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Varsity 541 NEWS NOW Four generations of Rogue Valley women to tackle 60-mile walk to fight breast cancer ... Since You Asked: Fire response time was faster than reported ... Dems choose Moro as nominee for Bates' seat; she's also on interim list with Moran and Talbert ... Four generations of Rogue Valley women to tackle 60-mile walk to fight breast cancer ... Since You Asked: Fire response time was faster than reported ... Dems choose Moro as nominee for Bates' seat; she's also on interim list with Moran and Talbert ... PREP SOFTBALL North sweeps past South Comment By Kris Henry Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Posted May. 2, 2015 at 8:31 PM Updated May 4, 2015 at 11:01 AM By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Posted May. 2, 2015 at 8:31 PM Updated May 4, 2015 at 11:01 AM --> NORTH MEDFORD 6-4, SOUTH MEDFORD 0-1 RECAP: North Medford pitcher Sarah Thomas allows four hits over a combined 11 innings with 12 strikeouts and only two walks as the Black Tornado ca... » Read more X NORTH MEDFORD 6-4, SOUTH MEDFORD 0-1 RECAP: North Medford pitcher Sarah Thomas allows four hits over a combined 11 innings with 12 strikeouts and only two walks as the Black Tornado caps a series sweep of South Medford. UP NEXT: Tuesday, North Medford at Sheldon; South Medford at Thurston. » Social News Planning and preparation have been a key all season for North Medford’s softball team, and the eighth-ranked Black Tornado aced yet another tough exam Saturday in a pivotal Southwest Conference battle with No. 6 South Medford. Junior pitcher Sarah Thomas was dialed in on her approach against the visiting Panthers and the Black Tornado batters likewise followed a plan of attack as North Medford secured a series sweep with 6-0 and 4-1 victories at North Medford High. Combined with Grants Pass’ split Saturday against Roseburg, North Medford (14-4, 13-2 SWC) moved into a first-place tie in the SWC with six league games remaining. South Medford (16-4, 11-4) dropped into third place. Thomas tossed a one-hitter in the opening game, striking out nine against no walks. She kept the Panthers off balance during a pair of two-inning stints in Game 2, finishing with three hits allowed, three strikeouts and two walks. “She’s just so intelligent,” said North Medford head coach Mike Mayben. “She reads through our game plan and and looks at our scouting reports and anticipates what’s coming next and puts the ball where she needs to put it. (South Medford’s) a good hitting team so to keep them to one hit in the first game and then three hits in the second game, she just did a great job of staying focused.” As steady as Thomas was inside the circle, maybe the most important factor for North Medford was its ability to score first against South Medford ace Pat Moore, who took a 16-2 record into the twin bill. “Just like we did on that Tuesday a few weeks ago (in a 4-0 win at South Medford), against a pitcher like Pat, being able to get people on and drive runs in early in the game is big,” said Mayben. “She’s so good and throws around 61-62 miles per hour that if you let her get in a rhythm, she’s going to strike out 15 kids.” Using an aggressive approach at the plate, North Medford manufactured eight hits in the opener against Moore and six hits in the nightcap. The sophomore left-hander struck out seven and walked five in Game 1 and struck out six with no walks in Game 2. Leadoff singles in the first inning of Game 1 by Grace Jovanovic and Taelor Mayben set the stage for a two-run single by Janelle Rodgers as North Medford built a 2-0 advantage. In Game 2, the Black Tornado struck first when Christina Kuykendall singled and scored on an error in the second inning. North tacked on three runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run single by Kuykendall. “It really was all the way through the lineup today,” coach Mayben said of his team’s solid hitting. “In Game 1 we had one group of kids getting hits and putting the ball in play, and in Game 2 it was a different group.” Conversely, South Medford struggled finding open territory in the opener and finished with only a two-out, seventh-inning double by Alexis Baker. The Panthers applied considerably more pressure in Game 2, but key hits were hard to come by as they stranded 13 baserunners to only three left on base by the Tornado. Moore’s bunt single plated Krystal Williams to trim South’s deficit to 4-1, but relief pitcher Teanna Gonsalves was able to halt the rally after that. Mayben and Gonsalves each had two hits, one run and one RBI in the opener for North. In Game 2, Kuykendall was 2-for-3- with one run and two RBIs. For South, Pat Moore, Rachael Moore and Hannah Newman each had two hits. FIRST GAME South Medford;000;000;0;—;0;1;3 North Medford;201;210;x;—;6;8;2 P. Moore and Tatum; Thomas and Kucera. W — Thomas (11-2). L — P. Moore (16-3). 2B — SM: Baker. SECOND GAME South Medford;000;100;0;—;1;9;2 North Medford;013;000;x;—;4;6;6 P. Moore and Tatum; Thomas, Gonsalves (3), Thomas (6) and Kucera. W — Thomas (12-2). L — P. Moore (16-4). 3B — NM: Lethlean. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected], www.facebook.com/krishenryMT or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry By Kris Henry Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Kris Henry Mail Tribune Posted May. 2, 2015 at 8:31 PM Updated May 4, 2015 at 11:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction Schedules & Events --> Recent Scores --> Prep Notebook Kris Henry Challengers make it back on top in softball Winning the Southern Cascade League title seemed like a pretty bold goal this spring considering the recent history of the Cascade Christian... Varsity 541 Photos Coach K Summer Competition at SOU U19 Memorial Day Challenge North Medford vs. Grant State Track & Field 6A-6 SWC District Championships 5A-3 Midwestern League Districts - Day 1 » More Photo Galleries Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications | Contact Us | Advertise | © Copyright Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.