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South Medford’s baseball team was fired up for Monday’s opener in the Class 6A state playoffs, and that emotion wasn’t wasted as the Panthers did all they needed to do in dispatching Centennial, 7-4, at Harry & David Field. Senior catcher Jack Thompson crushed a three-run home run in the first inning, senior Sebastian Molina came through with a key two-run single in the fifth inning and senior Jacob Melton was dominant in recording his fifth save for the second-seeded Panthers (22-4). “We’ve played with a lot of energy this whole year,” said Thompson, “but I think today was a little extra special. Everybody was really in the game and it was something really cool to be part of honestly.” South Medford played for each other, played for head coach Ray Smith who remains on administrative leave and, most importantly, just played with purpose and energy to secure a trip to Wednesday’s second round, where the Panthers will play host to Sprague. The Olympians (18-9) topped Tigard 9-0 on Monday. “Getting that first win and knowing that you can actually get a win in the playoffs is huge for every team,” said Panthers interim head coach Scott Carle. “We’ve had a lot of good teams in the past here at South that did not win that first game, and so for our program that’s a big win.” South Medford has not advanced past the second round since Smith guided the Panthers to a state runner-up showing in 2010. Monday’s playoff win was only the team’s third since 2011. On this day, Thompson provided his team an early jolt when he took the first pitch from Centennial starter Yoon Saechao and sent it soaring over the left-field fence. Thompson’s third home run of the season came with one out and followed a leadoff single by Melton and Clint Campbell being hit by a pitch. “Our pitcher left a ball up over the middle part of the plate,” said Eagles head coach Eric Fogle, “and they’re four-hole hitter did exactly what a four-hole hitter is supposed to do and hit one I think in those trees way over there somewhere.” For Thompson, he was simply happy to be able to produce in that spot. “I’d seen him throw a couple sliders or curveballs so I was kind of looking for that first pitch,” said Thompson. “He threw me one up and I just swung as hard as I could and it went out. I was pretty happy about that.” And so were his Panther teammates. “The energy it put on our dugout was good and it allowed our pitcher to relax a little bit and let all of us kind of relax a little bit,” said Carle. “Maybe we relaxed a little too much, however, but if you score seven runs with these kids I like our options.” Thompson added an RBI single in the third inning to plate Campbell again and build a 4-1 cushion. That score held up until Molina responded with a clutch two-out single up the middle to plate Jaylin Parnell and Zac Ankeny for a 6-1 advantage in the fifth. “That’s all Sebastian does: late-inning, two-run singles,” said Carle. “If you look in the books, Sebastian has been huge. His batting average now is over .400 since he’s been in the lineup and his RBI total is pretty impressive over that time period.” Molina was a late-season replacement in right field for injured senior Jaron Emerson and has been up for the challenge since getting his opportunity. “It’s just all that hard work and the prep that these coaches do a great job of and everybody does a great job of here,” said Molina, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs. “We do a great job supporting everybody and making sure whatever chance we get that we’re always ready for it.” Centennial (13-15) was able to scratch back with three runs against Campbell in relief of starter Brandon Letendre in the sixth inning. It could have been more but Melton came on in relief with two outs and the bases loaded and registered a three-pitch strikeout to curb the threat. “There were multiple times with bases loaded or runners on first and third where we just didn’t hit the ball and get timely hits,” said Fogle, whose team was seeded No. 31. “But at the end of the day, that’s one of the best teams in the state and my guys clawed and scraped and left it on the field.” Parnell’s RBI sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth got one run back to make it 7-4, and Melton sat the Eagles down in order in the seventh. “It’s nice to have Melton in your back pocket to come in and be able to do that,” said Carle. South Medford’s celebration was brief following the final out. “We’re trying to take it one game at a time,” said Thompson, “but I think we also have pretty high expectations of ourselves and we’re ready to move on to the next game and try and play as well as we can there.” Centennial 010 003 0 — 4 7 1 South Medford 301 021 x — 7 12 1 Saechao, Funkhouser (4) and Ada; Letendre, Campbell (6), Melton (6) and Thompson. W — Letendre (8-1). L — Saechao. S — Melton (5). HR — SM: Thompson (3). Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry