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Bucs split with Hornets KLAMATH FALLS -- The Phoenix High baseball team kept its state playoff hopes alive Saturday with a crucial 11-8 eight inning win in the first game of a doubleheader against Henley. Henley won the second game 8-7. Pitching was not much of a factor in either game as the two teams combined for 49 hits on the day. "Both games were so much fun to watch," said Phoenix coach Joe Hagler. "We both hit the ball real well today." With Henley leading the opening game 7-4 in the top half of the seventh, the Pirates made their move. Theron Hull led things off with a single followed by a mammoth two-run homer by Andy Bartels. One batter later, Drew Pierson continued the dramatics with a solo blast to tie the game and send it into the extra frame. Brandon Lillis finalized the Phoenix comeback with a two-run home run in the eighth to give the Pirates a lead they would not relinquish. Dave Westfall led the Pirates' attack with three hits while Hull, Bartels, Pierson, Travis Dunlap and Jeremy Bath each added two. Tim Frost led the Hornets with three hits. Phoenix continued its late-game heroics in the nightcap, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to take a one-run lead. Henley, however, would not be denied this time as Sam Tacchini capped a three-run rally with a check swing single to drive in the game-winner. "The kids showed a lot of heart today," said Hagler. "It would have been nice to take both games, but to come back the way we did in the last inning of both games just shows how much they want to win." On the day, Pierson went 5-for-7 to lead the Pirates with two home runs, three RBIs and four runs scored. Phoenix (18-6, 14-6 Skyline) is tied for third place in conference with Lakeview. Henley is second, one game behind Mazama. The Pirates travel to North Valley on Tuesday in a must-win situation for a playoff berth. FIRST GAME Phoenix .............000 202 34 -- 11 14 1 Henley .................023 200 01 -- 8 14 3 Bartels, Tester (3) and Hull; Hamilton, Montgomery (7), Axel (8) and Metcalf. W -- Tester. L -- Montgomery. 2B -- P: Dunlap; H: Conover, Thede, Frost. 3B -- P: Pierson; H: Axel. HR -- P: Bartels, Pierson, Tester, Lillis; H: Tacchin. SECOND GAME Phoenix ................102 000 4 -- 7 11 1 Henley ..................203 000 3 -- 8 10 3 Dunlap, Farashon (4), Foster (5), Westfall (7) and Hull; Cunningham and Metcalf. W -- Cunningham. L -- Westfall. 2B -- P: Hull, Tester; H: Frost 2, Metcalf. 3B -- H: Axel, Conover, Metcalf. LAKEVIEW 5-12, ILLINOIS VALLEY 0-2 -- At Klamath Falls, Brandon Johnson and Chad Longacre each tallied three hits as Lakeview registered the Skyline sweep. Joel Johnson had two hits for Lakeview in the first game, while Con Fitzgerald and Johnson tallied three RBIs in the second game. FIRST GAME Illinois Valley ...........000 000 0 -- 0 3 0 Lakeview .................113 000 x -- 5 9 1 Larsen and Melton; Benson, Sedlacek (6) and Havely. W -- Benson. L -- Larsen. 2B -- L: Longacre, Sedlacek. SECOND GAME Illinois Valley ..............100 10 -- 2 6 2 Lakeview .................444 0x -- 12 14 2 Thomas, Duggas (4) and Paull; Havely, Sedlacek (5) and Longacre. W -- Havely. L -- Thomas. 2B -- L: Longacre (2), Sedlacek (2), N. Hadley (2). MAZAMA 12-13, NORTH VALLEY 1-3 -- At Klamath Falls, the Vikings easily dispatched of North Valley in two five-inning affairs in Friday's Skyline Conference doubleheader. Mazama improved to 16-4 in conference with the sweep, with Jake Nelson slamming three homers in the double dip. He finished with eight RBIs on the day. FIRST GAME North Valley .............010 00 -- 1 2 3 Mazama ................003 18 -- 12 11 1 Reese and Pederson; Stone and Jayson Nelson. W -- Stone. L -- Reese. 2B -- M: Wallace, Jake Nelson, Montsdeoca. HR -- M: Jake Nelson 2, Blevins. SECOND GAME North Valley ............200 10 -- 3 7 2 Mazama ................203 53 -- 13 9 2 Godfrey, Sullivan (4), Jarrett (4), Reese (5) and Ordner, Pederson (5); Farley and Jayson Nelson. W -- Farley. L -- Godfrey. 2B -- M: Blevins, Starkey; 3B -- M: Vest. HR -- M: Jake Nelson. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.