In a game where Oregon City’s Lily Riley threw a no-hitter, it was Sheldon coming out with the win in the OSAA Class 6A state championship game on Saturday afternoon at Jane Sanders Stadium.
The Irish (30-1) won as Brooke Peterson was awarded the game-winning run on an interference call at third base. Meara Sain hit a ground ball to third base, and reached to first base on a throwing error. Peterson was thrown out cleanly at home plate while Sain was thrown out at second base, leading to a roar from the Oregon City fans.
But Riley, who rotated third base to cover for Chloe Stromme as she was fielding, made contact with Sain. After a Sheldon assistant coach checked with the umpires, the contact was called interference, allowing Sain to advance to home plate as the cheers from the Oregon City players turned into cheers from the Sheldon side.
Riley pitched all 6.1 innings for the Pioneers, allowing no hits, no runs and one baserunner via a hit by pitch while striking out nine Sheldon batters. Her performance is the only no-hitter in OSAA softball state championship game history, despite ending in a loss.
Gina Allen had two hits for the Pioneers.
Payton Burnham pitched all seven innings, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out 17 batters.
Sheldon and Oregon City were two of the top defensive teams in the state this season. The Irish allowed a state-leading 0.6 runs per game this season going into the state championship game, including a five-game scoreless streak that dates back to May 12.
The Pioneers were third in the state in runs allowed, with 1.9 per game.
Oregon City’s season comes to an end with a 27-4 record.
