Beavers Give One Away In 10-Inning Thriller At Canby

For anyone who thinks that the outcome of a softball game couldn't possibly turn on only one or two plays, the Beaverton -Canby matchup on Thursday is recommended. After battling for 10 innings, Canby came away with the 4 - 2 victory in 10 innings.

Things started slowly on offense for the Beavers against Canby ace Jen O'Donnell. Through 5 innings, Beaverton managed only 3 hits and one walk and never seriously threatened to score, advancing only one runner as far as second base. Canby had little more success against Beaverton ace Megen Ickler (3-2), who scattered 5 hits through five innings. Ickler and the defense hurt themselves, however - giving up two unearned runs - in ways Canby never did.

In the Canby 2nd inning, Ickler hit the first batter in the ankle on an 0 - 2 count. The next batter attempted to sacrifice, but reached base on an unforced throwing error, allowing the Cougars to gain a first and third situation with no outs. After a pop-up to first, a bloop infield single loaded the bases and the next batter hit a long fly ball to center field, scoring the runner from third. A routine ground out to third ended the inning with Canby up 1 - 0.

The Cougars scored again in the 4th. With one out, a towering shot was hit to left center field. Beaver outfielders almost collided and then threw away the relay, allowing the batter to score. Fly outs to short and left field sandwiched a single up the middle and ended the inning.

Down 2 - 0 and down to their last six outs, the Beavers finally got to O'Donnell in the 6th. Ruby LaFollette led off the inning with a sharp line drive to left center and Willow Martinson drew a walk. Ickler was next, grounding out to second, but advancing both runners. Megan John then roped a 2 - 0 pitch down the right field line for a double, scoring LaFollette and pinch runner Valerie Sanchez and tying the game. John moved to third on a passed ball and the Beavers seemed primed to take the lead, but two strikeouts stopped the rally.

In the Canby 6th, another Beaver throwing error and a walk gave the Cougars runners on first and second with one out. The next batter tried to sacrifice, but Ickler threw her out at first, and Hannah Johnson, covering from second, gunned out the runner at third as Gracie Coburn raced in from left to take the throw.

In the 7th, the Beavers went three and out, and were looking to hold Canby to send the game to extra frames. The first Cougar batter flied out to Short, but the next singled to right field, then took second on another Beaver throwing error. With a runner in scoring position, the third Canby batter of the inning hit a fly ball which Shortstop Maddie Evans snared for the second out. The Cougar runner on second was caught off the base, leaning towards third, however, and Evans flipped the ball to Hannah Johnson for the force out at second and the Beavers' second double play in as many innings.

The only real threat to end the game in the 8th or 9th innings came in the Canby half of the 9th. After a lead-off double to the left-field line, Ickler got a pop-up to Martinson at catcher, a routine grounder to Johnson at second and then made a spectacular diving catch of a pop-up in no-man's land between first base and the pitching plate.

Under OSAA rules, once the 10th inning comes around, the game goes to the tie-breaker rules so familiar to those who play summer ball. The final out of the previous inning is positioned on second base, giving teams a better chance to score and end the game. In the Beaverton 10th, this put Evans on second. She was promptly sacrificed to third by Caitlin Ellerbe. With two chances to take their first lead, the Beavers again produced two strikeouts.

In their turn, Canby took advantage of the last Beaver mistake. Starting with a runner on second, Ickler got a called third strike for the first out, but also issued a wild pitch moving the runner to third. With the Canby clean-up hitter at the plate and a 2 - 0 count, the next pitch was thrown right over the middle of the plate and deposited over the fence in left center field, giving Canby a hard-won 4 - 2 victory.

Canby is clearly a quality opponent, having beaten Westview and lost a close game to Jesuit this season. The 10th-inning home run was one of the few earned runs Beaverton has given up in the pre-season schedule. Despite the errors, the Beavers showed dramatic improvement in remaining focused throughout the game. Continued improvement in this area is likely to yield positive results going forward.

The Beavers now move into the Metro League season with a 5 - 4 record and having scored 2/3 as many runs as they did all last season. The Metro season promises tough tests three times per week through May 15 and perhaps the most competitive top-to-bottom group in the state. The team's goal is a return to the playoffs. In 2008, that took 6 league wins.