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| Central clinches No. 1 playoff seed |
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| The softball team rallies past Newport. |
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 | | Photo by Sam Scott | | Central right fielder Taylor Hoffman makes a running match in the May 12 game against top-ranked Marist. |
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By Sam Scott
INDEPENDENCE -- Central's softball team clinched the No. 1 playoff berth from the Val-Co Conference May 6 with an 8-3 win at home against Newport.
The Lady Panthers also clinched at least a share of the league championship but needed a win in their regular-season finale May 13 at home against Philomath to take the title outright. Results of the Philomath game were unavailable at press time.
Just like last season, Central dropped its first game against Newport but then won the next two. In the May 6 win, CHS trailed 3-0 at one point but turned things around completely by scoring five times in the fifth.
"That was a very exciting game," Central coach Amber McLean said. "It was a good win for us. Our bats came alive. We went into the game knowing Newport would score some runs. We expected that. We just had to make sure we were running the bases well and getting runs across, too.
"It's always scary to be behind, but at that point we just hoped we would catch up and limit their runs."
The Lady Panthers, who piled up 16 hits, did just that. Newport scored twice in the first and made it 3-0 in the third. CHS started its comeback with two outs in the bottom half of the inning when singles by Amanda McLean, Jordan Huffman and Sarah Ritacco made it 3-1. | | Photo by Sam Scott | | Central third baseman Adrienne Waterman gets a lift from catcher Carly Duran after catching a foul pop-up in the May 12 game with Marist. |
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McLean also started the big outburst in the fifth with a base hit. Singles by Huffman and Ritacco loaded the bases, but Newport turned a home-to-first double play on a ground ball.
That left two outs and runners at second and third for Adrienne Waterman, and the freshman delivered a timely two-run double, tying the score 3-3. Kasaundra Ramirez drew a walk, and Amanda Cole pounded a three-run home run over the left field fence to put CHS on top for good.
Central again loaded the bases an inning later and again had a runner forced out at the plate. But the Lady Panthers again persevered when Carly Duran belted a two-run single to make it 8-3.
Central, the defending Class 4A champion, gets a first-round bye and will host the winner of the Sisters-Yamhill Carlton at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 20.
"We really wanted that No. 1 seed," Amber McLean said. "It'll make a big difference on who we get throughout the bracket. Once the playoffs start, you've got to win to stay in. Every game is important. You've got to bring your best each time." | | Photo by Sam Scott | | Central second baseman Jordan Huffman underhands a throw to first base during the May 12 game with Marist. |
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BR> Central also pummeled host Taft 18-2 May 9 with a 21-hit attack. The Lady Panthers scored at least once in each of their five at-bats and pushed across eight runs in the third.
Waterman continued her late-season tear by going four-for-four with four runs scored, three RBIs and two stolen bases.
Taylor Hoffman and Huffman each had three hits and scored twice. Ceci Lugo added a pair of doubles.
Central added a couple of non-conference games to its schedule to compensate for rain-outs earlier in the season. And McLean lined up two of the toughest teams available -- Willamina and Marist. Willamina played for the 3A title last season and has a top pitcher in Caralyn Chewning. Marist is the top-ranked team in 4A.
The Lady Panthers lost 2-1 in 10 innings May 8 at Willamina and fell 10-2 May 12 at home against Marist.
"Those type of games might show you some weaknesses you want to work on heading into the playoffs," McLean said. "The thing is these games don't matter. If you lose, at least it was a good game and you're getting prepared for the playoffs. We've got to make sure we're ready. You do that by playing good teams."
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