>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

FLYING EAGLE: Joseph senior Megan Yost was a part of the third place 4 x 400-meter relay team and fourth place 4 x 100-meter relay. File photo

Not a good day for an OSAA 1A/2A Track & Field Championship at Western Oregon University.

Yet, despite the sauna-like conditions, Old Oregon League and Blue Mountain athletes represented their schools and the Eastern Oregon region well.

READY TO REPEAT: Richie Carmichael will open the Class 4A State playoffs on the mound for the Tigers at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Observer file photo

Anthony picked up his brother, Zach Nice. Jordan Lanman rushed toward them from behind the plate, tackling his teammates. A pile up ensued. The crowd roared. And right then and there, on that second day of June, La Grande had its first Class 4A Baseball State Championship.

HUSTLING HURDLER: La Grande runner Nur Sofe won the 300-meter hurdle event at the Greater Oregon League Meet Saturday. Observer photo/PAUL HARDER

The La Grande boys track and field team secured its fifth straight Greater Oregon League Title Saturday.

But again, the real question is how many more will follow?

“We’ve got a chance of at least three to four,” Tigers head coach Duane Smiley said. “There are a lot of young medalists in this group.”

SOARING EAGLE: Senior Corby Makin was 3-for-4 (two doubles). The Observer/BRUCE MASON

Were those hardballs, mitts and caps? Or were those footballs, shoulder pads and facemasks?

The scoreboard read, 14-0. The playing surface was mostly grass. Were those touchdowns? Extra points?

FOREHAND BLAST: La Grande seniors Josi Lyman (above) and Kara Gerst advanced to the semifinals at the 4A State Tennis Tournament. Observer file photo

After a relatively simple match Thursday — a 7-6 (5), 6-3 win against La Salle — the Tiger duo pulled off the big upset.

Defending state champions Morgan Enberg and Gwynneth Johnson of Oregon Episcopal School entered the tournament as the No. 1 seed.

BAKER CITY — The La Grande swim club competed at the Baker City Invitational on the opening weekend of May. 

Twenty-nine swimmers attended the meet, with 5-year-old Callum Ebel, 8-year-old Caitlyn Conrad and 9-year-old Hannah Roberts competing for the first time.

Swimming coach Susie Evans said many swimmers showed substantial improvement.

In preparation for the OSAA tournament, La Grande hosted Heppner at Optimist Field Tuesday.

Good preparation, it was.

The Tigers baseball team defeated Heppner, 5-1, behind a bases-loaded triple from Evan Humphrey.

GRESHAM — What could have been?

That’s the question the Mountaineers’ men’s track and field team is left to ponder after injuries plagued the team at the Cascade Conference Championships that concluded Saturday.

The men finished second, while Concordia finished first.

Three EOU sprinters ran with pain during the three-day event.

BRUUUCE: Enterprise golfer Heather Bruce shot a 1-over-par on the back nine Tuesday at the 4A/3A/2A/1A state golf meet. Bruce placed ninth among all golfers. - Observer photos/PAUL HARDER

Enterprise’s Heather Bruce bounced back from two bad holes Monday to place in the top-10 at the 4A/3A/2A/1A Girls State Golf  Tournament.

“I relaxed a little bit,” Bruce said. “It helped that I have been here before. I wanted to come home with a flag.”

HULL OF A SWING: Enterprise junior Dakota Hull placed second among all area golfers, and placed sixth among all 3A/2A/1A golfers. - Observer photos/PAUL HARDER

One day the Enterprise boys golf team will look back with fond memories of a second place finish at the state tournament. For now, it’s thinking about what might have been.

The 6,479-yard course took its toll on the field Tuesday.

“This is a championship course,” Enterprise head coach Mike Crawford said. “There are no flat putts, and the pin placements didn’t help lower the numbers.”