Through the first half of Saturday’s Class 3A baseball state championship game, it looked like it was going to be all Pendleton. But Scappoose completely came alive in the later innings to win the state championship 12-2 in six innings at Volcanoes Stadium.
This is the fifth state championship for Scappoose (27-2) baseball, which hasn’t won a title since 2015.
The Buckaroos got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third inning. Payton Lambert scored on a triple by Andrew Demianew, who later scored on an RBI single by Dylan Gomez.
Scappoose responded in the bottom of the fourth inning, with Grayson Grover scoring on a wild pitch.
In the bottom of the fifth, the pendulum really swung for Scappoose. Quinton Olson and Trey Fuller both scored on a two-RBI single by Grayson Grover. Then Max Nowlin hit a single to score Grover and Joe Fagan.
This lead was poured onto in the bottom of the sixth inning. Trey Fuller hit a double to score Wyatt Anicker and Eli Harrah. Then Olson hit a two-RBI single to score Fuller and Leland Boswell. Grover hit a single to score Olsen, and Chase Olsen hit a double to score Fagan. Finally, Nowlin hit a single to score Grover and end the game with a 10-run lead.
Grover opened the game on the mound for Scappoose. In four innings, he struck out four batters while allowing three hits, two earned runs and two walks. Anicker pitched the later two innings, allowing one hit and one walk with one strikeout.
Olson was Scappoose’s lead hitter, with three hits and two RBIs. Grover had two hits and three RBIs.
Jack Lieuallen started the game for the Buckaroos. In 4.2 innings pitched, he allowed six hits, five runs (four earned) and two walks with five strikeouts. Evan Lehnert pitched 0.1 innings, allowing five hits, five runs (four earned) and one walk with no strikeouts. Luke Bensching came in in the sixth inning, allowing four hits, two runs, and no walks.
Pendleton’s season ends with a 22-9 record. The Buckaroos are 0-6 in state championship games, dating back to 1963.
— Nik Streng, nstreng@oregonian.com, @NikStreng