EUGENE – Early in the softball season, Grant Union/Prairie City's chances for a 2A/1A three-peat appeared slim.
Adjusting to the graduation of the state pitcher of the year in Drew Williams and other key players, the Prospectors took their lumps at times.
“It was definitely a challenge, losing what we did lose,” senior Addy Northway said. “Drewsey was a really big loss, and we were trying to figure out who was going to pitch.”
Grant Union made the state playoffs as the No. 9 seed, then covered nearly 2,000 miles to win three games and return the state final. Friday, the Prospectors punctuated their run with an emphatic 10-2 win over top-seeded Weston-McEwen/Griswold in the OSAA/OnPoint Community Credit Union 2A/1A final at the University of Oregon.
“After our first game, I definitely did not think this was possible,” said senior Reece Jacobs, referring to an 18-3 loss at Crook County. “I think this is the greatest team win we've had.”
Northway, who moved to the circle after being named the state player of the year as a catcher last season, pitched a four-hitter with seven strikeouts and four walks to propel the Prospectors (20-8) over their Special District 7 rival TigerScots (23-6).
Northway's switch to pitcher gave Grant Union a chance this season.
“She came out this year and she was ready to go,” coach Tim Boethin said. “She's got a heart of gold, and she's a huge competitor. She got better command of pitches, and got confident out there. And the girls behind her got confident in her.”
Prior to this season, Northway said, she has not pitched in a game since she was 11 years old.
“I definitely miss catching, but I'm happy to do whatever with this team,” Northway said. “I started at the beginning of the year and I worked at it.”
Grant Union had eight hits off Weston-McEwen junior Bre Ward, two each by Jacobs and Northway. Jacobs had a double and three RBIs, junior Grace Kenyon hit a three-run triple and senior Savannah Watterson and sophomore Gracee Hueckman each drove in two runs.
It's the third year in a row that Grant Union has defeated Weston-McEwen in the final, following six-inning mercy-rule wins in 2023 and 2024. The TigerScots shared the district title with Grant Union this year – splitting a doubleheader late in the season – but once again could not solve the Prospectors on the big stage.
“We knew they were coming into the season overlooking us because we lost a lot,” Northway said. “I think they thought they had it easy. But we have a lot of grit on this team. And we wanted it more.”
Northway said the long road trips in the playoffs were “annoying,” but revealed the team's character.
“Honestly, it's even better that we ended up traveling every game, and then came back and still won,” Northway said.
Tim Boethin, elevated from assistant to replace Zach Williams this season, said his team “gelled at the right time.”
“This group of seniors is just phenomenal. I can't say enough,” Boethin said. “We had issues at times early in the season, throwing the ball around. But we got ourselves in the right position toward the end of the year.”
Jacobs hit an RBI double to left-center field to drive in the game's first run in the top of the first inning. An inning later, Watterson and Jacobs ripped back-to-back two-run singles, making it 5-0.
Weston-McEwen got on the board in the bottom of the third when junior Lily Langford smacked a solo homer to left-center field, cutting the lead to 5-1.
The score stayed that way until the top of the seventh, when Grant Union erupted for five runs with two outs to lead 10-1. Hueckman hit a two-run single to center field, and after a walk, Kenyon belted a three-run triple into the gap in left-center field.
The championship marks the sixth time in state history that a school has won at least three consecutive titles. Churchill won four in a row (1980-83); Churchill (1985-87), Harrisburg (1999-2001), Valley Catholic (2007-09) and Crater (2007-09) won three in a row.
jerryu@osaa.org
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