Lady Pros drop season finale

BURNS — The Grant Union/Prairie City Lady Prospector softball team came up just short in a low-scoring affair with the Burns Lady Hilanders, falling 2-0 on Thursday, May 18, to close out the regular season.

Both Lady Hilander runs came in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI single. The game was otherwise a pitching duel.

Just seven hits combined were allowed by Lady Pro and Lady Hilander starting pitchers. Grant Union/Prairie City batters struggled to make contact, registering just two hits in the game.

Savannah Watterson and Reece Jacobs each had a hit for the Lady Pros. Drew Williams pitched the entire game, surrendering five hits and two runs while striking out nine batters.

Grant Union/Prairie City will have some time to regroup before the state playoffs get underway. The Lady Pros are currently sporting a 22-3 season record and are the second-ranked team in class 2A softball.

The ranking has earned the Lady Pros a bye in the opening round of the state tournament. The team will host the winner of a game between Santiam and Lost River on Wednesday, May 24, at the Seventh Street Sports Complex in John Day. Time is to be determined.

GU/PC baseball edges Burns in state tuneup

BURNS — The Grant Union/Prairie City Prospector baseball team played one final game before their push in the state playoffs, downing Burns 2-1 on Thursday, May 18, in Burns.

The teams traded scores in the second inning, with the Pros striking first on a Sheldon Lenz ground-out that brought a runner across the plate. Burns would respond with an RBI single in the bottom of the second to tie the game at a run apiece.

The game would become a pitching stalemate until the top of the fifth inning. A Talon VanCleave sacrifice fly would bring Lenz across home plate to give the Pros a 2-1 lead headed into the final two innings of play.

The Grant Union/Prairie City defense rose to the occasion after taking the lead, allowing just two baserunners for the remainder of the game. Prospector pitchers struck out six batters from the fifth inning to the end of the game.

Lenz led the Pros on offense, finishing 3-4 at the plate with an RBI. Charley Knowles also finished with multiple hits, going 2-3 at the plate.

VanCleave got the win on the mound for the Pros, pitching just over four innings. VanCleave surrendered three hits and no runs while striking out nine batters.

The win brings the Pros to 18-5 on the season. The Pros are ranked No. 14 in Class 2A baseball and will host a state playoff game as a result.

The Pros were scheduled to play Vernonia in the opening round of the OSAA 2A baseball playoffs on Monday, May 22, at Malone Field in John Day. A win in that game sets up a date with third-seeded Blanchet Catholic out of Salem on Wednesday, May 24.