Photos by KIRK DAVIES

The Burns Hilander softball team claimed its first state title by defeating Yamhill-Carlton, 3-1, at University of Oregon’s Jane Sanders Stadium on Friday, June 3.

The Burns Hilander softball team claimed its first state title by defeating Yamhill-Carlton, 3-1, at University of Oregon’s Jane Sanders Stadium on Friday, June 3.

In his first year, head coach Robert Medley led the Hilander softball team to a lot of firsts this season: a district title, undefeated in league play, a 30-win season, first playoff win, and a state championship. 

Medley said, “Winning the state championship is an amazing feeling by itself, but to do it with such a special group of young ladies and two amazing assistant coaches makes it as close to perfect as it can be!”

Near-perfection describes Ayla Davies’ pitching in the state championship

game. She pitched all seven innings, giving up five hits, walking three, while striking out 14 batters. Offensively, she went one-for-three, with one walk and one RBI.

After the game, Davies said, “We improved so much this season! Due to great coaching, our batting and fielding has improved substantially. We’re also a much closer knit team. We’ve had many team dinners and activities. At this point, we’re practically family.”  

After a wild pitch in the top of the first inning from Yamhill-Carlton’s pitcher, Kati Slater, Burns was able to get on the scoreboard when Davies crossed home plate, giving the Hilanders the lead, 1-0.

Both pitchers settled down and got to work, only giving up one hit apiece through to the fifth inning. 

In the top of the fifth, Mackenzie King singled to left field. The next batter, Kaya Dobson, grounded out and advanced King to second base. Mattie Woodbury then doubled to left-center field and brought King home for a 2-0 lead. The next batter, Macy Temple, grounded out, and Woodbury was able to advance to third base. Next, Davies singled to bring home Woodbury for a 3-0 lead. Lacie Tiller struck out swinging, but the damage was done.

Yamhill-Carlton was able to score their only run of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the Hilanders secured their first state championship.

King led the Hilanders with two hits. Temple, Davies, Dobson, and Woodbury each finished with one apiece. Davies and Woodbury each had one RBI. 

Some of the players reflected on how they felt after the game.

After winning the title, Macy Temple said, “The first two seconds, I couldn’t breathe or move. Once I got air into my lungs, I just started running in disbelief. No one had the odds in our favor, and they never did, and proving them wrong is a really good feeling. But all I could really think about was how proud I am that our team made history. We will be known all over the town as the first softball team to win state for Burns High School. The history book about Burns will have us in it. We will be legends.”

Lacie Tiller said, “The love that I have for this game is unreal. Each and every one of these girls, along with our coaches, are humble, hardworking, and dedicated. When we won, I felt an overwhelming amount of happiness and just thought, ‘We did it.’ We never doubted ourselves. We just played our game and came out on top, and I couldn’t be prouder.”

Ayla Davies said, “After winning the state title, I was ecstatic. Yamhill-Carlton was a tough team, and I was proud our team performed so well. It felt really good to know our hard work had paid off.”

Merissa Medley said, “It felt like a dream come true. It was that immediate adrenaline rush after the last out, and then the tears started flowing. It was everything we had worked for and everything we could have wanted. It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had, and to share it with the most incredible group of teammates and coaches, makes it perfect!”

Coach Medley summed up the team by saying, “I could not be prouder of a group of players. They bought in from day one, and their effort and dedication to getting better day in and day out was the reason they had an opportunity to play for a championship, and the rest is history.”