Powered by big bats, Gresham's softball team has a chance to do something it hasn't accomplished in nearly four decades.
The Gophers, who have hit 36 home runs this season, are in contention for the Mt. Hood Conference title. It is believed that their last conference title came in 1986, when they finished 26-2.
“That possibility is exciting. We've got to take care of business, though,” coach Jim Gardenhire said.
With four conference games remaining, Gresham (16-6, 8-2) is tied for first place with Central Catholic (10-8, 8-2) and Nelson (12-10, 8-2). The Gophers go on the road to face Central Catholic on Monday and play host to Nelson on Wednesday.
Since losing to Central Catholic 9-4 and Nelson 10-8 in the first round of conference play, Gresham has outscored its opponents 61-5 in a five-game winning streak. Gardenhire believes his team is turning the corner.
“I like the stride that we seem to have been hitting in the last week or so since those bumps in the road,” Gardenhire said. “We're doing things a little bit differently the second time around, having learned.”
The Gophers have been slugging their foes into submission. Junior Maddy Sagapolutele has hit a team-high 10 home runs, followed by seniors La Terra Foster-Frison (eight), Despina Seufalemua (six) and Alyssa Grover (four) and junior Daya Nelson (four). Gresham is batting .439 as a team and averaging 10.3 runs per game.
“I do have a lot of faith in the way we swing the bat,” Gardenhire said. “It is reassuring.”
Sagapolutele was the 4A player of the year for state champion The Dalles in 2023, when she hit 14 home runs, helping the RiverHawks belt a state-record 65 home runs. She transferred to Gresham as a sophomore and finished with 15 home runs and 37 RBIs as the Gophers finished 13-13, losing in the first round of the 6A playoffs.
This season, Sagapolutele is batting .523 and has driven in 30 runs.
“I think she felt a lot of pressure last year,” Gardenhire said. “This year she definitely is more comfortable with that hitting cleanup role. She's more comfortable with the girls, knowing the team is with her. We hit well as a team. It's not like it's all falling on her shoulders.”
With 39 career home runs, Sagapolutele has moved up to No. 7 on the state's all-time list. Marist Catholic's Ariel Carlson (2016-19) is the record-holder at 72.
Sagapolutele has benefited from the arrival of Seufalemua, who also was a key player on The Dalles' state title team in 2023. Seufalemua is living with Sagapolutele.
“They're close like sisters,” Gardenhire said. “That has helped Maddy's comfort level with everybody. Despina is a wonderful human being and is a natural leader. She's taken that on this year, being one of our captains. She's made a big impact on keeping the communication open.”
The Gophers benefit from the championship experience of Sagapolutele and Seufalemua.
“A couple of the players were in awe,” Gardenhire said. “They didn't realize that they had won the state championship two years ago. They just kind of keep it low-key.”
Foster-Frison is having a big season, batting .571 with 27 RBIs. Seufalemua (.418, 20 RBIs), Grover (.519, 26 RBIs) and Nelson (.491, 23 RBIs), a transfer from Barlow, have been productive, too.
Junior Keira Downing (3.66 ERA), last year's No. 1 pitcher, is sharing time in the circle with Seufalemua (3.07 ERA) and freshman Ayden Gardenhire (2,75 ERA).
Notes:
No. 2 Jesuit edged No. 1 Sunset 3-2 in a key 6A Metro League game Friday. The visiting Crusaders (18-4, 6-2) handed the Apollos (20-3, 8-1) their first league loss, ending their nine-game winning streak. Sam Blachly had three hits and two RBIs for Jesuit. … No. 3 Sherwood won at Forest Grove 1-0 on May 6 in a game between teams tied for first place in the 6A Pacific Conference. Sherwood's Presley Sarono-Ramos (three-hitter, 11 strikeouts) won a pitching duel against Forest Grove's Kherington Wright (two-hitter, 10 strikeouts). Sherwood (20-2, 8-1) is one game ahead of Forest Grove (16-6, 7-2). …
With first place in the 6A Three Rivers League on the line Friday, No. 8 West Linn won at Oregon City 2-1. The Lions (17-4, 9-2) hold a one-game lead over the Pioneers (10-12, 8-3) and Tigard (12-10, 8-3). Emily Sakys hit a solo home run – her fourth of the season, raising her team-high RBI total to 22 – and Avery Wolf drove in a run in the win for West Linn, which bounced back from a 7-5 loss to Tigard on May 7. Wolf pitched two hitless innings, fanning four, and Meadow Sanborn threw the final five innings, giving up four hits and striking out seven. Oregon City's Ellie Joseph pitched a four-hitter with 13 strikeouts. …
No. 5 Pendleton ended No. 4 St. Helens' 12-game winning streak by going on the road to win 5-3 in a 4A nonleague game May 7. St. Helens took a 3-1 lead in the third inning on a two-run double by Halli Heys. Pendleton drew even at 3-3 in the fifth inning on a two-run single by Josie Jenness, and scored single runs on a wild pitch in the sixth and an error in the seventh. Kendall Murphy earned the win for the Buckaroos, allowing eight hits, fanning 11 and walking four. Emeline Curaming took the loss, giving up five hits, striking out six and walking four. …
No. 4 Douglas (19-2, 11-0) opened a two-game lead over Oakland (16-8, 9-2) in 2A/1A Special District 5 with a 7-3 home win on May 7. Brooklyn Cyr pitched a four-hitter with eight strikeouts and went 2 for 4 with a triple and an RBI. The Warriors clinched the district title with a 19-0 win at Oakridge on Friday, then defeated Powers 10-0 in a nonleague game Saturday as Cyr tossed a five-inning perfect game with nine strikeouts. …
No. 2 Heppner/Ione and No. 3 Grant Union/Prairie City split a 2A/1A Special District 7 doubleheader Friday at Heppner. Grant Union won the opener 4-2 behind Addy Northway, who pitched a six-hitter with five strikeouts and hit a tie-breaking RBI double in the sixth inning. Heppner took the second game 20-13 behind freshman Isabel Payne, who went 5 for 5 with two three-run homers, a double and eight RBIs. Grant Union (14-6, 8-1) is tied for first place with No. 1 Weston-McEwen/Griswold (18-3, 8-1), one game ahead of Heppner (16-3, 7-2).
jerryu@osaa.org
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