. "We've been having a bunch of people every game that are swinging the bat very well."

The Braves scored their only run in the second inning, but got only one run after loading the bases with nobody out on a back-to-back walks and a Johnny Janisko base hit. Dirk Vredenburg flew out to Poyer in right field, deep enough to score Brett Gooding, but a shallow fly to center by catcher Bryce Shulund was not enough to score another run and Astoria pitcher Nick Bredleau fanned Sam Longe on three pitches to end the inning.

Bredleau went four innings, allowing three hits to improve his season record to 4-1, matching last year's mark. Hans Lund pitched a scoreless fifth inning with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.

Astoria lit up Banks starting pitcher Clayton Edwards for 14 runs on 13 hits in the first three innings, batting around in the first and the third. For the second straight day, the Braves got hitless relief. However, Johnny Janisko watched helplessly as the Braves outfield misplayed three balls in the fifth inning, leading to two more Astoria runs. A few of Astoria's hits earlier in the game looked more like routine outs until they somehow found their way off, over or around the Braves' outfield gloves.

"Right now it's like they are just half-expecting to make mistakes," said Gasser. "I just kind of feel bad because I think they've lost five straight. They're just struggling right now. Hopefully they can catch a win or two and get their confidence going a little bit better."

Banks finished with a conservatively scored six errors for the contest as the Braves fell to 5-11 on the season and 1-7 in the Cowapa League, likely out of playoff contention.

The Fishermen are now 8-0 in league and have a commanding 3-game lead on second place Yamhill-Carlton and Scappoose. Astoria already has the tiebreaker edge on the Indians and can put the Tigers in the rearview mirror with a sweep next week.

Following Saturday's non-league showdown against Mark Morris, Astoria will travel to Yamhill-Carlton Monday for the first of three league games next week. The return engagement will be at Astoria's Aiken Field on Wednesday, then the Fishermen close the week at Seaside.

Saturday's game against Mark Morris will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN with pregame coverage beginning at 12:55 p.m.

ASTORIA 6-3-5-0-2 16-13-0
BANKS 0-1-0-0-0 1-4-6
W-Bredleau (4ip, 3h, er, k, 3bb, wp)
L-Edwards (3ip, 13h, 14r, 13er, 2k, 2bb, wp, hp)
E-Tijerina 2, Bayless, Longe, Vredenburg. LOB-Astoria 6, Banks 6. 2B-Matt Brause, Jawarski. 3B-Dursse, Poyer. HR-Poyer, Brause. SB-Jawarski, Lund 2, Carriere, Culver. CS-Mason Brause. SF-Vredenburg.

THURSDAY ROUNDUP

BASEBALL
Seaside 7, Yamhill-Carlton 6...This time Gulls came from behind, down 5-1 in the fifth, scored five runs. 2-run single Beatty, Christianson and Knutsen RBI singles, Carow started rally with a double. Scored insurance run in sixth on Christianson RBI double (3-4, 2 doubles, 3 RBI's). Alec Carlson faltered in fifth, Oros on with runner on second and none out. Oros allowed one unearned run and struck out six. Beatty 2 hits, 2 runs, Thysell 2 hits, Knutsen 2 hits.
Ocosta 9, Ilwaco 8...The Fishermen lost a heartbreaker at home to Ocosta for the second year in a row, coming from six runs down to take the lead only to cough it up in a flurry of walks and wild pitches in the later innings. Down 6-0 in the fourth inning, Ilwaco erupted for eight runs with seniors Alex Martin and Anthony Wirkkala leading the charge. Martin doubled twice and scored two runs while driving in two in the inning. Wirkkala plated Martin twice in the frame with RBI singles to give Ilwaco an 8-6 lead. It didn't last long, as the Wildcats scored two runs with a two out rally in the fifth, scoring on four consecutive walks by pitcher Ryan Garcia and a game-tying infield hit with the bases loaded. Lefthander Jordan DeSimone took over in the sixth and was tagged with the loss after giving up a pair of base hits and three wild pitches to force in the winning run. A nightmare season for Ilwaco got worse when the Fishermen learned they will have to forfeit a win over La Center earlier in the week for the use of an ineligible player. Ilwaco dropped to 1-10 on the season with yesterday's loss, which was the first game played at Rutherford Field all season. The Fishermen travel to Kalama to face the defending state runner-up Chinooks in a 4:00 p.m. doubleheader Friday.
Oakville 3, Naselle 2...

SOFTBALL
Oakville 9, Naselle 2...

BOYS GOLF
Astoria 335, Seaside 369...The Fishermen stepped up against their county rivals to post their best team score of season, upsetting the Seagulls at Gearhart Golf Links in a Cowapa League dual match Thursday. Astoria junior Alex Ferber carded a 79 to earn his fourth match medal of the season. Astoria also got season best performances from Craig Folgner (83), Cody Voller (85) and Jon Natividad (88). Chris Olson led the Seagull effort with an 86. Astoria heads to a 5-man scramble at Elkhorn in Salem on Wednesday, while Seaside hosts its final Cowapa League match of the year against Banks on Tuesday.

GIRLS GOLF
Seaside 288, Astoria inc....Abby Huddleston medalled for the Seagulls with a 68 over nine holes at the Astoria Golf and Country Club Thursday. Amy Vinson shot a 70 for Astoria and Erin Miller recorded a 77.

TRACK AND FIELD
Astoria vs. Banks...team scores not reported.
Warrenton vs. Vernonia, Catlin Gabel, O.E.S...team scores not reported
Knappa at Portland Christian...team scores not reported
Ilwaco vs. Castle Rock, Montesano and Wahkiakum...team scores not reported

FISHERMEN PUMMEL BRAVES FOR 12TH STRAIGHT WIN

For those inclined against the game of baseball because of the slow pace of the game, do we have a team for you!

Astoria extended its winning streak to 12 games Wednesday and once again made extremely quick work of its opponent, spending just 78 minutes on the field in a 5-inning, 13-0 win over the Banks Braves at Aiken Field. For those hardy fans who brave the early spring elements to watch the Fishermen work, their ability to keep games short is yet another reason to love this group.

Primary credit goes to the Fishermen pitching staff, in particular, righthanded senior ace Matt Brause, who need just 50 pitches to polish off a 1-hit shutout. Jordan Quinones 2-out, bloop base hit out of the reach of second baseman Hans Lund in the first inning was the only thing separating Brause from a perfect game and his third mercy-rule no-no of the season.

While Brause was mowing through the Braves batting order with a minimum of effort, the Fishermen offense used both small ball and the big fly to accumulate a double digit lead within three innings.

Astoria put four runs on the board in the first inning with only a gift infield hit to show for it. Back-to-back one-out walks, followed by an infield error loaded the bases for Jordan Poyer, who drew the third walk of the inning from Banks' all-Cowapa League pitcher Todd Baggerley to force home Tom Jawarski with the first run of the game. A ground out by Adam Koehnke provided the senior left fielder with his team-leading 20th run batted in of the season.

With runners on second and third, Astoria once again caught a pitcher napping to steal a run, as Nick Bredleau took off from third while Baggerley was looking down in his stretch. Bredleau was well past the halfway point before the ball was delivered to the plate and scored the third run of the inning when the ball sailed past catcher Bryce Shulund. Joey Dursse's routine pop-up on the infield was anything but, as a strong wind blew the ball back toward home plate and out of the reach of a charging third baseman Tyler Grant as Poyer crossed the plate with the fourth run of the inning.

The stiff wind from the southwest played havoc throughout the contest. After the Fishermen pounded out three more runs in the second inning on a Brent Culver RBI double down the left field line and RBI singles from Tom Jawarski and Brendan Landwehr, the Fishermen took advantage of two windblown balls to put the game out of reach with six more runs in the third.

With two outs and Joey Dursse on second base, Hans Lund hit a routine fly ball to center field. Jared Herb charged the ball, slowed up, then speeded up again only to have the ball pop out of his glove for an error. That opened the floodgates to a rally that put the game out of reach. Lund would score on a wild pitch after Brent Culver's single moved him to third. After Jawarski walked for the second time, Matt Brause drove a ball directly at Banks right fielder Clayton Edwards. By the time the wind got through with it, Edwards was diving to his left and coming up empty as Culver scored on the RBI double.

Earlier in the fourth, Mason Brause crushed a ball to center field that on a normal day would have travelled nearly 400 feet. Into the wind, it turned into a routine catch for Herb in the deepest part of the park. However, Brendan Landwehr wasn't about to let a little breeze stand in the way of his first home run of the season as the senior catcher unloaded on a Baggerley 2-1 pitch for a 3-run homer to straightaway left, capping the scoring and ending the senior righthander's night.

Jordan Quinones recorded four straight outs to end the game, while Brause retired the last 13 batters he faced, fanning seven and walking none for his 20th consecutive victory.

The Fishermen and Braves face off again Thursday at Banks. The game will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN with pregame coverage beginning at 4:55 p.m. Saturday, the 2nd-ranked Fishermen host the top-ranked Washington 2A Mark Morris Monarchs for a non-league game at Aiken Field. Pregame airtime on ESPN is at 12:55 p.m. Saturday afternoon.

BANKS 0-0-0-0-0 0-1-3
ASTORIA 4-3-6-0-X 13-8-0
W-Brause (5ip, h, 0r, 7k, 0bb)
L-Baggerley (2.2ip, 8h, 13r, 4er, k, 5bb, bk, 3wp)
E-Quinones 2, Herb. LOB-Banks 1, Astoria 1. 2B-Culver, Matt Brause. HR-Landwehr. SB-Jawarski, Bredleau.

WARRIORS TOP COLUMBIANS IN BATTLE FOR 2ND

The Warrenton Warriors rediscovered their small ball mojo, but a little long ball never hurts.

The Warriors put seven successful bunts in play and added timely home runs from Eric Gantenbein and Nathan Massey in a key 12-5 win at Rainier to stay a game behind first place Clatskanie in the Lewis & Clark League.

A miniscule strike zone meant this wouldn't be a game for pitchers, but Dan Wolfe scrapped through five innings to record the victory. Eric Gantenbein tossed two innings of hitless relief, while the Warriors teed off on Rainier reliever Garrett Karnoski for six runs in the final two innings.

To give Karnoski a little credit, the Warriors didn't really gash him, more like death by paper cuts.

"We forced some things and they had difficulty with the bunting game," said Warrenton head coach Lennie Wolfe. "Guys were sacrificing and getting on."

"We knew we had to get after defense and bunting. We got the heck after bunting today. We killed them with bunts."

All in all, the Warriors put down seven successful bunts on the day, four going for base hits and others leading to errors. But it was the good old long fly, a 2-run first inning home run by Eric Gantenbein, that put the Warriors up early.

Rainier's Billy Zimmerman hit a long home run to lead off the second inning, when the Columbians struck for two runs. Rainier threatened again with the dangerous Zimmerman at the plate, but a strikeout-throwout double play on a hit-and-run ended the threat, Wolfe's only strikeout of the contest.

Leading 6-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Columbians scored three times to close to within a run. Zimmerman was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, one of eight batters hit by pitches in the game. Another run crossed the plate when first baseman Kevin Moore was ruled to have pulled his foot off the bag on what would have been the final out.

Warrenton responded quickly with three runs in the sixth inning, capped by a 2-run homer by Massey, his fourth of the season. A bunt base hit and three Rainier errors led to three more runs in the seventh as the Warriors pulled away for the win.

"We played well today," said Wolfe.

"Defensively we had only one errors and when Dan pitches, there will be ground balls. Kids gobbled them up."

Gantenbein finished the day 3-for-4 at the plate with four runs batted in, improving his Lewis & Clark League batting average to near .700. Beau Torres had two hits on the day, both bunts, after failing to get a bunt down in last week's loss to Clatskanie.

"It made the difference," said Wolfe, of his team's ability to sacrifice. "Most of the time they didn't even throw to first. It was a great improvement."

The Warriors, now 4-1 in league and 10-2 overall, host Vernonia Friday for a 3:00 p.m. doubleheader.

WARRENTON 2-1-0-1-2-3-3 12-7-1
RAINIER 0-2-0-0-3-0-0 5-4-7
W-Wolfe (5ip, 4h, 5r, 3er, k, 4bb, 2hp)
L-Marsh (5ip, 7h, 6r, 5er, 6k, 4bb, 4hp)
2B-Marsh. HR-Gantenbein, Zimmerman, Massey.

TUESDAY ROUNDUP

SOFTBALL
Astoria 6, Banks 5...no details reported
Rainier 12, Warrenton 2...no details reported

BOYS GOLF
Crescent Valley Invitational at Trysting Tree GC in Corvallis...Astoria competed against some of the top larger schools in the state in this 24-team event. Unfortunately, the Fishermen were without two of their varsity golfers on the trip, limiting them to four participants. Alex Ferber carded a 79 to lead the Fishermen, who compiled a team score of 397.

WEDNESDAY SCOREBOARD

BASEBALL
ASTORIA 13, Banks 0 (5 innings)
Warrenton 12, Rainier 5
GASTON vs. Santiam Christian, 4:30 p.m.
NORTH BEACH vs. Mossyrock, noon

SOFTBALL
ASTORIA 6, Banks 5
Rainier 12, Warrenton 2
NEAH-KAH-NIE vs. Gaston, 4:30 p.m.
NORTH BEACH vs. Mossyrock, 4:30 p.m.

BOYS GOLF
Crescent Valley Invitational at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Seattle Mariners 2, Oakland A's 0

BOBCATS BIG INNING FINISHES KNAPPA

Tuesday's pitching duel between two of the top hurlers in the Northwest League quickly turned into a home run derby.

The Nestucca Bobcats' ace pitcher Logan Kellow bailed out in the third inning, but landed on a soft cushion. The 'Cats scored eight runs off Knappa lefty Gary Aho in the third on went on to beat Knappa 13-4 at Teevin Field.

While Aho and Kellow weren't exactly evoking images of Cy Young on the hill, they were doing pretty good imitations of the Hall of Famers that Barry Bonds is currently chasing.

Kellow, the number three hitter in Nestucca's order, greeted Aho with a solo home run to right field on an 0-2 count to put the Bobcats on the board in the first inning. Aho, also batting third, answered with a 2-run shot in Knappa's half of the first then blasted a ball about 30 feet beyond the center field fence to lead off the third inning. Joe Strickland followed Aho's first inning home run with a bomb of his own and back-to-back walks in the third after Aho's second blast put an end to Kellow's outing.

"We came out against Kellow after just beating [Corbett ace pitcher Kevin] Greenslade last week," said Knappa head coach Jeff Miller. "Kellow struck out 18 earlier on us when we went down there. We worked really hard and focused that we were going to come out and compete against him and the kids came out and had the early lead and didn't sustain it."

It was an easy decision for Nestucca head coach Ron Kellow to make. With a game the following day against the Gaston Greyhounds' dominating pitcher Cody Fassold and a strong relief option in junior lefthander Tyler Richwine to turn to, Kellow decided to curb his righty's innings and reload for tomorrow. Oh, and the 9-4 lead didn't hurt, either.

"Our bats were meeting his arm," said Miller. "As he started to try to get fine, he started to walk some guys. Pretty good time to take him out and especially when you've got another game tomorrow, you might as well. It's not like they bring in low quality guys."

"That's really the difference right now between them and the rest of the league, they've got three quality guys they can bring in who can throw a quality game against anybody."

After Kellow's first inning dong, the Bobcats lit up Aho and the Loggers in the third inning. Number nine hitter Max Lalor, a thorn in Knappa's side all season, began the rally with a one-out double just beyond the outstretched glove of leftfielder Nate West. Tony Marin stepped to the plate and hit another shot to left, beyond West's glove and beyond the cyclone fence for a 2-run homer to tie the game at three.

That was just the beginning as 13 men came to the plate in the inning. A walk to Richwine followed by a Kellow RBI double put the Bobcats in front to stay. The Loggers appealed the play, claiming Richwine missed the bag rounding third base, but home plate umpire Butch Johnson did not see it that way. That was not the first call that Johnson and Knappa head coach Jeff Miller did not see eye-to-eye on.

The Loggers had a chance to limit the damage in the inning. Ryan Waldron's base hit put runners on first and third and the Loggers picked Kellow off at third on an attempted double steal for the second out. But Charlie Sutton squeezed a base hit up the middle to score Waldron, back-to-back walks loaded the bases, then a walk to Zach Hudspeth scored a run, while Lalor fouled off three Aho pitches in a nine-pitch at bat before being hit by a pitch to force in another run. A booted ground ball to second base brought two more runs home to put Nestucca up 9-3.

"The defense let down," said Miller. "Pitching at a certain point let down. Other factors in the game we can't control maybe let down in the inning and it all combined for the perfect storm there."

After Aho closed the gap with his tape-measure blast in the fourth, Maury Dugan and Doug Montgomery drew back-to-back walks with one out. After Kellow the pitcher fell behind Elias Hunsinger, Kellow the manager made the change, bringing in Richwine, who promptly fanned Hunsinger and West back-to-back to put out the fire.

Richwine pitched brilliantly to finish the game, allowing two hits and no runs the rest of the way, while striking out ten batters to earn his fourth victory without a loss.

Hunsinger would be a strikeout victim for the third time in his next trip to the batters box, but not before apparently being hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. Halfway to first, Hunsinger was called back to the box by the umpire for not trying to avoid the pitch. An irate Miller nearly got the gate after that, fuming as Hunsinger fanned looking at a curveball on the outside corner to end the inning.

Kellow led the way at the plate for the Bobcats, going 3-for-5 with three runs batted in. Waldron also was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored. Lalor finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs and two RBI's and Marin also scored twice and drove in two.

Aho took the loss, allowing ten runs, eight earned over five innings, but finished 2-for-4 with 3 RBI's at the plate. Doug Montgomery was 2-for-3 with a base on balls and played solid defense at first base.

The Loggers next game is on the road at Country Christian, a doubleheader Friday at 3:00 p.m. in Molalla.

NESTUCCA 1-0-8-1-0-0-3 13-11-0
KNAPPA 3-0-1-0-0-0-0 4-6-5
W-Richwine (4.2ip, 2h, 0r, 10k, bb, hp)
L-Aho (5ip, 8h, 10r, 8er, 3k, 5bb, hp, wp)
E-Oja, C. Strickland 2, Anderson, J. Strickland. LOB-Nestucca 8, Knappa 8. 2B-Kellow, Waldron, Lalor, Dugan. HR-Kellow, Marin, Aho 2, J. Strickland. SB-Waldron, Marin, C. Strickland. S-Anderson. PB-J. Strickland.

TUESDAY ROUNDUP

BASEBALL
Yamhill-Carlton 6, Seaside 5...The Tigers scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to take the lead, then escaped a bases loaded, one-out jam in the seventh with back-to-back strikeouts to win the game. Yamhill-Carlton has won three straight games by one run and four in a row overall, moving to within a game-and-a-half of idle Astoria in the Cowapa League standings. The Fishermen and Banks Braves were rained out and rescheduled for Wednesday at Aiken Field...In other Cowapa League action, Scappoose ended its three-game losing streak with a 16-0 victory at home over Tillamook.
Ilwaco 7-6, La Center 5-6...details not reported

SOFTBALL
Nestucca 6, Knappa 0...Caitlyn Finnell tossed a 2-hit shutout with ten strikeouts and two bases on balls as the Bobcats blanked the Loggers at Knappa Tuesday. Danielle Donayri fanned seven and walked two, allowing six hits in the loss. The Loggers travel to Molalla to take on the Country Christian Cougars in a doubleheader Friday at 3:00 p.m.
La Center 10-20, Ilwaco 0-0...no details reported
Seaside at Yamhill-Carlton...no score reported

TRACK AND FIELD
Comet Boosters Invitational at Pentilla Field in Naselle...The Comet boys placed fourth and girls tied with Willapa Valley for third out of a 12-team field in Tuesday's event. Kyle Burkhalter took first place in the 400 meters with a time of 53.2. The Naselle junior also finished third in the high jump (5-10) and fifth in the triple jump (38-6). Warrenton had three first places in the boys meet: Michael O'Casey in the 800 meters (2:04.21), Dallas Moses in the 300 hurdles (41.8) and Sean Ball in the long jump (19-1). South Bend boys won the team title with 133 points. In the girls meet, Naselle's Jenny Klinger won the 3200 (13.44), Kelsey Fletcher took first in the 800 (2:42.6) and Erin Saari won the 300 hurdles (54.13). Wahkiakum won the team points title. No Warrenton team scores were reported.
Seaside vs. Scappoose...results not reported

TUESDAY SCHEDULE

BASEBALL
ASTORIA vs. Banks...postponed to Wednesday
Warrenton at Rainier...postponed to Wednesday
Nestucca 13, Knappa 4
ILWACO 7-5, La Center 5-6
Yamhill-Carlton 6, Seaside 5
Scappoose 16, Tillamook 0 (5 innings)
CLATSKANIE 13, Vernonia 3 (6 innings)
NEAH-KAH-NIE vs. Catlin Gabel, 4:30 p.m.
Corbett at Country Christian, 4:30 p.m.
KALAMA vs. Stevenson, 4:00 p.m. (2)
Castle Rock at Rochester, 4:00 p.m. (2)
OCOSTA vs. N.W. Christian, 4:00 p.m.

SOFTBALL
ASTORIA vs. Banks...postponed to Wednesday
Warrenton at Rainier...postponed to Wednesday
Nestucca 6, Knappa 0
Ilwaco 0-0, La Center 10-20
Seaside at Yamhill-Carlton, 5:00 p.m.
Scappoose 1, Tillamook 0
CLATSKANIE 2, Vernonia 1
Kalama at Stevenson, 4:00 p.m. (2)
CASTLE ROCK vs. Rochester, 4:00 p.m. (2)

GIRLS GOLF
Ilwaco vs. North Beach at Willapa Harbor, 3:30 p.m.

TRACK & FIELD-Comet Boosters Invitational at Naselle
BOYS CHAMP: South Bend 133
GIRLS CHAMP: Wahkiakum

Scappoose at Seaside, 3:30 p.m.

MONDAY ROUNDUP

BASEBALL
Naselle 8, North Beach 7...The Comets scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for the come-from-behind victory over the Hyaks at Naselle. Jason Gradt's 2-run double was the walk-off hit. Gradt went 2-for-4 at the plate and Matt Blain was 2-for-3 with two RBI's in the contest. Blain started on the mound and pitched the first five innings, with Casey Heagy taking over on the hill for the final two innings to record the win. Heagy's RBI fielder's choice started Naselle's game-winning rally. The 2-5 Comets host Oakville on Thursday

SOFTBALL
Astoria 1-3, Scappoose 11-5 (Game One, 5 innings)...After wiping Astoria out in five innings, the Indians escaped a bases loaded, one-out jam in the seventh inning to earn the sweep over the Fishermen at Scappoose. Leading 5-1 in game one, the Tribe plated six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game early. The Indians' top two batters, speedy lefthanders Mandie Krueger and Natasha Krupsky each had two hits in four at bats, Krueger scoring three times with Krupsky knocking in two RBI's. Miranda Abrahams scored Astoria's only run in the third inning on a single, sacrifice, stolen base and RBI base hit by Emily Burrell. After being outhits 10-4 in game one, the Fishermen and Indians each had eight hits in the second game. Astoria pulled to within 4-3 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning on RBI singles by Abrahams and freshman Shelby Haskell, who went 4-for-4 batting in the leadoff spot. Scappoose added an insurance run in the sixth inning, then held on as Astoria loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Alex Hillard hit a ground ball on the infield, forcing a throw home that had Krupsky diving off the plate to keep the ball from going to the backstop, however Caitlyn Voller was ruled out at home in a controversial decision. Abrahams followed with a ground out to shortstop to end the game. Bug Coggins had two hits for Astoria, which dropped to 2-4 in league and 6-10 overall. The Indians maintained their second place standing, improving to 5-1 and 9-5, trailing first place Yamhill-Carlton by a game. Astoria hosts Banks for a single game on Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.
Naselle vs. North Beach...no score reported

BOYS GOLF-Seaside Invitational at Gearhart Golf Links
TOP TEAM: Toledo 330 (Joe Edwards 78 [2nd tie])
MEDALIST: Neal Hammond (BANKS) 74
The Toledo Boomers took first place at the six-team Seaside Invitational, overcoming a season-best performance by the home team to defeat the host Seagulls by four strokes.

The Gulls' Matt Peinhardt finished in a 4-way tie for second with a 78, four strokes behind tournament medalist Neal Hammond of Banks. Peinhardt ended up third behind Toledo's Joe Edwards after a two-hole playoffs. Juan Cucchi of Toledo and Colby Anderson of Tillamook ended up in a tie for fourth after Peinhardt and Edwards eached birdied the first playoff hole. Edwards hit a 3-foot putt for par on the second playoff hole, while Peinhardt nearly holed out for par with a bunker shot that ended up inches from the hole.

Devan Flukinger fired a 39 on the front nine at Gearhart on the way to an 83 for the day. Chris Olson fired a career low 84 for Seaside and Evan Jiroudek shot an 89. Freshman Peter Scruggs also shot a season low with a 92.

"This was a good tournament for us," said Seagulls head coach Jim Poetsch. " We were just a few strokes away from winning and we put up some good numbers today. Matt played great all day long. The playoff was a great experience for him and he performed well under the pressure of everyone watching."

Only 19 strokes separated first place Toledo and last place Astoria. Alex Ferber paced the Fishermen with a sixth place 80. Jon Natividad shot a season-best 89 to tie for 15th.

"Our guys came up a little short of our tournament goal," said Astoria head coach Dan Foss. "We still have some time to improve before districts."

Seaside will stay home on Thursday, hosting Astoria in a Cowapa League dual at Gearhart Golf Links at 2:00 p.m.

WEEKEND ROUNDUP

BASEBALL
Warrenton 15, Catlin Gabel 0 (5 innings)...Eric Gantenbein tossed a 5-inning 1-hitter with ten strikeouts and added a home run and a double at the plate as the Warriors blanked the Eagles in Portland. Brandon Slaughter also doubled and homered, driving in five runs for the Warriors, who collected 14 hits and committed no errors in the game. In other Lewis & Clark League action...Clatskanie defeated Rainier 4-2 to take over sole possession of first place in the league. Warrenton, a game back at 3-1 and 9-2 overall, heads to Rainier on Tuesday.
Knappa 9-18, Corbett 0-14...A swinging bunt is all that stood between Gary Aho and a 7-inning no-hitter as the Knappa lefty outdueled Corbett's Kevin Greenslade on the way to a shutout win in game one of Friday's doubleheader. Aho also went 2-for-2 at the plate with a home run, while Karac Anderson went 3-for-4 in the victory. The Loggers earned the sweep with a wild win in game two, overcoming eight errors with 19 hits. Aho and Jordan Strickland each had four hits with Strickland hitting a grand slam. Anderson walked four times and scored four runs and Cody Strickland also scored four times for the Loggers, picking up the win on the mound, while Aho notched a save. The Loggers are an even .500 at 3-3, in third place in the 2A Special District 1 standings at the halfway point. Knappa (9-6 overall) hosts league-leading Nestucca (6-1, 13-2) on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Naselle vs. Lake Quinault...no score reported
Seaside at Tillamook...no score reported

SOFTBALL
Knappa 7-1, Corbett 17-3...The Cardinals scored in every inning but the third, outhitting the Loggers 17-14 in game one. Knappa's Taryn Hirahara had an RBI double and a 3-run home run in game two as the Loggers earned the split at home.
Seaside 0-0 vs. Tillamook 7-14 (Game Two, 6 innings)
Naselle vs. Lake Quinault...no score reported
Naselle vs. Tacoma Baptist...no score reported

BLACKJACK! FISHERMEN HIT 21 IN WIN AT SCAPPOOSE

In stark contrast to Tuesday's 2-0 pitcher's duel, Astoria outslugged Scappoose 20-8 on the road Thursday night, putting on a remarkable hitting display to run their Cowapa League record to a perfect 6-0.

As if making up for lost AB's after their potent offense was slowed by Jacob Gale's 5-hit pitching performance on Tuesday, the Fishermen mercilessly attacked young lefthander Julian Zirkle and continued pounding away at righthanded reliever Charlie Updike until the mercy bell sounded at the end of the sixth round.

Neither team's pitcher was benefitting from a postage stamp-sized strike zone that had both Zirkle and Astoria sophomore starter Jordan Poyer forced to serve fastballs up and over the plate in order to get a strike. These are teams that feast on fat pitches and the final stat lines emphasize that.

"Poyer couldn't get an out in third inning," said a bemused Astoria head coach Dave Gasser. "There were no corners or low strikes."

Poyer gave way to Nick Bredleau after walking six batters and giving up four hits in two-plus innings and was hung for six early runs.

"He was really getting squeezed," said Gasser, "but there wasn't much of an adjustment. He just kept throwing them where you often get strikes. [Astoria catcher Brendan] Landwehr told me there were at least 12 pitches that would ordinarily be called a strike."

Meanwhile, Scappoose's two pitchers found plenty of the plate and Astoria took advantage with 21 hits in the six inning game.

"I wondered for a while if we would need 20," said Gasser. "We made some good plays to get out of innings."

Any frustration Poyer felt on the mound certainly did not affect him at the plate, as the sophomore smacked his second home run in a week, one of three long balls on the day for the Fishermen and one of three hits on the night for "The Chef".

Each of Astoria's nine batters had at least one hit, while Brent Culver, Tom Jawarski, Brendan Landwehr and Mason Brause all joined Poyer in the 3-hit club.

It was a particularly good day for the Brause family as elder brother Matt and sophomore designated hitter Mason each hit home runs. Mason's shot was his first extra base hit of the season. The Brause brothers combined to drive in eight runs and Mason scored three times.

The victory was Astoria's 11th straight and clinched the season series with Scappoose as Astoria maintains a two-game lead in the Cowapa League standings over Yamhill-Carlton, which moved into second place with a 7-6 win over struggling Banks.

"We did what we needed to do," said Gasser. "We wanted to get two from them."

Astoria plays three games next week. All will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN. The Banks Braves visit Aiken Field on Tuesday, then Astoria travels to Banks on Thursday, with both games at 5:00 p.m. Saturday, the Fishermen host the top-ranked 2A team in Washington as the Mark Morris Monarchs, featuring Washington State-bound Matt Argyropolis, visit Astoria for a 1:00 p.m. contest.

ASTORIA 6-4-2-3-0-5 20-21-1
SCAPPOOSE 2-4-0-2-0-0 8-7-3
WP-Bredleau (4ip, 3h, 2r, er, 2k, 2bb)
LP-Zirkle (2.1ip, 12h, 12r, 12er, 0k, bb)

LEAKY LOSS FOR WARRENTON

If this is as bad as at gets for Warrenton, then the Warriors should feel pretty good about their chances in the Lewis & Clark League.

It's hard to feel good about a 2-1 loss at home to Clatskanie, one of two teams that will contend with the Warriors for the top spot in the league. But, as poorly as the Warriors played on Thursday, they nearly were able to pull off a win against the visiting Tigers.

"We couldn't put things together," said Warriors head coach Lennie Wolfe. "We did not execute well defensively or play small ball well."

Dan Wolfe's strong outing on the mound was wasted as the Warriors committed seven errors in the loss.

Three batters into the game, Warrenton already had more errors than Clatskanie would have hits.

The game began ominously when Luke Meyer's fly ball to left field was dropped, putting the Clatskanie leadoff man at second base. Meyer was on third shortly thereafter, when a pickoff throw ended up in center field and would score when younger brother Asa Meyer reached on an error after the first baseman pulled his foot off the bag. Asa Meyer would advance to second base on the fourth error of the inning, later scoring what turned out to be the decisive run.

Wolfe battled through the adversity, allowing just three hits in the game with seven strikeouts and two walks. Only one of Clatskanie's three hits left the infield and Adam Kallio was responsible for all three of the Tigers' hits. Only four balls were hit to the outfield by Clatskanie and two of them were dropped fly balls.

While the Warriors made a lot of poor plays in the field, they kept the Tigers at bay by responding with runners on base.

"We did a couple of good things defensively," said Wolfe. "We turned a couple of double plays up the middle. We picked a guy off second base."

Equally as aggravating as the defensive lapses if not moreso, were Warrenton's failures to move runners with the sacrifice bunt, a foundation of Warrior baseball.

Warrenton got a run back in the third when Kevin Moore reached on an infield hit, moved to second on an errant pickoff throw, to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on a ground out by Buddy Davis.

Down by a single run, the Warriors had plenty of opportunities to score the rest of the way.

"Our bunting game hurt us," said Wolfe. "We failed to execute three bunts, one of them a squeeze."

Warrenton put runners on second and third with one out in the fourth inning, but a the failed squeeze cost them the lead runner and the inning ended with Beau Torres being picked off first base.

In the sixth inning, with two on and nobody out, Taylor made a leaping catch at second base on Bubba Massey's line drive. With Kallio on the mound, the Tigers retired the next two batters to end the threat.

Finally, in the seventh inning Kevin Moore and Dan Wolfe got on base with singles putting runners on first and second with two out. Buddy Davis hit a sharp ground ball back up the middle off the pitcher Kallio, who recovered just in time to get the final out of the game with the dangerous Eric Gantenbein looming on deck.

"We didn't execute early," said Wolfe, "and we didn't look real sharp later. We didn't execute our stuff. They did a great job defensively. They turned a double play and their pitcher made us hit ground balls and they made the plays."

"It wasn't just a matter of us booting it away. They did a lot of good things."

Moore finished 2-for-3 at the plate for Warrenton.

The Warriors, now 8-2 with a 2-1 league record, head to Catlin Gabel on Friday. Then Tuesday its a key road game at Rainier. Wins in those games could create a three-way tie for first place pending the outcome of Rainier's game against Clatskanie.

CLATSKANIE 2-0-0-0-0-0-0 2-3-2
WARRENTON 0-0-1-0-0-0-0 1-7-7
WP-Taylor (5ip, 4h, er, 2k, 3bb)
LP-Wolfe (7ip, 3h, 2r, 0er, 7k, 2bb)
SV-Kallio (2ip, 2h, 0r, 0k, bb)

FISHERMEN NIP TIGERS ON THE TRACK

The drama continues for the Astoria Fishermen track teams.

Shorthanded again, Astoria was still able to pull out a couple of close dual meet victories, defeating visiting Yamhill-Carlton 81-64 in the boys meet and edging the Tigers 78-67 in the girls meet.

"In all three of our duals this year,against Scappoose first, then Tillamook and then today against Y-C, they've been in that ballpark range with regards to points," said Astoria head track coach Lynn Jackson. "So we've had very tight meets so far, which is good. It helps the kids to perform with a certain level of pressure."

The boys missing in action included Justin Tikkala and Andres Lopez, half of Astoria's 400 meter relay team. The Fishermen nearly won that race anyhow, falling to the Tigers by 2/100ths of a second for a ten point swing in the scoring.

The Fishermen boys picked up the scoring slack with strong showings from Kyle McMullen and Steven Wentworth. McMullen set a personal record in the long jump, crossing the 20-foot barrier for the first time with a winning leap of 20-6 1/2. McMullen added victories in both the high (15.81) and intermediate hurdles (42.52).

"Right now we've got two 20-footers and Justin Tikkala, who has a mark of 19-11-and-three quarters," said Jackson of his high jump trio. "Round it up just a smidge and you are looking at three 20-footers on our team. Our league this year in the long jump is incredibly strong. Last year I believe 19-11 made it to state. This year, we are looking a five or six kids in the league who can actually jump farther than that."

Wentworth did all he could to push the 400 relay team to the line, adding a third place finish in the long jump to victories in the 100 (11.24) and 200 meters (23.28).

Nathan Stinnett kept his unbeaten streak alive in the javelin (161-10), despite an off day. Stinnett was also part of a Fishermen sweep in the shot, finishing second to Alex Whitaker, who won with a solid put of 48-2. Dante Combs placed third.

The best competition of the day was at the high jump bar, where three athletes cleared 6-feet, led by Scappoose's Jacob Perry, who won with a jump of 6-2. Astoria's Justin Roberts and Chris Meyer, both juniors, cleared 6-feet with Meyer setting a P.R.

On the girls side, Laura Bobek and Jamie Coggins continue to dominate the discus and shot put. Bobek launched a breathtaking throw of nearly 150-feet that landed just outside the boundary, still winning with a state-best throw of 138-5, with Coggins second (107-10). The sophomore Bobek rebounded to beat her teammate in the shot put (39-6 to 36-6 3/4) after Coggins had the best put of the day and a meet record at the Banks Invitational Saturday.

"You are putting uphill at Astoria's ring," said Jackson. "That's not a bad mark."

Throwing coach Bob Ellsberg echoed Jackson's sentiments, saying that Bobek's put would easily be beyond the 40-foot mark at Scappoose, where the district meet will be held in May.

Charlene Harber took first place in the 100 (12.90), 200 (27.22) and long jump (17-2).

Freshman Marilyn Brooks won the high jump with a personal record 5-foot jump, placing second in the high hurdles (17.28) with Janae Poe third (17.63).

The Fishermen hacve another home meet next Thursday when they take on the Banks Braves at 3:30 p.m.

THURSDAY ROUNDUP

BASEBALL
Seaside 10, Tillamook 0 (5 innings)...The Seagulls batted around in the third and fourth innings, scoring nine of their ten runs in a mercy rule victory at Broadway Field. Ross Knutsen went 2-for-3 with four runs batted in and Ben Christianson was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBI's. Will Beatty and Mark Thysell each had two hits and two runs scored. The Seagulls outhit the Cheesemakers 11-to-3. Mitch De Gandi pitched all five innings to get the win, striking out seven with three bases on balls. The two teams play again Friday at Tillamook to make up Tuesday's rained out game.
Ocosta 13, Naselle 2...Playing for the first time in nearly a month, the Comets were no match for the veteran Wildcats. The game was moved from Naselle to Westport due to field conditions and Ocosta's Tom Quimby pitched well in familiar surroundings, fanning 16 Comet hitters without a walk over a six-inning stint. The Wildcats carried a 6-0 lead into the seventh inning, with four of the runs unearned. Matt Blain started on the mound for Naselle and allowed four hits and three runs, one earned, over two and two thirds innings to take the loss. Casey Heagy provided two and a third innings of solid relief, before giving way to Nathan Sultemeier. The sophomore pitcher, making his first appearance of the season after rehabbing a broken arm, struggled with control, walking seven batters in the final two innings as the Wildcats blew the game open. Naselle scored its two runs in the seventh when Matt Chavez doubled and scored on a Blain single. Blain stole third and scored on a catcher's overthrow. The 1-4 Comets host Lake Quinault for a doubleheader on Monday.

SOFTBALL
Tillamook 4, Astoria 1...Chelsea Schriber tossed a complete game 1-hitter with seven strikeouts as the Cheesemakers defeated the Fishermen at Tillamook. The Cheesemakers got all the scoring they would need in the first inning on a 2-run single by catcher Kelsey Vogel, followed by an RBI double by Schriber. Astoria's only hit of the game came in the second, when Sam Koskela doubled, later scoring on a groundout by Caitlyn Voeller. The Fishermen committed four errors leading to two unearned runs. Alex Hillard took the loss, allowing six hits and one walk with six strikeouts. The Fishermen head to Scappoose for a doubleheader on Monday, then host Banks in a single game on Tuesday.
Clatskanie 6, Warrenton 0...After Warrenton played more than 2-and-a-half hours at Neah-Kah-Nie last Friday, the Warriors and Tigers zipped through a brisk 90 minute pitcher's duel Thursday at Warrenton City Park. The Tigers' Courtney Sherman fanned 13 Warriors batters in a 1-hit shutout. Sherman walked four batters and Warrenton's only hit was a Brooklyn Campbell single to lead off the second inning. The Warriors did not get a runner past first base, spoiling a strong outing from lefthanded junior pitcher Chelsea Neahring, who struck out 12, walked four and allowed just two hits. Clatskanie's Lisa Trass drove in a run in the fourth inning with a standup double. The Tigers played error-free ball, while four Warrior errors factored into the scoring. The Warriors host the undefeated Rainier Columbians on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Naselle vs. Ocosta...score not reported

THURSDAY SCOREBOARD

BASEBALL
Astoria 20, Scappoose 8
Ocosta 13, Ocosta 2
SEASIDE 10, Tillamook 0
Clatskanie 2, Warrenton 1
Yamhill-Carlton 7, Banks 6
N.W. Christian at Tacoma Baptist, 4:00 p.m.
North Beach at Aberdeen J.V., 4:00 p.m.
VERNONIA vs. Catlin Gabel, 4:30 p.m.
PORTLAND CHRIST. 19, Country Christian 1

SOFTBALL
NASELLE vs. Ocosta...score not reported
Clatskanie 6, Warrenton 0
Tillamook 4, Astoria 1
La Center at Rochester, 4:00 p.m. (2)
N.W. Christian at Tacoma Baptist

GIRLS GOLF
Scappoose 300, Astoria 360
Medalist: Megan Callahan (S) 64

TRACK AND FIELD
BOYS: ASTORIA 81, Yamhill-Carlton 64
GIRLS: ASTORIA 78, Yamhill-Carlton 67
Seaside at Banks, 3:30 p.m.
Warrenton, Riverdale and Westside Christian at O.E.S., 3:30 p.m.
Knappa, Portland Lutheran and Heritage/Faith Bible at Nestucca, 3:30 p.m.
Ilwaco, Naselle, Forks, Ocosta, Winlock and Mary M. Knight at Montesano, 3:30 p.m.
at Montesano, 3:30 p.m.

FISH RIDE PITCHING, DEFENSE TO 10TH STRAIGHT WIN

After a come-from-behind win over Ilwaco on Saturday with an alternate lineup on the field, the Fishermen baseball nine got their first real challenge of the spring on Wednesday.

Astoria squeezed out two runs in the fourth inning in a tight pitcher's duel and held on to defeat Scappoose 2-0 at Aiken Field. With the win, Astoria secured a two-game lead in the Cowapa League, improving to 5-0 and 10-3 overall.

Senior righthander Matt Brause won his 19th consecutive decision in a 4-hit shutout performance, but got some defensive help late in the game to keep the Indians off the scoreboard.

"We heard they had a good pitcher," said Brause, who improved to 4-0 on the season and 3-0 in Cowapa League play with yesterday's win. "He threw pretty hard and had a pretty good curveball. He kept us off balance."

Indians' starter Jacob Gale pitched very well, but was able to escape trouble early in the game thanks to his steady defense.

"He's got good stuff," said Astoria head coach Dave Gasser. "And then they played clean behind him. Better than clean. We hit four or five balls on the screws and they made the plays on all of them. They played great."

"If I'm them, I'm wondering how we can pitch that well and play that good of defense and lose. But, then the answer becomes we played super clean behind Matt. If we would've blinked defensively, we would've lost. Simple as that."

The teams combined for just nine hits and only one error in a well-played game that lasted just over 90 minutes and endured only one brief, light shower that did not stop play.

Gale allowed five hits and struck out six batters with three bases on balls, but a walk and a hit batter in the fourth inning led to Astoria's only runs of the game.

With one out, Adam Koehnke and Joey Dursse reached on back-to-back infield singles between short and third. With Koehnke on first, a hit-and-run got shortstop Ryan Wilson moving toward second as Dursse poked a ground ball to the vacated spot, which rolled to a stop in the wet grass in shallow left field just beyond the cut of the infield. Mason Brause followed with a drive to deep right field, but Josh Courtney was able to make a fine running catch to hold the runners in place.

Earlier in the game, Cody Hoglund's twisting, turning catch of a Tom Jawarski drive about ten feet from the wall in left field denied Astoria a scoring opportunity. Third baseman Charlie Updike made a leaping snag on a Jordan Poyer line drive in the first inning to save at least one run and corraled a hot smash off the bat of Matt Brause with a runner on second in the third inning.

With two outs and runners at first and second, Gale hit Hans Lund with a pitch to load the bases, before walking Brent Culver on four pitches to force in Koehnke with the first run of the game. Then, with Jawarski at the plate, Dursse broke down the line from third as Gale went into a windup motion. The rattled pitcher stopped dead in his tracks for a balk, as Dursse scored what turned out to be an insurance run.

"Joey had a great jump," said Gasser. "If he hadn't have balked he would have beat the ball."

Brause allowed just one hit through the first five innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth as Sean Wasson and Julian Zirkle led off the inning with back-to-back line drive base hits to the opposite field. With the tying runs on base and nobody out, Hoglund bunted an 0-1 pitch toward the mound. Brause came off the hill and fired to third base to force out Wasson.

"In the conditions we were playing in, you can't underestimate the pitcher coming off the mound and getting the lead out," said Gasser.

Gale followed with a deep drive to right-center field, but had two things going against him: the strong wind off Young's Bay and Brent Culver's glove.

"When that ball left the bat, I didn't think we were catching it," said Gasser. "I mean that was hit on the screws! But Brent was moving before the ball was hit. I mean, he just went straight to the ball. Honestly, of all the nice defensive plays made in this game that was the best. If that's in the gap, they score two and the winning run is at second or third and we might not win the game."

The senior centerfielder and leadoff hitter, who went 1-for-2 with a walk in the game, continues an impressive start to the season in which he has made contributions with the bat (hitting over .500 for the season), the glove and the wheels in nearly every game for Astoria.

"That guy hit that ball harder than anyone's hit one off me in a long time," said Brause of the Gale fly out. "He crushed that. I thought that was out at first. It got in the wind today. Then I thought it was a gapper and I see Culver running like a blur and he caught it. That was amazing. That was a great catch."

Brause struck out Updike looking at an 0-2 curveball to end the inning and pitched a scoreless seventh to polish off the shutout.

"Lately, we've been scoring a lot of runs early," said Brause. "I don't want to say coasting, but we haven't had to really worry about anything. I think this was a good game to have as kind of an eye-opener to not take anyone lightly. They came to play today. They probably have the mindset now that they can beat us. It will be a tough game [Thursday]."

The game featured no extra base hits and no one had more than one hit in the game. Culver, Dursse and Koehnke each reached base twice with a single and a base on balls for Astoria, while Caleb Honl singled and walked for the Indians.

"It was a really well-pitched, well-defensed game," said Gasser. "Kind of a playoff-type look to that. "

The Fishermen and Indians play again today in Scappoose at 5:00 p.m.

SCAPPOOSE 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 0-4-1
ASTORIA 0-0-0-2-0-0-X 2-5-0
W-Brause (7ip, 4h, 0r, 7k, 2bb, wp)
L-Gale (6ip, 5h, 2er, 6k, 3bb, hp, bk)
E-Updike. LOB-Scappoose 5, Astoria 7. SB-Jawarski, Koehnke, Culver. CS-Courtney.

WEDNESDAY SCOREBOARD

BASEBALL
ASTORIA 2, Scappoose 0
WARRENTON vs. Clatskanie...postponed to Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
OCOSTA vs. Lake Quinault, 4:00 p.m.
Seaside at Tillamook, 5:00 p.m.
Corbett at Gaston, 3:00 p.m. (2)

SOFTBALL
WARRENTON vs. Clatskanie...postponed to Thursday, 4:30 p.m.
OCOSTA vs. Lake Quinault, 4:00 p.m.

TRACK & FIELD-Bellevue Christian Invitational, 5:00 p.m.
Tacoma Baptist, Annie Wright, Bush, Cedar Park Christ., Northwest School, Seattle Academy,
University Prep

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Minnesota Twins 5, Seattle Mariners 4

N.B.A. BASKETBALL
PORTLAND BLAZERS vs. Golden St. Warriors 120, Portland Trailblazers 98
Dallas Mavericks 106, Seattle Supersonics 75

PCL BASEBALL
PORTLAND BEAVERS vs. Sacramento River Cats 4, Portland Beavers 1
TACOMA RAINIERS 4, Fresno Grizzlies 2

FISH GOLFERS FALL AT SCAPPOOSE

On a wet, windy and well, wild day at Wildwood, the Scappoose boys golf team defeated Astoria 342-362 in a Cowapa League dual match.

Astoria junior Alex Ferber shared co-medalist honors with Indians' senior Weston Powers with an 82. John Natividad shot a front-nine 40 on the way to a 90 for the day, Cody Voller carded a 93 with Craig Folgner scoring 97 and Thomas Barbick 98.

The Fishermen head to Gearhart Golf Links on Monday to compete in the Seaside Invitational. Tillamook, Scappoose and Banks are also scheduled to appear, making it a district tournament preview.

MONDAY SCOREBOARD

BASEBALL
NASELLE vs. Oakville...postponed
Ilwaco at Rochester, 3:00 p.m. (2)
N.W. CHRISTIAN vs. Taholah, 3:30 p.m.
TACOMA BAPTIST vs. Evergreen Lutheran, 4:00 p.m.
OCOSTA vs. Pe Ell, 4:00 p.m.
North Beach at Lake Quinault, 4:00 p.m.

SOFTBALL
ILWACO vs. Rochester...postponed
NASELLE vs. Oakville...postponed
COUNTRY CHRIST. vs. Corbett, 4:30 p.m.
KALAMA vs. Castle Rock, 4:00 p.m. (2)
N.W. CHRISTIAN vs. Taholah, 3:30 p.m.
TACOMA BAPTIST vs. Rainier Christian, 4:00 p.m.
OCOSTA vs. Pe Ell, 4:00 p.m.
North Beach at Lake Quinault, 4:00 p.m.

BOYS GOLF-Banks Invitational at Quail Valley G.C.
Scappoose 323, North Valley 331, Astoria 349, Banks 355, Estacada 359
MEDALIST: Neal Hammond (BANKS) 76

GIRLS GOLF-Seaside Invitational at Gearhart Golf Links, 10:00 a.m.

N.B.A. BASKETBALL
Utah Jazz 130, Portland Trailblazers 92

PCL BASEBALL
PORTLAND BEAVERS 4, Fresno Grizzlies 3
Sacramento River Cats 4, TACOMA RAINIERS 3

POYER SHOT SENDS ILWACO PACKING

Astoria wanted an extra game last week to get the rest of their team some playing time. Ilwaco probably just wanted rest.

In Saturday's battle of the Fishermen, Ilwaco led 2nd-ranked Astoria 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning when four Astoria all-league starters came off the bench and to the rescue. Jordan Poyer concluded Astoria's comeback with a walkoff 3-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, which boosted Astoria to a 7-4 victory.

The blast to left-field was the second game-winning home run against Ilwaco in a span of 16-and-a-half hours, leaving the Pacific County Fishermen with a 1-5 overall record while the Clatsop County Fishermen picked up their ninth straight win. Ilwaco played late into the night Friday night, losing a 19-15 nine-inning game at White Salmon after falling 12-0 in six innings in the first game of the doubleheader. Some of the players did not reach their beds until 3:30 in the morning Saturday, then had to be in uniform and ready to go for the 1:00 p.m. non-league game at Aiken Field. Ilwaco played without four-year starting centerfielder Alex Martin and fellow senior starter Cody Chalker.

Astoria began the game with a primarily junior-led lineup, with only shortstop Tom Jawarski, second baseman Hans Lund and left fielder Adam Koehnke in their usual starting positions. Part-time first baseman Gabe Davis, a senior, got the start in centerfield for the Fishermen, while all-state standouts Matt Brause, Brent Culver and Jordan Poyer began the game in the dugout.

After a Jordan Desimone base hit and a couple of loud outs in the first inning, Ilwaco got to Astoria starter Nick Bredleau in the second, when second baseman Ryan Garcia sent the first pitch he saw sailing over the left field fence for a home run. That would be the only earned run allowed by Astoria's senior starter, who gave up four hits and five walks, striking out six over a six inning stint.

Meanwhile, Ilwaco starter Paul Blaylock, who surrendered a walk-off grand slam to White Salmon late the previous evening, cruised through the first three innings with a lot of help from his freshman battery-mate. Trevor Couch gunned down Jawarski stealing after Astoria's speedy shortstop led off the game with a base hit. Couch eliminated another baserunner in the second, erasing Poyer easily after the athletic sophomore came in to run for catcher Sam Johnson in the second after a fielding error put Johnson on base with one out.

Blaylock retired the side in order in the third, facing the minimum number of batters through the first three innings, but began experiencingn the control problems that haunted him the night before in the fourth. Blaylock, who missed almost the entirety of last season with an elbow injury, walked Jawarski to lead off the inning, then watched as Astoria's aggressive baserunning evened the score. Jaws took second when a pickoff throw went off the glove of Desimone at first for an error, then raced home after stealing third when Couch's throw went into left field. The purple-and-gold Fishermen would load the bases on a walk, a hit batter and an infield hit by Johnson, then junior Jared Rummell drew another base on balls to force in Koehnke with the go-ahead run.

That would be it for the senior Blaylock, as freshman Justin Short toed the slab with the bases loaded and one out. Short would escape unscathed, inducing Davis to ground into a force out at home before fanning Oscar Carriere to end the inning. Short would wiggle out of trouble again in the fifth, loading the bases with three consecutive two-out walks before striking out Johnson to leave the sacks jammed for the second straight inning.

Through five innings, only two of Astoria's five all-league starters came off the bench, with Poyer twice entering as a courtesy runner for Johnson and Joey Dursse drawing a walk as a pinch-hitter in the fifth inning.

Ilwaco grabbed a 4-2 lead with three unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning. A Jawarski throwing error put Couch on second base to start the inning. Desimone followed with an RBI single, his second hit of the contest. Paul Blaylock reached on third baseman Brad Sarpola's second error of the game and after a wild pitch moved the runners up, Astoria opted to walk the dangerous, but struggling Anthony Wirkkala to load the bases. Garcia grounded into a 4-6-3 double play, Astoria's third twin-killing of the game, but Desimone raced home with the go-ahead run. Bredleau fanned Short on a 1-2 pitch that should have ended the inning, but after the ball ended up in the dirt, Johnson's throw to first base sailed over the head of Rummell for the third error of the frame, allowing Blaylock to cross the plate.

Astoria didn't mess around in the sixth, beginning the process fo entering its front line players back into the game. After Rummell led off the inning with a base on balls, Poyer came to bat for the first time, flying out to deep center field. Brent Culver pinch hit for Carriere and served the first pitch he saw back up the middle for a base hit, taking second on the throw back to the outfield. A passed ball scored Rummell and put Culver at third before Astoria loaded the bases with a walk to pinch-hitting catcher Brendan Landwehr and a Hans Lund hit-by-pitch. With Adam Koehnke at the plate, Culver broke for home, scoring when the ball bounced past Couch to the backstop. With the game tied at four and runners at second and third with two outs, Short again got a key inning-ending strikeout, fainning the hot-hitting Koehnke on a 2-2 pitch.

Short and Blaylock had both danced out of danger several times in the game, as Astoria struggled to deliver in the clutch with men on base and had just four hits total in the game, matching their error total. But too many free passes finally caught up to Ilwaco in the final inning. A leadoff walk to pinch-hitting Matt Brause put the go-ahead run on. With Johnson showing bunt, Short was called for a balk, putting the State 3A Player of the Year in scoring position. Strangely, the sacrifice was called off and Johnson popped out to Garcia at second base, failing to move the runner. That would be moot as Brause went to third on a wild pitch and Rummell got plunked in the backside to put runners on first and third, bringing Poyer to the plate. The 3rd-team All-state outfielder worked the count to 3-1 before sending a Short fastball rocketing out of the park to left field to end the game.

Astoria, now 9-3 overall, has perhaps its toughest Cowapa League test yet, facing the Scappoose Indians on Tuesday at Aiken Field. Scappoose (3-1 Cowapa League, 8-5 overall) will likely send Jacob Gale to the hill, after Gale threw a one-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over Banks and followed up with a 3-hitter in a victory over Yamhill-Carlton. Astoria will counter with right-handed ace Mathias Brause, who has not lost a game since the summer of 2005. Tuesday's game will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN, beginning at 4:55 p.m.

ILWACO 0-1-0-0-0-3-0 4-4-3
ASTORIA 0-0-0-2-0-2-3 7-4-4
WP-Lund (ip, 0h, 0r, k)
LP-Short (3ip, 2h, 5r, 5er, 5k, 6bb, 2hp, 3wp)
E-Garcia, Short, J. Desimone, Sarpola 2, Jawarski, Johnson. LOB-Ilwaco 3, Astoria 8. HR-Garcia, Poyer. SB-Jawarski, Culver. CS-Jawarski, Poyer. DP-Astoria 3. PB-Couch, Johnson

WEEKEND ROUNDUP

BASEBALL
Warrenton 21, Neah-Kah-Nie 0 (5 innings)...The Warriors made very quick work of a young Pirates team as Dan Wolfe and Eric Gantenbein combined on a 5-inning perfect game, striking out all but one batter they faced on the way to the mercy-rule victory. Wolfe also drove in three runs at the plate and Kevin Moore and Brandon Slaughter each had two hits and three RBI's. The Warriors, now 2-0 in Lewis & Clark League and 8-1 overall, host the Clatskanie Tigers on Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.
Columbia 12-19, Ilwaco 0-15 (Game One 6 innings, Game Two 9 innings)...A long, long doubleheader finally ended on a Greg Tellez grand slam home run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Bruins swept a pair of Trico Division games from the Fishermen at White Salmon Friday night. Kyle Reeves hit three home runs on the day for Columbia, including a grand slam in game one. Paul Blaylock homered for Ilwaco in the top of the ninth inning to give the Fishermen a 15-14 lead in game two of the doubleheader. But the senior righthander, forced to the mound for the first time since early last spring, walked two and hit two batters before surrendering the walk-off home run to Tellez. Anthony Wirkkala took the loss in game one for the Fishermen.
Naselle vs. Tacoma Baptist...postponed
SOFTBALL
Warrenton at Neah-Kah-Nie...results not reported
Ilwaco at Columbia...results not reported
BOYS GOLF
Central Coast Classic...The Seaside Seagulls placed eighth out of eight teams against some of the state's top 4A competition at this two-day event, which began at Sandpines Golf Resort Thursday and concluded at Salishan Golf Resort and Spa in Lincoln City on Friday. Phoenix won the event with a team score of 646 and J.T. Compher earned individual medalist for the Pirates with a 2-day total of 153, ten over par. The Pirates trailed the Brookings-Harbor Bruins by three strokes following the first round, but closed with a 316 at Salishan, paced by Compher's 5-over 76 to defeat the Bruins handily 646-674. Siuslaw was third with a 704. Seaside, led by Chris Olson's 186, finished with 807 strokes. Olson edged teammate Devan Flukinger by one stroke. Flukinger suffered through a tough day at Sandpines, shooting a 31-over 103, but recovered with an 84 at Salishan. Evan Jiroudek finished at 195 and Peter Scruggs shot 239 for the Gulls. The tournament featured each of last year's 3A league champion teams, however, the Gulls have an entirely new scoring quartet in 2007 after graduating all of last year's team. The Gulls finished the tournament with just four golfers after Donnie Strite had to withdraw with a wrist injury. The Gulls hit the home course for the first time this season when they host the Seaside Invitational on Monday, April 23.
TRACK AND FIELD
Banks Invitational...A strong showing by Warrenton freshman Jordyn Holt, while Scio's Zach Massari stole the show from Warrenton's top middle distance duo. Holt won the triple jump by an inch over Tillamook's Western Oregon-bound Stephanie Beeler, leaping 33-feet, 11-1/2 inches. The Warriors rookie sensation also took on another young star head on, battling Astoria's Charlene Harber in a pair of events. Holt edged Harber for second place by 1/100th of a second in the 100 meters, finishing in 13.05, but it was another frosh, Tillamook's Robin Smith, who won the event in 12.71. Holt placed third in the long jump, but was outclassed by Harber who jumped 16-8. Astoria's shot and discus duo of sophomore Laura Bobek and junior Jamie Coggins were pretty much battling themselves Saturday. Coggins out-tossed her younger teammate in the shot, with a put of 38-feet, 11-1/4 inches, while Bobek threw the disc 135-11 to win comfortably. In boys competition, Astoria's Steven Wentworth returned from illness to win the 400 meters in 53.74, but couldn't catch up to Tillamook's Blaise Bennett in the 200, finishing two-tenths of a second back at 23.84. In the 800 meters, Warrenton's Michael O'Casey defeated teammate Dallas Moses by nearly two seconds in 2:02.37, but both runners were looking at Scio's Zach Massari's taillights. Twenty teams competed on Saturday. No team scores or Astoria individual places were reported.

FISHERMEN TEN-RUN MOOKS, SCAPPOOSE NEXT

Different starting pitcher, same results for the Fishermen.

Astoria won its eighth straight game, improving to 4-0 in the Cowapa League with a 5-inning, 11-1 victory over Tillamook at Aiken Field Thursday.

Jordan Poyer, making his second start of the year on the mound, struck out 12 Cheesemaker batters to improve to 2-0 on the season. The sophomore righthander struck out the side in the second, third and fifth innings, notching eight straight and 11 of the final 12 outs via the K.

The Fishermen took a little longer to build the ten run margin offensively, but were able to put multiple runs on the scoreboard in each inning off Tillamook pitchers Bryan Leuthold and J.T. Strang.

Tom Jawarski gave Astoria all the runs it would need with a 2-run home run down the left field line in the first inning, his first varsity spring home run. The junior shortstop also singled and scored in the fourth inning, one of four Fishermen batters with two hits each.

Leadoff man Brent Culver is now batting over .500 for the season after going 2-for-2 with an RBI double and two runs scored. Poyer went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and number nine hitter Hans Lund went 2-for-3 with a run scored, ending the game with one out in the bottom of the fifth with a 2-RBI double over the head of Tillamook centerfielder Bryan Leuthold, scoring Adam Koehnke and Joey Dursse.

Tillamook scored its only run in the third inning. The Mooks loaded the bases on a hit batter and a pair of walks before freshman shortstop Josh Rodrigues delivered an infield single to the hole between shortstop and third base. Poyer worked out of the threat by striking out David Gienger and J.T. Strang, Tillamook's number three and four batters, back-to-back. The only Cheesemaker batter that didn't strike out was ninth hitter Chris Reeves, who walked in his only plate appearance. Only one ball left the infield against Poyer when freshman second baseman Nate Seaholm singled up the middle with one out in the fourth inning.

Astoria and Scappoose will square off for first place in the Cowapa League standings Tuesday at Aiken Field. The game will be broadcast live on SportsRadio 1230 ESPN, with pregame coverage beginning at 4:55 p.m.

On Saturday, Astoria will host Ilwaco for a single game at 1:00 p.m.

TILLAMOOK 0-0-1-0-0 1-2-5
ASTORIA 3-2-2-1-3 11-9-1
E-Gienger 2, Strang, Walker, Thomas, Poyer. LOB-Tillamook 5, Astoria 2. 2B-Brause, Culver, Poyer. HR-Jawarski (1). SB-Culver, Lund, Johnson, Davis, Dursse. SF-Koehnke, Bredleau.
WP-Poyer (5ip, 2h, er, 12k, 2bb, hp, 2wp)
LP-Leuthold (2.1ip, 6h, 7r, 5er, 2k, 1bb, 4wp)

CLATSOP CLASH SOFTBALL

The Astoria Lady Fishermen broke out the bats, collecting 25 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Seaside at Niemi Field Thursday.

The Fishermen overcame a 6-2 deficit with four runs in the fifth and sixth innings to defeat the Gulls 10-8 in game one and led wire-to-wire in an 8-1 victory in game two to notch their first two league wins.

The heart of the Fishermen batting order was responsible for a lot of the production as Bug Coggins (4-for-7), Emily Burrell (5-for-7) and Alex Hillard (5-for-8) each had multiple hits in both games.

"That's why those kids are there," said Astoria head coach Dave Kellmer. "They have to produce for us. Bug and Emily hit the ball hard. It's exciting to see Bug hit the first home run over our new fence. That's pretty cool."

Coggins inaugurated the new Niemi Field fence with a third inning solo home run in game one, putting Astoria up 2-0. Seaside stormed ahead with three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth inning. Ashley Stinnett had a big double in the fourth and a clutch, 2-out RBI single in the fifth inning as Seaside took the lead, only to see Astoria rally from behind.

In addition to the middle hitters, Astoria's Amy Chaloux went 3-for-3 with a double in game one.

Hillard allowed five hits and five walks, striking out 11 to earn the victory, then added 11 more K's in game two, cuttin ght walks down to one as Astoria outhit Seaside 13-6 and played error-free ball in the field.

Burrell went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two runs scored in the second game and Hillard added three hits in four at bats. Seaside scored its lone run in the seventh inning, with McKenzie Bauske plating Nana Pierce with an RBI single. Bauske had two hits in three at bats.

"You always want to play well against Seaside," said Kellmer. "We've got a winning record in conference. I think its been awhile since that happened."

Astoria, now 2-1 in Cowapa League and 6-7 overall, heads to Tillamook on Tuesday. The unbeaten Cheesemakers face third-ranked Yamhill-Carlton Friday in their first Cowapa League action. Seaside dropped to 3-11 overall with the loss and go for their first league win at home against Banks on Tuesday.

BANKS EDGES PAST FISHERMEN BOYS GOLFERS

Astoria's Alex Ferber shot another medal winning round, but it wasn't enough to get the Fishermen boys past Banks, which defeated Astoria 352-359 in a Cowapa League dual at the Astoria Golf & Country Club Thursday.

Ferber shot a 40-38-78, which included a triple bogey and a couple of birdies. Neal Hammond and Shawn Klopfenstein paced the Braves, each shooting an 86.
Rounding out Astoria's scoring, Cody Voller shot 93, Craig Folgner and John Natividad each carded a 94 and Thomas Barbic battled through shin splints to earn a 96.

The Fishermen head to the Banks Invitational at Quail Valley on Monday, then on to Scappoose's new home course at Wildwood for their next dual on Tuesday.

TRACK AND FIELD ROUNDUP

Cowapa League Dual at Tillamook...Astoria's girls prevailed 87-54, while the boys lost their second straight close dual, falling 78-67 to the Cheesemakers. The Fishermen girls got a strong finish in the 300 hurdles and 3000 meters to extend their winning margin. Maddy Adee and Sarah Pope finished first and second in the hurdles, with Adee winning in 52.20 and the sophomore Pope dropping her time for the second consecutive meet to 54.88. Kataka Swerdloff won the 3000 with a time of 12:59.7 and Astoria closed the meet with a winning 4-by-400 relay time of 4:59.71. Sophomore Charlene Harber won the long jump (16-8) and 100 meters (13.02), but finished second to Tillamook freshman Robin Smith in the 200 meters, Smith finishing in 26.58 to Harber's 27.54. The Lady Fishermen swept the shot put and Laura Bobek and Jamie Coggins took the top two discus spots, with Bobek reaching 132-6 in the discus and 40 feet in shot. For the second straight meet, the boys were missing a key scoring athlete with Steven Wentworth out sick. Justin Tikkala, a senior first-year track athlete, triple jumped 40-feet, 11-inches to edge Andrew Baertlein by two inches. Baertlein got past Tikkala in the long jump, winning with a 20-4 jump, nearly a foot ahead of Tikkala. Justin Roberts cleared 6-feet to win the high jump and took first in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.24 to win by more than two seconds. Astoria dominated the throws, taking eight of the top nine places with Ben Mattingly (shot), Alex Whittaker (disc) and Nathan Stinnett (javelin) all earning first places. Both teams will compete at the Banks Invitational this Saturday.
S.W. WA 1A Meet at Castle Rock...Ilwaco's Katie Freese (1600/3200 meters), Bonnie Perez (javelin) and Annika Wolters (300 hurdles) all earned first places and combined with Cameo Ulbricht for a victory in the 4-by-400 meter relay. Ilwaco's girls finished second out of five teams with 81 points, trailing only La Center (102). The Wildcats earned the sweep with 77 points to win the boys meet. Ilwaco tied with Castle Rock for fourth place with 59 points. Steven Berglund earned the only top mark for Ilwaco, winning the 3200 meters in 11.16.
No results reported from Warrenton, Seaside or Naselle

THURSDAY SCOREBOARD

BASEBALL
ASTORIA 11, Tillamook 1 (5 innings)
Clatskanie 13, Knappa 3 (6 innings)
Seaside at Banks-rained out-postponed to Friday
Yamhill-Carlton 8, Scappoose 4
N.W. Christian at Oakville, 3:30 p.m.
TACOMA BAPTIST vs. Taholah, 4:00 p.m.
OCOSTA vs. Lake Quinault, 4:00 p.m.

SOFTBALL
ASTORIA 10-8, Seaside 8-1
N.W. Christian at Oakville, 3:30 p.m.
TACOMA BAPTIST vs. Taholah, 4:00 p.m.
OCOSTA vs. Lake Quinault, 4:00 p.m.

BOYS GOLF
Banks 352, Astoria 359
Seaside at Central Coast Classic at Sandpines GC

TRACK AND FIELD-Boys
Tillamook 78, Astoria 67
Warrenton, Vernonia and O.E.S. at Neah-Kah-Nie, 3:30 p.m.
La Center 77, Ilwaco 4th tie 59, Castle Rock 59;

TRACK AND FIELD-Girls
Astoria 87, Tillamook 54
La Center 102, Ilwaco 81

GIRLS GOLF
ILWACO vs. Willapa Harbor and North Beach at Surfpines GC, 3:30 p.m.
Seaside at Molalla Invitational at Arrowhead GC

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Seattle Mariners at Boston Red Sox, rain out-postponed to May 3, 4:05 p.m.

PCL BASEBALL
Portland Beavers at Sacramento River Cats, 7:05 p.m.
Tacoma Rainiers at Fresno Grizzlies, 7:05 p.m.

WARRENTON CLOBBERS VERNONIA IN L&C OPENER

It could be a sign of things to come.

No one will mistake this pretty good Warrenton team for the state tournament contending teams of the recent past, but the Warriors could very well run roughshod over their competition in the inaugural 3A Lewis and Clark League.

The Warriors scored in every inning, lashing out 16 hits off three Vernonia pitchers on the way to an 18-1, 5-inning victory at Vernonia in the league-opening game for both teams. Vernonia, a playoff contender in recent years in the 2A Northwest League is, like most of the rest of the new Lewis & CLark League teams, dealing with a shortage of players.

"[Sophomore pitcher Byron] Schorzman is still recovering from shoulder issues," said Warrenton head coach Lennie Wolfe, whose team is a strong favorite to return to the state playoffs after having a 16-year qualifying streak ended in 2006. "Jeremy Lende is still out with an injury and they haven't played for two weeks. Their last game was March 24th. They looked rusty. They just looked like a team that hasn't hit live pitching in a while."

Not a good recipe for success against the live arm of Dan Wolfe, who put together another strong performance on the hill with a 5-inning, 3-hitter with 11 strikeouts and no walks. The only blemish was a first inning home run by Brent Thompson.

"The Thompson kid absolutely owns us," said Wolfe. "Dan threw a good changeup down and the kid went and got it. He was 2-for-2 against us."

Wolfe threw 80 pitches and kept everything but the three hits in the infield in recording his fourth victory of the season without a loss. He had plenty of help from his offense.

Eric Gantenbein went 5-for-5 on the day with a double and Bubba Massey went 2-for-4 with a home run and seven RBI's.

"He already has something like 23 or 24 RBI's in eight games," said Wolfe. "It's unbelieveable. He's hitting the ball hard."

Wolfe went 2-for-4 with three runs scored and Michael Moore continued to produce with a pair of hits and three runs batted in.

"He didn't play last year because he was in a garage band," said Wolfe of the junior lefthanded outfielder and pitcher Moore. "He decided to devote his attention to his music career."

Moore's group has since disbanded and "Lennie and the Wolfetones" are more than happy to have him in their ensemble.

The Warriors, now 7-1 overall, host Neah-Kah-Nie on Friday for a single game at Huddleston Field.

WARRENTON 2-7-5-1-3 18-16-0
VERNONIA 1-0-0-0-0 1-3-3
WP-Wolfe (5ip, 3h, er, 11k, 0bb-80 pitches)
LP-Davis (2ip, 7h, 9r, 8er, 2k, 4bb)
2B-Wolfe, Gantenbein, Sturgell. HR-Massey, Thompson.