By Jeremy McDonald
Jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com
STAYTON, Ore.– The Stayton baseball team was locked in and ready to go against 4A Powerhouse Scappoose on Tuesday afternoon.
Backed by a strong defensive effort, the Eagles battled Scappoose, trading blows with one of the classification’s perennial contenders. Stayton’s Colton Connally went five-and-two-third innings, consistently challenging hitters to make contact — and when they did, the Eagles were ready.
Stayton turned three double-plays in the game. Overcame two errors on their end and overall, just brought the energy in what became a 4-3 victory over Scappoose at home.
“We really brought the energy. It made us play as a team, play as one and that’s the biggest thing, Playing as One. We’re all one, we’re all a unit out there and we couldn’t do it without each other,” said Stayton catcher Ryland Thiessen.
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the first inning on a passed ball that scored Mason Sibernagel. Scappoose answered with three of the next four runs to take a 3-2 lead into the fourth. Stayton pulled even in the fifth, then took a 4-3 lead later in the inning on a bases-loaded walk.
The Eagles again leaned on their defense. Connally showed signs of fatigue but recorded the first two outs before handing the reins to Liam Brown. Brown, a sophomore, and his Stayton teammates came out of the sixth inning with his first batter that Brown faced. Getting out of an inning that saw two runners on the base paths.
Stayton couldn’t add to their lead, but their defense held tough in the top half of the seventh inning. Turning a one, two, three inning to close out a 4-3 victory.
Playing as one. That’s been their calling card this season as the Eagles are currently 8-1 on the year under first-year Head Coach Kyle Baker.
“It feels amazing. Every guy, one through nine was on the fence and getting hyped for the little things, the big things, it didn’t matter what it was. The whole team brought the energy, it was all of us who won this game,” said Silbernagel. “Those double plays were big for us. We have a strong defensive side. Our middle and our outfield is very, very, very strong and it’s great for our pitchers when we can back them up.
“We just got to fix the little mistakes and keep the energy up. Our energy is what wins these games.”
The Eagles will host Astoria on Friday at 3:30pm before closing out their non-league slate at Gladstone on April 17.
Photos By Jeremy McDonald
