Photos courtesy of BURNS HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL

Merissa Medley diving back to first base.

The Burns Hilander softball team picked up a couple of wins at home against Douglas, 8-1, on Wednesday, May 25, and Blanchet Catholic, 7-0, on Friday, May 27, in the 2022 OSAA 3A playoffs.

Ayla Davies started against Douglas and earned the win, pitching the first five innings and the last two outs of the seventh. Davies threw a no-hitter in her five and two-thirds innings work and gave up zero walks while striking out 15 batters.

Mackenzie King relieved Davies for the one and one-third inning. She gave up two hits, walked three, and struck out one batter.

Davies led the Hilanders with two hits. Lacie Tiller, Merissa Medley, Ashley Wright, and Lydia Dupuy each finished with one hit. Davies and Medley hit triples, and Wright added a double.

Davies and Medley led all hitters with two RBIs. King and Tiller finished with one RBI. 

Macy Temple led the team in scoring, crossing home plate twice. Davies, Tiller, Wright, King, Gracie Mello, and Halle Houck each crossed once.

In the quarterfinals against Blanchet Catholic, Davies pitched all seven innings, giving up one hit, walking three, and striking out 17 batters.

Mattie Woodbury, Medley, Davies, Tiller, and Temple finished the game with one hit apiece.

Medley and Tiller both hit triples. Davies and Woodbury had doubles.

Medley led the team with three RBIs, followed by Tiller with two.

Temple and Tiller led the Hilanders, scoring twice. Davies, Medley, and Woodbury each scored once.

After the game, coach Robert Medley shared what it was like to play at home.

He said, “The atmosphere at our two home playoff games was incredible. Our fans were great, and the energy and effort from the players was awesome!”  

He went on to say that, “The girls played focused and stayed the course through both games and are excited about the opportunity they have created to move on to the semifinals! As they have all year, every member of this team continues to contribute to the success of the program day in and day out, and we are very proud of that!”

The win puts the Hilanders into the semifinals of the playoffs against an undefeated South Umpqua team. Burns (28-1) traveled to Myrtle Creek to take on South Umpqua High School (26-0) on Tuesday, May 31. Stats will be available in next week’s edition of the Burns Times-Herald.