The Observer staff

 MILTON-FREEWATER — The La Grande softball team wrapped up the McLoughlin Tournament with a pair of victories on Friday. The Lady Tigers defeated Scappoose, 9-8, before holding off Yamhill-Carlton 6-3.

“It was a great day,” LHS head coach Kevin Kohr said. “We played some really good softball.”

Union/Cove’s Carsyn Roberts beats a throw to second base during Thursday’s game with Echo/Stanfield. The ball dropped out of the glove of Alison Neasham, to allow Roberts to slide in safely. Brad Mosher/The Observer

by Brad Mosher/The Observer

UNION — The top-ranked 2A softball team in the state made quick work Thursday of visiting Echo/Stanfield.

Union/Cove scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning on its way to an easy 14-0 non-league win at the Union Spring Bash.

The Observer staff

MILTON-FREEWATER — The La Grande softball team opened the McLoughlin Tournament with a split on Thursday.

The Lady Tigers fell to Taft, 15-11, in Game 1, but bounced back for a 12-4 victory over top-ranked Junction City in Game 2.

La Grande’s Tanner Stremcha tries to slide around Roseburg shortstop Kody Matthews during the Tigers’ 8-7 loss Wednesday at Optimist Field. Casey Kellas/The Observer

by Casey Kellas/The Observer

The La Grande baseball team went toe-to-toe with the seventh-ranked 6A team in the state Wednesday.

But in the end, the Tigers (4-3) came up just short of a win, falling to visiting Roseburg 8-7 in eight innings.

Enterprise’s Marta Stangel (left) and Union’s Keesha Sarman both led their teams to the 2A state tournament in Pendleton this past season. Observer file photo

Enterprise’s Stangel, Union’s Sarman share BMC’s player of the year honors

by Casey Kellas/The Observer

The Blue Mountain Conference proved to be one of the best leagues in the state this past season, sending four teams to the state tournament in Pendleton.

And when the coaches got together to select the BMC’s best player, they couldn’t decide on just one. 

OBSERVER STAFF REPORT

“It was a great tournament for us,” Union/Cove head coach Paul Phillips said. “The girls played great defense all tournament. They put together hits for us. It was great team ball. Everyone contributed.”

In the opening win against the Knights, the Lady Cats rode the hot arm of Dani Sturm. The senior hurler pitched a complete-game shutout, recorded 10 strikeouts and added two hits at the plate. 

the OBSERVER STAFF

Union distance ace Katriel O’Reilly currently has the fastest time among 2A runners in Oregon — at least in the 3,000 meters.

According to the most recent results posted at athletic.net, O’Reilly’s time of 11 minutes, 29.50 seconds has her leading the state by almost 20 seconds.

Her teammate, McKenzie Evans, is second in the same event, with a time of 11:48.80.

La Grande Swim Club member Bryce Ebel won the 100-yard butterfly at the Northwest regional swim meet in Federal Way, Wash., March 25.

the OBSERVER STAFF 

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — The La Grande Swim Club had four swimmers compete at the Northwest age group regional swim meet March 22-25. 

The LGSC boys placed 25th among 96 teams. 

More than 900 swimmers from Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming competed in this high-level meet.  

Union County’s one-kilometer Unified Partner relay team (from left) Cody Allen, Braden Trice, Tina Bowen and Remy Spangler pose with their medals in Bend.

Union County Special Olympics athletes bring home medals from Bend

by THE OBSERVER STAFF 

MOUNT BACHELOR — A handful of local skiers traveled to Bend recently to compete in the statewide Special Olympics competition — and they returned with gold, silver and bronze medals for their efforts.

The Union County athletes were among approximately 200 athletes from around the state in the Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) 2013 Winter State Games. 

by OBSERVER STAFF 

PORTLAND — The Eastern Oregon University softball team dropped four Cascade Conference games this weekend.

The Mountaineers lost to Northwest (2-1, 2-1) Friday, before falling to Concordia (8-0, 2-1) Saturday.