Pendleton flies past Marist Catholic for Class 4A baseball state title

It’s been a long road for Pendleton’s baseball team.

Prior to Saturday, the Buckaroos had played in six state championship games dating back to 1963. All of them ended with a loss.

But this time, things were very different. Pendleton routed No. 1-ranked Marist Catholic 14-3 in six innings at Roto Rooter Park in Keizer for the Class 4A state title.

Mason Strong was the offensive leader for the Buckaroos, tallying four RBIs on two hits while also scoring two runs of his own.

Pendleton got on the scoreboard almost immediately. In the top of the first inning, Vance Nelson hit a single to score Colin Harrington. Colson Primus then scored on a wild pitch to make it a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

The Buckaroos kept going in the top of the second inning, as Evan Lehnert was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to advance Jacob Neistadt to home. Then Harrington hit a double to score Tugg McQuinn and Keegan Kline. Strong then hit a double to left center field to score Harrington and Anson Dressler to make it a 7-0 lead.

Marist Catholic was able to answer back in the bottom of the second inning. Grady Hazen scored when Chad Turner reached on a fielding error. Then Jalen Smith hit a single to score Turner as the lead was cut to 7-2.

The Spartans added another score in the bottom of the third inning, as Niko Leyba scored on a sacrifice fly by Gianni Lombardi.

But after that it was all Buckaroos. In the top of the fourth inning, Strong hit a double to right field to score Primus and Harrington. Then Connor Cook scored on a sacrifice hit by Art Hill and Strong scored on a single by Neistadt.

In the top of the sixth inning, Hill hit a single to score Cook. Then Kline hit a double to score Strong and Dressler hit a single to score Tyler Hall as Pendleton took a 14-3 lead.

Evan Lehnert picked up the win for Pendleton. In six innings, he allowed four hits, one earned run and walked two while striking out five Marist Catholic batters.

Lombardi was credited with the loss for Marist Catholic, pitching the first 3.1 innings. He allowed 10 hits, 11 runs (all earned), walked two and struck out two. Raith Huffman came in for the later 2.2 innings, allowing six hits, three runs (all earned), walked one and struck out three.

This marks the second year in a row that Marist Catholic has lost in the Class 4A baseball state championship game, the Spartans’ only times playing in the finals.

More Oregon high school sports

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Sunset gets its Class 6A title-game revenge, wins first baseball state championship since 1994
Blanchet Catholic wins Class 3A baseball state championship with rare finish

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Nik Streng