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Photo by Andy Atkinson North’s Megumi Hackett (2) slides safely into second base ahead of the tag of Columbia River’s Laura Hay. It was the first of two games for the Tornado. Rams mar North’s tournament run By Randy Hammericksen Defending two-time Class 4A state softball champion North Medford opened head coach Larry Binney’s final season with three wins in four games in the North Medford Invitational. The Black Tornado had a chance to finish with a perfect tournament record on Saturday. But Central Catholic of Portland pitcher Monica Hoffman fired a four-hitter and struck out 15 as the Rams edged the Black Tornado, 4-2, at Fagone Field. Stephanie Adams’ two-run home run in the fourth inning represented North Medford’s lone uprising. "We played real well in the first three games, but Hoffman stuffed us in the last one," said Binney, who has announced his retirement, effective at the end of the season. North Medford had 25 hits in two games Friday and nine in its first game Saturday, a 5-2 win over Columbia River High of Vancouver, Wash. Production stopped abruptly against Central Catholic. "This (the loss) is a good wake-up call for us," said Binney. "We need to recognize that we are going to be a target for teams to beat. We have to handle that to be successful this year." Adams, a senior third baseman who has signed a letter of intent to play for Oregon State, is off to a blazing start after going 10-for-13 in the tournament. She had at least two hits in each of North’s four games, including going 3-for-3 against Columbia River and 2-for-3 against Central Catholic. "I’m seeing the ball pretty well, and I’ve improved some things in my hitting," said Adams. "I’m hitting outside pitches and change-ups better." Adams wasn’t overmatched by the power pitching of Hoffman, who uses a fastball – and riser that’s even faster – but the Black Tornado standout was impressed. "That riser reminds me of Crystal Draper (former Hood River High pitcher)," said Adams. "She’s tough. She was getting ahead of us in the count and then she had us chasing (pitches)." In North’s win over Columbia River, Megumi Hackett and Admas provided the firepower. Admas drove in a run and Hackett scored twice and stole three bases. In Saturday’s other tournament games, Columbia River defeated North Eugene, 1-0; Westview of Beaverton downed Sprague of Salem, 8-3, and Central Catholic, 7-2; and Oregon City defeated Sprague 2-1. First Game Columbia River ................ 000 200 0 – 2 3 3 North Medford .................. 112 001 x – 5 9 0 Taylor and Lewis; Walker, Coe (6) and Glantz. W – Walker (2-0). L – Taylor. 3B – CR: Lewis 2. Second Game Central Catholic ................ 100 102 0 – 4 10 0 North Medford .................. 000 200 0 – 2 4 3 Hoffman and Stark; Coe and Glantz. W – Hoffman (2-0). L – Coe (1-1). 3B – NM: Coe. HR – NM: Adams. CRATER SPLITS – At Central Point, Crater (4-2) nearly pulled off a sweep in North Medford Invitational action, topping Mountain View of Vancouver, Wash., 6-1, after falling shy to Oregon City, 6-4. The Comets trailed 6-0 in the opener only to rally in the bottom of the seventh with four runs on four hits and a walk. Kara Ray supplied the big blast with a two-run double, only to have the Pioneers thwart the comeback attempt. Lindsey Perry came on in relief of Emily Wiley in the second, allowing only three hits and two runs in the seventh. Despite the strong effort, Perry was pinned with the loss thanks to the late rally. Oregon City used three walks, two wild pitches, two passed balls and only one hit to score four runs in the first. The Comets regrouped in the second game, with Andrea Perdue gaining her second win after allowing only four hits to Mountain View of Vancouver, Wash. Five Crater players notched two hits, with Val Lammon and Addie Wiersma leading the charge. Lammon was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs, while Wiersma was 2-for-3 with an RBI double and run scored. First Game Oregon City .................... 400 000 2 – 6 4 2 Crater ............................. 000 000 4 – 4 6 2 Malton and Bushnell; Wiley, Perry (2) and Lammon. W – Malton. L – Perry (0-1). 2B – C: Ray. Second Game Mountain View ................ 010 000 0 –1 4 3 Crater ............................ 010 320 x – 6 13 2 Jones and Schroder; Perdue, Ray (6) and Lammon, Wiersma (6). W – Perdue (2-1). L – Jones. 2B – C: Lammon, Wiersma and Perdue. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.