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Comets topple Pioneers By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN CENTRAL POINT -- As a brush fire burned just south of Anhorn Field, a Crater Comets hitter did his own kind of flaming Tuesday. Junior third baseman Brent Foster extended his consecutive on-base streak to 12 straight at-bats, leading Crater to a 13-3 dismantling of the Oregon City Pioneers in the first round of the Class 4A state baseball playoffs. "It's really pretty simple, I'm seeing the ball and hitting it," said Foster, who rapped two singles, a home run, drew a walk and drove in three runs to propel the Comets (24-3) into the second round at top-rated Madison of Portland on Friday. "I can't wait for Madison," said Foster, who has cracked four home runs, three singles and drawn five walks in the past three games. "Our whole team is hitting the ball, and we think we can play with anybody. "Madison is No. 1 and we were No. 1," said Foster. "I don't think Southern Oregon gets any respect up there. We have to go get our own Friday." Crater erupted for nine runs in the third inning to build an 11-3 lead. Foster led off the inning with a home run over the right-center field wall, and he added a run-scoring single later in the inning. Jason Korthals of the Comets broke out of mild slump with a two-run single in the third and Foster followed with his two-run single. Casey Campbell and K.J. Chubb added RBI doubles. "I thought Korthals' single was real big in the middle of that inning," said Crater coach Chuck Dominiak. "He has been struggling a little at the plate, and hopefully that got him going again. "As far as Foster is concerned, he's just hot. I didn't realize he had been on base 12 straight times, but I'm not surprised the way he's been hitting. I guess I'll leave him in the No. 3 spot in our lineup." Oregon City stunned Campbell, Crater's starting pitcher, with three runs in the top of the first inning. Chris Spencer opened the game with a home run to left field. Luke McGraw doubled in a run and Justin Fisher singled in a third. Craig Knight of the Comets responded to Oregon City's first-inning rally by opening the bottom of the inning with a home run. Rob Williams belted a solo homer in the second. Then came the nine-run third inning for the Comets. "When we went behind 3-0, my thought was we will still 10-run them," said Dominiak. "I thought their pitcher (Tony Hanson) looked real hittable. "We're hitting the ball real well right now, and we're probably playing our best baseball right now." Foster says he's made some slight adjustments in his left-handed stroke during his hot streak. "My dad and coach Dominiak helped me with a few things, but I just got it going," said Foster. "Right now, I have the feeling they can't get me out." Oregon City ....................300 00 -- 3 5 2 Crater ..........................119 02 -- 13 12 2 Hanson, Wanty (3), Henderson (3) and Fisher; Campbell, Foster (5) and Hinojosa. W -- Campbell. L -- Hanson. 2B -- OC: McGraw. C: Campbell, Chubb. HR -- C: Knight, Foster, Williams. OC: Spencer. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.