Ridgeview takes advantage of errors, rolls past Thurston for Class 5A softball state championship

At 11 a.m. on Saturday, Ridgeview High School held its graduation. Seniors Kinnedy Scott, Anahi Ornelas-Diaz and Bre Johnston walked across the stage in their caps and gowns and were handed their diplomas.

Hours later, they were in Eugene winning the Class 5A softball state championship in dominant fashion in a 9-0 win over Thurston

“I’m so excited,” Ornelas-Diaz said. “I just literally came from my graduation riding over, so it was super nerve-wracking.”

Brooklyn Lick, the fourth senior on Ridgeview’s roster, did her graduation walk on the third base line at Jane Sanders Stadium on Saturday and was handed her diploma by athletic director Randi Viggiano.

Standing in the pitcher’s circle, sophomore Brezlyn Hagemeister fought back tears as she recorded the three strikeouts needed to end the final inning.

“We’ve worked so hard for this and that last inning got kind of emotional with that last out, and I’m just so proud of how far we’ve come,” Hagemeister said.

Hagemeister admitted that the Ravens weren’t even thinking of winning a state championship when the 2025 spring season started.

“The goal was to win the IMC, which we did that. We weren’t thinking about the state championship,” she said. “So I think to do that was just such a good experience.”

Hagemeister pitched all seven innings for the Ravens, allowing three hits and three walks while striking out 11 batters.

Ornelas-Diaz credited Hagemeister as a spark plug for the Ridgeview defense, which held Thurston to its first shutout of the season. The Colts were scoring 15 runs per game in the 2025 postseason until Saturday.

“We have an incredible pitcher,” she said. “It’s Brezlyn Hagemeister. Her all the way.”

Hagemeister said she focused really hard on making sure she got her pitches off right where catcher Scott wanted them.

“Hitting my spots was a really big thing,” she said. “And then my defense. My defense did a really good job today.”

Just a sophomore pitching in the state finals, Hagemeister said she made sure to give herself a moment to breathe while focusing on her pitches one at a time.

Ridgeview got the scoring going early. In the bottom of the first inning, Caydence Marshall scored on a wild pitch.

Then in the bottom of the second inning, Kasidy Osborn scored on an error and a sacrifice hit by Josie Hopper scored Bre Johnston. Then Hagemeister popped a double to left center field to score Kinnedy Scott. At the next at-bat, Brooklyn Lick hit a triple out to right field to score Hagemeister to make it a 6-0 lead.

The Ravens added another in the bottom of the third inning as Hopper popped out to left field, allowing Johnston to score.

The Thurston defense didn’t do the Colts any favors, tallying up five errors (three getting a runner on base who later scored). Kasey Ogan pitched all six innings for the Colts, allowing 10 hits, walking two and striking out two. She was only credited for three earned runs.

Prior to Saturday, Ridgeview’s only other state championship game appearance was in 2019 when the Ravens beat Dallas. This was Thurston’s first appearance in a softball state championship game.

More Oregon high school sports

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

• Sherwood blows ahead late, bests North Medford for Class 6A softball state championship

• Sunset gets its Class 6A title-game revenge, wins first baseball state championship since 1994

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Nik Streng

covers high school sports in Oregon. Reach him at

nstreng@oregonian.com

or

@NikStreng

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